Interchange - January 2013

Interchange a WYDOT publication

January 2013, Vol. 41, Issue 1

Contracts & Estimates

Letting bids that make ‘cents’

Letters

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Misty Wood

Submissions deadline for the February issue of Interchange: 01/11/13

Interchange is published for employees of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspondents.

Interchange invites submissions from all employees. Please send them to either your district correspondents or to: Carlie Van Winkle, Interchange editor, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY, 82009-3340. The Public Affairs Office may also be contacted by phoning (307) 777-4165, faxing (307) 777-4289, or sending e-mail to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

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I want to thank everyone who has so generously donated sick leave time when my husband Jack was recently injured in a fall and was transported to a hospital two hours away from our home. I had just been hired full-time two days before his accident.

Thanks to all of you, I was able to spend much needed time with him as he went through several surgeries and began his road to recovery. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to each and every one of you.

May you all have a most blessed Christmas and New Year!

e Pl

Sick time donations help in time of need

Interchange

Staff WYDOT Director: John F. Cox Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee Editor/Art Director: Carlie Van Winkle Contributors: Bruce Burrows Public Affairs Dave Kingham Public Affairs Carlie Van Winkle Public Affairs Ross Doman District 1 Jeff Goetz District 2 Stephanie Harsha District 3 Ronda Holwell District 4 Cody Beers District 5 Sgt. Stephen Townsend Patrol Photography: Rick Carpenter Public Affairs

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Also in this issue

Contents

Letters.....................................2 District briefs.........................4

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Drunk drivers targeted.......7 Crash attenuators................8 Extra Mile Awards................8

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WHP marijuana bust...........9 District news.......................14 Noteworthy..........................16

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WYDOT by the Numbers....16 Passings................................16 Training at a Glance..........16 WTDEA Happenings..........17 In The Community............18 WYDOT Outdoors............. 20 Holiday Fun at WYDOT... 22 Break Time.......................... 23 Be sure to check out the online version of Interchange at http://issuu.com/wydot.pao, or click on the link found on the employee’s internal Web site home page.

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6 Winter Driving Tips

Driving near snowplows takes patience

9 Seat belt survivor award

Cynthia Martin survives rollover, wins award

10 Contracts & Estimates

Bid letting that makes ‘cents’

13 In-car video project completed

WYDOT works with L3, IT, WHP on project

On the cover: Trappers Point project while under construction. The Contracts and Estimates Program sought out the most qualified contractor through the bidding process.

Photo: Carlie Van Winkle

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District Briefs WYO 130 is closed – late date breaks the record

WYO 220 improvements on track

US 89 expansion south of Afton to begin

Laramie – A portion of WYO 130 over the Snowy Range between Laramie and Saratoga is closed due to limited visibility from high wind and snow.

Westbound travelers will encounter the closure at the Green Rock Picnic Area near milepost 36, about eight miles above Centennial. For eastbound travel, the closure begins near milepost 48 above Ryan Park.

The Dec. 7 closure breaks a quartercentury record on this portion of road for the latest date to swing the gates.

The high elevation portion of WYO 130 is closed annually in late autumn when relatively low traffic, combined with increasing snow accumulations, make plowing operations impractical.

Casper – Another phase of work on WYO 220 between Casper and Alcova will begin soon, as a result of a recent contract award to Malcolm Drilling Co. of San Francisco. The contract is for remediating a landslide at a site known locally as the Narrows, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Casper.

At the Narrows, between mileposts 101 and 102, WYO 220 is constrained between the North Platte River and the southwest shoulder of Coal Mountain. A large landslide at the site has created road maintenance issues for years.

The project undertaken by Malcolm Drilling will impact a 500-foot section of WYO 220. Work will include driving about 200 reinforced steel pilings between the road and the river. Two sets of inclinometers, one within the slide plane, and the other outside the slide area, will be installed as well.

The slide remediation work is scheduled for completion by Nov. 30.

Meanwhile, substantial progress has already been made on the reconstruction and widening – from two to four lanes – of WYO 220 closer in to Casper.

The project, measuring 5.5 miles between mileposts 103 and 108.5, is being undertaken by McMurry Ready-Mix of Casper.

Two new westbound travel lanes were completed this past construction season, and the focus of work has now shifted to reconstructing the existing two lanes to serve as the new eastbound side of the roadway. The project should be substantially complete by next summer.

Afton – A section of US 89 leading south out of Afton will be widened from two to five lanes as a result of a project to be undertaken by HK Contractors of Idaho Falls.

The widening will start from the end of the current five-lane section of US 89 at the south end of Afton, and continue south for 1.5 miles past the junction with WYO 236, the connector to Fairview.

The project, which is scheduled for completion by Oct. 31, includes building a bike path along the west side of US 89.

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Laramie – Blowing snow and poor visibility throughout southeast Wyoming have forced the closure of WYO 70 over Battle Pass between Encampment and Baggs.

WYO 70 joins WYO 130 as closed.

Both alpine roadways are closed annually in late autumn when relatively low traffic, combined with increasing snow accumulations, make plowing operations impractical.

Before traveling in southeast Wyoming, motorists are urged to check the status of their planned route by visiting www.wyoroad.info. Travelers can also dial 511 within the state for more information on closures and conditions.

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WYO 70 closed in southeast Wyoming

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US 89 project Widening from two to five lanes just south of town

US 14A closed for the season Sheridan – WYDOT closed US 14A west of Burgess Junction for the winter the first week of December.

WYDOT seasonally closes this 22-mile stretch of scenic mountain road in the Big Horn Mountains of north-central Wyoming at the end of the fall hunting season.

According to WYDOT District Engineer Larry Konetzki, heavy snows and relatively light traffic during the winter months make maintenance of the mountain portion of US 14A impractical.

“The area Highway 14A passes through is known for producing huge drifts, and trying to keep it open is a losing battle,” Konetzki said.

Konetzki added, “As a safety precaution, WYDOT closes the road seasonally rather than as a reaction to a storm.”

This decision ties in with our mission of providing a safe, high quality and efficient transportation system for the citizens of Wyoming.

Seasonal road closure gates are located at Burgess Junction (just east of milepost 98.1) and on the Lovell side of the mountain near milepost 76.04.

During the time the road is closed, motorists can use US 14 via Granite Pass and Greybull as an alternate route from Sheridan to Lovell.

WYDOT will open US 14A this spring after crews spend a projected three weeks to remove the winter snowpack.

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Two new Web cameras available to drivers in Bighorn Mountains Riverton – Two more new Web cameras are providing highway-condition images on US 14 and US 16 in the Bighorn Mountains, and they will aid northwest Wyoming drivers this winter and in the future.

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The new Web cameras cover US 14 between Greybull and Sheridan, 2.9 miles south of the Big Horn/Sheridan county line; and US 16 between Worland and Buffalo, 16 miles east of Ten Sleep.

With the two new cameras now operational, 10 new cameras are operational to aid northwest Wyoming drivers with travel decisions.

Other new Web cameras are located at Beaver Rim, 5.99 miles west of the Sweetwater Station Rest Area on US 287; Kinnear Junction, one mile west of Kinnear on US 26 west of Riverton; Wind River Canyon, 9.5 miles south of Thermopolis on US 20/WYO 789; Meeteetse Rim, 9.5 miles north of Meeteetse on WYO 120; and Skull Creek Hill, eight miles north of Cody on WYO 120.

For drivers heading south between Lander/Riverton, Jeffrey City and Rawlins, three other new Web cameras are also operational. They are located 9.6 miles west of Jeffrey City; Muddy Gap at the junction of WYO 220/WYO 789 and US 287, and on Willow Hill, 11.6 miles north of Rawlins on US 287.

Crack sealing underway in Fremont County Lander – A $991,000 project to crackseal highways is under way throughout Central and Northwest Wyoming, and work will continue through March.

Work has been ongoing in Fremont County since mid-November on WYO 28 west of Lander, WYO 136 (Gas Hills Road), and WYO 789 (between Lander and Hudson).

Other Fremont County highways scheduled for crack sealing include US 26-287 near Kinnear, US 287 near Fort Washakie, and US 20-26 near Waltman.

“The schedule and sequence will be affected by weather and road conditions,” according to Erik Smith, WYDOT resident engineer in Lander. “The crew is jumping around as weather allows; this week they are working in the Fort Washakie area.”

In late January, crack sealing is scheduled to begin in Hot Springs County on WYO 120, WYO 175, and US 20-WYO 789. WYO 434 in Washakie County is scheduled to receive crack sealing work in February.

Crack sealing in Park County is

scheduled for February and March on WYO 290, WYO 120, WYO 291, and US 14-16-20.

Highway Improvement, Inc. of Sioux Falls, S. Dak., is the prime contractor on the district-wide crack sealing project.

Contract completion date is June 15.

Wind River erosion repair project starts between Dubois and Diversion Dam Dubois – A $92,281 erosion repair project has started near the Wind River east of Dubois.

The project, located in the Red Rocks area, involves grading, placing rocks, fencing and other work on US 26-287 at milepost 69 between Diversion Dam and Dubois.

“The contractor is scheduled to have work completed this month,” said Robert Scheidemantel, WYDOT resident engineer in Riverton. “Please drive safely through the area where the work is being completed.”

ERI Engineering, Inc. of Riverton is the prime contractor on the erosion repair project. Contract completion date is April 30.

Know before you go.

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Winter Driving Tips Driving near snowplows requires care, patience Are you prepared for winter driving?

Some of the basic ways to be prepared include installing winter windshield wiper blades, and checking your headlights and tire pressure.

When driving on ice, accelerate slowly – pretend that an egg is sitting under your gas pedal.

To stop on the ice, remove your foot slowly from the gas pedal. If your vehicle is equipped with ABS brakes, step on your brakes when slowing. The braking system will help you stop on icy roads.

WYDOT employees are out on the highways every day and many nights attempting to provide a safe, high quality and efficient transportation system for the citizens of Wyoming.

WYDOT employees are on the roads when the conditions are the worst, and they’re out there between storms, too.

“We want you to drive safely to your destination,” said Cody Beers, WYDOT District 5 public involvement specialist in Riverton.

WYDOT has numerous bright yellow snowplows, and when working the roads, these plow trucks have amber, red and blue flashing lights mounted on top of the cab and on the back of the sanders.

Snowplows are huge machines, capable of moving tons of snow every minute. Operators of these plows are highly trained professionals.

These snowplow professionals need cooperation from drivers so they can do their jobs and keep the road safe for drivers. Give them room to operate.

“Stay well back from operating snowplows,” Beers said. “They are spreading sand, anti-icing and deicing chemicals on the roadway. It’s always a good idea to stay back from snowplows while their operators are doing their jobs.”

With limited visibility, plow drivers can’t see vehicles behind them if the vehicles are too close to the plows.

“Remember, the safest driving surface is behind the plow. If you must pass, don’t pass on the right into the plume of snow

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being moved,” Beers said. “Be sure on two-lane highways that you have plenty of time to pass. Keep a close watch, these huge plows often stir up their own whiteout conditions while doing their work.”

WYDOT snowplows usually operate slower than other traffic. “Always remember our plows are helping to keep you safe,” Beers said. “We’re on your team. A few extra minutes of travel time following a plow are well worth it when compared to the problems associated with being involved in a crash.”

In the course of winter maintenance, WYDOT treats roads with liquid deicers and anti-icers to keep ice bonding to our roadways, or to remove the ice if it has already formed.

While research verifies fewer accidents occur on treated highways, these deicers and anti-icers can be sprayed up on vehicles from tires and wind. “It’s a good idea to wash off deicing and antiicing chemicals from your vehicle,” Beers said. “Don’t forget to keep your wiper reservoir full of washer fluid in case you experience splash-back.”

Beers said winter conditions sometimes dictate that roads are closed to travel. Reasons may include snow depth, limited visibility, high winds, and drifted snows. “We realize these closures may be frustrating if you’re traveling or late for an appointment, but the road has been closed for a reason. In winter, give yourself extra time to reach your destination without having to drive faster than the conditions allow,” Beers said. “Winter driving requires a light touch and a cautious approach.”

Beers said drivers should remember that it takes extra time to slow down or stop on slick roads. “Don’t use your cruise control, and drive at appropriate speeds.

If you encounter poor visibility, slow down. Always slow down for safety. If you don’t have to go, don’t.”

WYDOT maintenance professionals, who work on our roadways every day of the year, share the following winter driving tips: l Make sure your vehicles are in top operating

condition;

l Bring along safety supplies and be prepared.

Carry a sleeping bag, blankets, flashlights, non perishable food, water, matches and fire starter, cell phone, a good shovel, flares, and even sand or cat litter for traction;

l Let someone know when you leave and when

you’ll arrive at your destination;

l Keep your gas tank full of fuel; l Drivers of some vehicles may want to carry

tire chains;

l If you’re stranded during the winter on the

open road, stay with your vehicle. Your vehicle is your protection against winter weather, and staying with it offers your best refuge and protection of surviving a blizzard. If running your vehicle’s engine while stranded, make sure exhaust pipe doesn’t become plugged with snow;

l And, know before you go. For Wyoming road

conditions this winter, call 511, or log on to the Internet at www.wyoroad.info.

The holiday season once again became “open season” on drunk drivers in Natrona County. The annual effort of You Drink and Drive. You Lose. of Natrona County declared it open season prior to Thanksgiving in hopes that residents would report drunk and distracted drivers to authorities through the 9-1-1 emergency phone system.

Each year, the YD&DYL group encourages the greater Casper community to join together and reduce the number of DUI-related arrests, crashes, injuries and deaths. Since the “open season” effort began in 2009, Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately (REDDI) calls to authorities have increased dramatically, rising from the pre-open season average of 90 calls to more than 120 calls during the holidays.

In 2009, during the campaign’s first year, the number of drunken driving arrests increased in Natrona County by two over the 2008 holiday season. However, the number of alcohol-related crashes caused by a drunken driver decreased.

Strikingly that year, the number of reports to 9-1-1 of drunken driving was the highest (117 calls) since the REDDI segment of the program was instituted in 2005. In 2008, there were 90 calls made over the holiday season.

“Does the public hesitate to call in DUI’s? I feel the public wants the drunks off the roadways,” said Sgt. John Becker of the Natrona County Sheriff ’s Office.

Becker said the NCSO averages between 60 and 75 REDDI calls per quarter.

That number does not include other agencies such as the Casper, Evansville and Mills police departments or the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

“The campaign makes law enforcement officers aware that the holidays are upon us and (we) need to step up awareness of DUIs during this time,” Becker said.

Photo: WYDOT

Drunken drivers targeted during holiday campaign in Natrona County

Volunteers with You Drink and Drive. You Lose of Natrona County brought their message to Casper during the annual holiday parade. Each year, residents declare “open season” on drunk drivers by reporting those suspected of drunk driving to authorities using 9-1-1.

It also brings awareness of drunken driving and its effects to the community.

Wyoming continues to rank toward the bottom of states, including the District of Columbia, in percentage of total traffic deaths related to driving under the influence. According to a 2011 Mothers Against Drunk Driving report, Wyoming is 38th worst, with 35 percent of traffic deaths DUI-related, and costs to the state of $286 million. However, the ranking is an improvement, as the same report in 2009 placed Wyoming 49th, with alcohol involved in 42 percent of traffic fatalities.

By comparison, Utah ranks first, with 19 percent of traffic deaths DUI-related.

This year, Casper College’s criminal justice students took awareness to the campus as over 200 students, faculty and staff signed pledges not to drink and drive during the holidays. Other outreach efforts included a series of billboards throughout Casper; napkins and coasters distributed to local restaurants and bars; and radio and television advertising.

“I honestly believe that we are making a difference in our fight to accomplish our goal. For every drunk driver we take off the road during this holiday season, I firmly believe we are saving the life of one of our citizens,” said Zach Gentile, Evansville police chief.

“It is our desire that every family en-

Get those winter hunting, skiing, snowmobiling & sledding photos in Interchange! carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

joys the holidays and not suffer a tragedy caused by a drunk driver.”

And to help ensure a tragedy doesn’t happen for those who choose to drink, there are options. Designate a sober driver or call for a ride. In addition, Casper’s Tipsy Taxi program continues to offer cab service home for a donation.

“We have never said that you can’t drink, but drink responsibly or have that designated driver,” Becker said. “We are not just telling people don’t drink and drive but are also trying to find other ways to help them to get home safely for the holidays.”

You Drink and Drive. You Lose. of Natrona County is comprised of representatives from the following agencies and organizations: Casper College, Casper Police Department, city of Casper, Evansville Police Department, M.A.D.D., Midwest Police Department, Mills Police Department, Natrona County Commission, Natrona County Coroner’s Office, Natrona County Prevention Coalition, Natrona County Sheriff ’s Department, Safe Kids/Communities of Central Wyoming, Wyoming Department of Transportation, Wyoming Game and Fish, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Wyoming Medical Center, and Wyoming Medical Center Foundation.

– Jeff Goetz

Submissions deadline for

WYDOT Outdoors:

03/15/13

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Colorado border, and the sections of I-90 through Sheridan and Gillette.

Heavily travTrailer-mounted crash attenuators eled two-lane are now required behind WYDOT and highways in the contractor vehicles in work zones on busy Jackson, Lander, highways in Wyoming Riverton and “An attenuator you can think of as a Gillette areas also crash cushion,” State Traffic Engineer Joel meet the standard Meena said. “It reduces the severity of an for attenuator use. errant vehicle hitting the rear end or the The Fedbumper of a parked construction vehicle eral Highway in a work zone.”

Administration The attenuators absorb impact from recommends use both ends, so safety is improved for both of attenuators to A Trailer-mounted attenuator (TMA) being pulled behind a WYDOT vehicle the WYDOT workers and the errant drivreduce the severity in a convoy this past summer. ers who hit their vehicles. of crashes in work Pothole patching, crack sealing or any WYDOT’s new Roadwork Operations zones, but WYDOT decided to make kind of short term repairs which require Manual requires attenuator use on intertheir use mandatory. workers to encroach on a traffic lane are state highways with average daily traffic “The primary emphasis here is on ideal uses for the attenuators. volumes of 10,000 vehicles or more and safety,” Meena said. “Using attenuators “We don’t make it mandatory when on two-lane highways with average daily does hamper somewhat the mobility of they are working outside the lanes, but traffic volumes of at least 5,000 vehicles. the workers in the work zone, but we it is strongly encouraged that they use That means the attenuators are made the decision strictly on safety and it them to shield the vehicle and make the required on most of I-80, the busiest was safety for the traveling public, and it’s impact of an errant vehicle less severe so sections of I-25 through Casper and safety for the workers in the work zone, folks can walk away from what would be Cheyenne and south of Cheyenne to the especially in the shadow vehicles.” sometimes a tragic crash,” Meena said.

WYDOT’s striping units have used fixed attentuators for years. They have been hit four times and occupants in all of the vehicles involved escaped without serious injuries.

The requirement to use attenuators applies not only to WYDOT crews but to utility companies, contractors or anyone else working inside the state right of way on busy roads.

“This ties in to WYDOT’s goal to WYDOT salutes the following Director’s Extra Mile Award recipients. provide a safe and efficient transportation system, and we’re hoping that our partThe award is presented to individuals who have traveled the “extra ners, the cities and the counties, adopt a mile” in service to WYDOT. very similar manual and method of doing Jayson Davis Doug McLean traffic control to make it safer for the motorists in the roadway,” Meena said.

Russell Parsons Eric Wiles WYDOT has purchased 29 of the trailer-mounted attenuators so far at a Greg Dana Randy Ringstmeyer cost of about $10,000 each. The trailers Virgil Helm Ryan Shields must have an electronic flashing chevron sign mounted on them and be pulled by a Bert Erickson Mark Stogsdill vehicle weighing at least 10,000 pounds.

Rigging the hitch to allow the trailers to Frank Olsen be pulled by four- and eight-yard dump trucks and the connection to power the For more information about the Extra Mile Award or to electronic signs has posed some challengnominate someone, contact Janet Farrar at janet.farrar@wyo.gov or es in getting the trailers into operation.

– Dave Kingham Mel Anderson at mel.anderson@wyo.gov.

Extra Mile

AWARDS

Congratulations November recipients!

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Photos: WYDOT Traffic

Crash attenuators now required safety equipment on busy highways

Highway Patrol recognizes driver with Seat Belt Survivor Award

Troopers discover false bed in pickup packed with 23 pounds of marijuana

marijuana grinder and pipe.

The driver, 38 year-old William Ritter, who listed an address in Virginia, was taken into custody. Troopers continued their search of the vehicle by investigating the bed of the pickup under the pickup’s topper. They noticed that a wooden frame

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Laramie – Trooper John Page, Elk Mountain Patrol, nominated Cynthia Martin for the Seat Belt Survivor Award.

Martin was properly wearing her seat belt at the time of her recent serious crash, escaping life-threatening injuries.

Martin, a resident of Laramie, had been traveling on WYO 487 this past October and near milepost 44.5, encountered an antelope in her lane of traffic.

She swerved to miss the animal, causing her vehicle’s tires to go off the road. The tires caught on the edge of the road and overcorrecting her swerve, she caused her vehicle go across the highway in a broad-

Laramie – A traffic stop on a speeding pickup truck has landed the operator of the pickup in jail charged with three felonies and the loss of 23 pounds of marijuana stashed in a false compartment.

A trooper stopped the pickup approximately six miles south of Laramie on US 287 for exceeding the 65 mph speed limit.

The trooper could detect the odor of marijuana coming from the pickup as the two visited about the speeding violation. The trooper could also see some marijuana in plain view in the cab of the pickup.

That led troopers to search the pickup whereupon they discovered numerous containers with user amounts of marijuana and paraphernalia including scales,

Photo: Wyoming Highway Patrol

Photo: Wyoming Highway Patrol

Trooper John Page recognizing Cynthia Martin for being a Seat Belt Survivor.

side slide. The vehicle rolled one and a quarter times landing on the driver’s side door on the opposite side of the highway.

Because of her seat-belt usage, she was unharmed and extricated herself from the vehicle through the sunroof and waited for help to arrive. Page was on the scene Martin’s vehicle rolled 1.25 times, coming to a rest on the shortly after the crash. “I was glad driver’s side door. She escaped serious injury. to have my seat belt on. I can’t cause the survivors are shining examples imagine not having it on,” Martin said. in the community and become positive She mentioned that it was a quite windy role models for their peers and young day and was very thankful, looking back, people. that she had both hands firmly on the “This award will have the butterfly efwheel. “All three of the kids came out to fect. Martin got the award for wearing her see the crash scene and they were very seat belt. Her kids will tell their friends, shocked. I told them that’s why you don’t who will tell their friends and so on. At take your seat belt off for even a minute,” the same time, her husband and children said Martin. will see firsthand what it means to us as The ceremony was held at the District troopers,” said Page. “Lt. Pritchard and I 1 Patrol Headquarters in Laramie. Lt. work a lot of fatal crashes because that’s Tom Pritchard began the event by recogour job. I see so many that shouldn’t be nizing Page, Mrs. Martin and introducing fatal. This crash had all the potential of the history behind the award. “The Seat being a serious injury crash. Possibly Belt Survivor Award recognizes those even a fatal crash under different circumwho have been in serious crashes and surstances, except for the fact she wore her vived them because of their seat-belt use. seat belt and the vehicle functioned as It’s also designed to bring awareness to designed to safeguard her well being.” how effective seat-belt use is in reducing Seat belts do save lives. Buckle up serious injury and death,” said Pritchard.

Wyoming.

Wyoming Highway Patrol makes a – Carlie Van Winkle point to recognize seat-belt survivors be-

had been built into the pickup bed floor and covered with carpet.

Under the carpet they discovered a false entry point. When the entry point was removed it revealed the 22 individually sealed bags with the 23 pounds of marijuana.

Special agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation are assisting in this criminal investigation.

Ritter was enroute from California to Virginia. This amount of marijuana has an approximate street value of $138,000.

Ritter has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance in plant form, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver and conspiracy to deliver controlled substance. If convicted he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and up to $250,000 in fines.

– Sgt. Stephen Townsend

Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers discovered 22 sealed bags of marijuana in a routine traffic stop on US 287. The confiscated drugs are on display in the warehouse after the bust.

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: s e t a m i t s E & s t c a r t Con Photo: Bruce Burrows

T O D Y W r o f n i W o t s d i B g Lettin

Photo: Carlie Van Winkle

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ach of the dozens of road construction contracts let every year by the Wyoming Department of Transportation represents the sum total of years of effort by personnel in numerous department programs, including Planning, Environmental Services, Geology, Right of Way, Bridge and Highway Development.

Playing an important role at numerous steps along the way, especially at the end when project plans are being prepared for bidding by contractors, is the staff of Contracts and Estimates (C&E) Program. The staff is responsible for calculating project cost estimates, scheduling projects for advertisement, conducting bid openings, and placing projects under contract after they have been awarded by the Transportation Commission.

Documents produced by the program include bid summaries, performance bonds, construction contracts, material (water, sand and gravel) agreements, invitations for bid, project letting schedules, legal newspaper notices and bid tabulations.

“Although we are tasked with a variety of functions, our core reason for existence is the contract bidding process, according to Contracts and Estimates Program Manager Ken Spear.

The assistant program manager is Doug Jensen, who recently joined C&E after having served as resident engineer in Dubois. The roster includes Ladonna Hurd, Mark Janicek, Matt Simpson, Chica Thomas and Bill Whipple, who together bring more than 160 years experience to the task.

“The cost estimating process may begin fairly early in design, although that depends a lot on the type of project being let,” Spear relates. “Take for example, simple overlay projects that don’t require years of design work. They are Ken Spear usually not estimated until the final design plan phase.

However, reconstruction projects may have estimates provided at preliminary design phases, such as the issuance of grading plans.”

“All cost figures from C&E are stated in current dollars, so that if a project isn’t to be let for a few years, then an agreed upon inflation factor is added for each year until the letting,” he adds.

As a project’s design progresses, estimates are updated to reflect increases or decreases in prices and changes, additions or deletions of bid items. Once the plans have been “PS&E’d,” (reaching the “Plans, Specifications & Estimate” stage), the estimate performed at that time is provided to a few other WYDOT programs and to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to begin the obligation of funds for that project. Thus begins

Photo: Bruce Burrows

Photo: Carlie Van Winkle

the process that allows the project to be advertised for bid letting.

During a project’s design stage, Project Development designers determine how much of the different types of construction materials or activities (referred to as “bid items”) will be required for the project. A few of the more notable bid items concern excavation, surfacing, steel and concrete. The bid item quantities are summarized as “total estimated quantities” (TEQ) and form the basis for both Spear’s final estimate and the contractor’s bid.

Many of the preliminary estimates can be done in Project Development by the designers themselves, thanks to the Integrated Project Development (IPD) software provided by Contracts and Estimates. The software can be placed on any computer with access to the WYDOT servers, and the historical pricing data is provided. Before this software was available, it could require hours to input each individual bid item, and then find a cost for that item. Now 250 bid items can be entered along with the quantity and priced out in under 10 seconds. The adjusting of the unit cost then becomes much less cumbersome than when the work was done by hand. Designers who prepare these estimates always have the option of seeking assistance from C&E personnel to review their project cost estimates.

Bill Whipple, lead estimator in Contracts and Estimates, and Spear, can recite many unit prices off the top of their heads.

However, the actual historical data is maintained and updated monthly, within both the IPD software and “Oman” systems software, in which parameters can be applied to get the latest costs for various items in specific locations. For general use, a “Weighted Average Bid Prices” manual is updated annually and provided in electronic format and can be found on the WYDOT Web site.

C&E estimators also take into account several variables, such as the difficulty of terrain in the project area and the proximity of construction material sources in the project locale when determining unit prices for each of the bid items in his final estimate. They are then able to use the TEQ to come up with a total estimated construction cost. Other factors – mobilization continued on page 12 January 2013

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Photo: Carlie Van Winkle

costs, construction schedule and time of year – are also considered before a final engineer’s estimate is reached.

We try to prepare the construction cost estimate in the same manner that a contractor prepares a contract bid,” Spear said. “The bidding process can involve complex strategy influenced by competition and the contractor’s current work load, in addition to actual construction material costs.”

Ideally, Spear likes to see the engineer’s estimate fall into the same range as the eventual second or third low bidder – about five per cent higher than the low bidder.

The contractors submit their bids on a hard copy print out of a digital electronic bidding system (EBS) file. This EBS software is provided free to anyone who bids WYDOT projects and can be downloaded directly from WYDOT’s Web site. The bid items are only a part of the bid proposal and their quantities cannot be altered by anyone outside of Contracts and Estimates once the project is established for a bid letting. Unit prices are entered by the contractors for each item. The contractors must also answer questions within the proposal software, enter disadvantaged business enterprise information for federal aid projects only, and write in and verify the electronic bid bond information before they will have completed their proposal and can print the hard copy. Unlike in the past, by using the electronic bid bond, there is no physical bond that needs to be returned in today’s digital world.

Bid proposals received by the Department remain sealed until the day and time of the bid opening, which is most often the second Thursday of the month.

The bids are taken to the location that can be anywhere in Wyoming with a room large enough to hold roughly 75-100 participants. C&E personnel establish the bid letting dates and the Wyoming Contractors Association decides the locations of the lettings. The premise is to help the economy of the various cities throughout Wyoming.

All of the bids are read and the apparent low bidder is announced by Bill Whipple. At the conclusion of the letting, the results are posted online as expeditiously as possible.

At the same time the bid analytics (which are the bid items with associated unit prices) are printed out and then reviewed by Spear. The reason for the review is to look for abnormalities, mathematically or material unbalanced prices, that may cause there to be a reason for a deeper check into the final bid prices and whether the apparent low bid is actually the best bid. That’s why C&E uses the statement after reading all of the bids for a project “The apparent low bidder is …”

The engineer’s estimate, along with the low bid results and Spear’s recommendations as to award or rejection are forwarded to the Assistant Chief Engineer for Engineering and Planning Gregg Fredrick for his review. Fredrick in turn makes recommendations to the Transportation Commission. Whether the Commission awards or rejects a bid is based primarily on the bid’s correlation with the engineer’s estimate As a general rule of thumb, the bid is liable for rejection if it exceeds the engineer’s estimate by 10 percent or more, unless there are compelling reasons for award because information affecting the bid was not known prior to the engineer’s estimate being performed or project constraints that require the project be awarded, regardless of cost.

In 2009, WYDOT began using a third party vendor (QuestCDN) to provide digital copies of the plans, proposals and other documents used for bidding on their Web site, which was designed to look like a true WYDOT Web site.

QuestCDN hosts the Web site for WYDOT, and also provides maintenance services, at no charge to the agency.

“One of the great features of this Web site is that anyone, anywhere with a computer can actually view the plans and proposals, and if they want to download them, pay a modest fee for this service. This has proven to be a really wonderful feature and helps us to maintain our plan holders list, which is important information in the bidding process for the contracting industry,” Spear said.

Photo: Carlie Van Winkle

continued from page 11

functionality for exporting data files or importing software updates.

“In-car video provides a way to record digital evidence of every stop that WHP makes. When a court asks for a video of a particular stop, we can provide them a copy,” Lt. K.C. Ramsey said.

Planning to The new L-3 system in patrol cars will give WHP the recording hardware upgrade WHP in-car and software that is needed in certain situations. video system began Flashback installations. Meanwhile, IT more than two years ago. At the time, the took on the responsibility for configuring ICop system had been in use for several the in-car notebooks to mesh with the years and problems with the equipment video equipment and to set up servers to were becoming more frequent. enable the wireless capability. TelecomRamsey and other WHP staff worked munications staff then managed the with members of Information Technolactual in-car video system installations, ogy’s Applications Development Group to which involved more than 200 vehicles. define requirements and write a request The installation work begin last summer for proposal, which was issued in the fall and was accomplished in about 10 weeks, of 2011, ultimately leading to selection within budget and ahead of schedule. of L3 Communications as the winning The in-car video system is activated vendor. by a variety of ways; most often when a One of WHP’s requirements was the trooper switches on his emergency lights capability to synchronize information to initiate a traffic stop. The proprietary from the video system to an associated invideo recording software automatically car notebook computer, so that the video encodes evidence to deter tampering. The can be played back on the notebook even video can also be saved in a format that after the computer is removed from car, can be shared with others who don’t have without losing evidentiary value. the proprietary software.

Telecommunication staff at head“We now have the ability to actually quarters first coordinated with WYDOT log more information into that event. radio technicians in the field districts to Data can be entering during a traffic create space in the WHP cars ahead of the stop or later, and it is easily searchable,”

The recent installation of new in-vehicle video systems in Wyoming Highway Patrol cars was the subject of a Dec. 14 celebration event conducted in the cafeteria at WYDOT headquarters.

It wasn’t your typical awards ceremony.

Project participants were not so much being recognized for a job well done (although that is certainly the case); instead the focus was on the spirit of cross-divisional cooperation which exemplified the effort.

WHP cars are now equipped with state-of-the-art “Flashback 2” digital recording systems manufactured by New Jersey-based L-3 Communications Mobile-Vision, Inc. The installations, completed earlier in 2012, involved close coordination among various staff from within the Patrol and WYDOT’s Telecommunications and Information Technology Programs.

“I appreciate everybody being on deck for this thing and I can only pretend to have a clue of the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that went into this. This project is a snapshot of how this organization works across disciplinary boundaries and everybody is on deck for everybody else,” WYDOT Director John Cox told those in attendance at the December event.

WHP Director Col. John Butler, in handing out the WHP’s much-coveted “Rare Breed” award to the involved employees, said, “The “White Buffalo” represented spiritual and mystical qualities to Native Americans. This was due in part to the rarity and unique quality of the animal. We of the WHP have taken this concept and applied it to a recognition of the actions and behavior within the Patrol that exemplify the spirit of exceptional and rare qualities of our members.”

The Flashback system offers several technological advantages to its predecessor “ICop” video system. A major improvement is faster turnaround time Breed award recipients (left to right) are Jackson Engels – Assistant for producing video evidence of Rare Attorney General, Lt. K.C. Ramsey, Mike Deleeuw – Procurement Services, traffic stops or other incidents. Dana Weickum – IT, AJ Myers – IT, Dave Luegering – IT, and Seth Miyawa Flashback also has wireless – IT. Recipient not pictured: Mark Kelly – Telecommunications.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

In-car video upgrade effort recognized

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Teamwork

Ramsey said.

The Attorney General’s Office also played a role, assisting in writing the RFP and negotiating the contract with L3 to both lower costs and broker a sustainable long-term maintenance agreement.

The phased-out ICop equipment has been passed down to local law enforcement agencies in Wyoming for their use.

– Bruce Burrows

January 2013

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District News Headquarters

Anthony Alcon, Patrol-Safety and Training; Deborah Bowring, Cheyenne I-80 Port of Entry; Dale Cazier, Driver Services-CDL; Kevin Kaiser, Facilities Management-Custodial; William Murphy, Highway Development-Photogrammetry-Surveys; Stephen Nelson, Internal Review; and Enid White, Planning-Programming.

Promotions and Transfers Benoit Cordoba, Bridge Engineering Design; Barbara Cruz, Fuel Tax Administration; Carol Dewitt, GIS/ITS; Lana Fisher, Financial Services-Inventory; Zachary Gutierrez, Bridge Engineering Design; Talbot Hauffe, Planning-Local Government Coordinator; Aaron Huffsmith, GIS/ITS; Ronald Kaiser, Geology; Christopher Olmstead, GIS/ITS, Dallas Ortiz, GIS/ITS; Jon Peterson, Fuel Tax-Uniformity; Rachael Pivik, Bridge Engineering Design; and Bobby Robert-

son Jr., Highway Development-Project Development.

Service Awards Randy Reynolds, Office ServicesMailroom – 25 years.

Kimm Brookshire, Financial ServicesDisbursements – 20 years.

Mark Stogsdill, Right-Of-Way-Engineering – 20 years.

Debra Ferguson, Environmental Services – 15 years.

Jeremy Olson, Right-Of-Way-Appraisals – 10 years.

Sandra Vosler, Patrol Dispatch – 10 years.

Della Beasley, Patrol Records – 5 years.

Enid White, Planning-Programming – 5 years.

Congratulations Lana Fisher has been chosen as the new senior inventory accounting analyst for Financial Services in Cheyenne.

Lana will lead and direct the consumable inventory as well as Fuelmaster and Fuel contract.

Cradle Call Proud grandma Gayle Poelma in Planning has two little helpers in her life these days. Andrew Philip Gianou (on the left) was born Aug. 7, weighing 6 lbs.

9 oz. and Kaydence Faith Weber (on the right) was born Sept. 12, weighing 6 lbs.

13 oz.

Retirements Kerry Casner, Driver Services-CDL. Photo: Gayle Poelma

Welcome

District 1

Welcome Lowell Campbell, Rawlins Maintenance; Luke Eigenberger, Cheyenne Maintenance; Mack Miller, Saratoga Maintenance; Kent Nelson, Cheyenne Maintenance; and James Roberts, Cheyenne Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers Kaycee Shroyer, Elk Mountain Patrol.

Service Awards

nance – 5 years.

Kristin Ballenger, Cheyenne Patrol – 5 years.

Richard Coley, Rawlins Maintenance – 5 years.

Delsa Sanderson, Laramie Patrol – 5 years.

Condolences Condolences are sent to Vincent Birkle, Cheyenne Maintenance on the passing of his father on Nov. 25.

Christian Jensen, Laramie Maintenance – 10 years.

Thomas Allen, Cheyenne Mainte-

District 2

Welcome

Promotions and Transfers

Robin Ahrndt, Casper Port of Entry; Byron Booth, Torrington Construction; Joseph Butler, Midwest Maintenance; Corey Lengkeek, Douglas Maintenance; and Zachery Miller, Douglas Maintenance.

Daniel Dwyer, Casper Maintenance; and Sheldon Poage, Douglas Patrol;

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Service Awards Tom Anglund, Casper Traffic Striping – 35 years.

Edward Tirado, Lusk Maintenance – 5 years.

Andrew and Kaydence look as if they may have caught a glimpse of Santa.

District 5

Promotions and Transfers James McLean, South Pass Maintenance; and Kaia Tharp, Dubois Construction.

Service Awards David Cooper, District 5 Traffic staff – 30 years.

Neil Thomas, Riverton Maintenance – 20 years.

Congratulations Kaia Tharp has been chosen as the new principal engineer to replace Jon Douglas Jensen in District 5, Construction.

District 3

Promotions and Transfers

Retirements

Steve Cochran

Photo: WYDOT

Floyd Gamble, Traffic-Signing; Chanell Harker, Kemmerer Port of Entry; Cody Mayhan, Pinedale Construction; and Jake Webber, Pinedale Maintenance.

Charles Crompton

Donald Babel, Rock Springs Maintenance; Steve Cochran, Cokeville Maintenance; and Charles Crompton, Evanston Port of Entry.

Capt. Shawn Dickerson presenting Richelle Balcazar her Level 3 training completion certificate.

District 4

Service Awards

Clyde Krivanec, Moorcroft Maintenance.

James Hulet, Buffalo Maintenance – 25 years.

Wyndell Dixon, Sheridan Port of Entry – 5 years.

Brockdon Porch, Gillette Patrol – 5 years.

Photo: WYDOT District 4

Welcome Promotions and Transfers Michael Prentice, Gillette Maintenance; Ace Redman, Gillette Maintenance; Leo Simons, Gillette Maintenance; Jonathan Struebing, Gillette Maintenance; and George Wanke, Gillette Maintenance.

Michael Prentice

Leo Simons

Ace Redman

Jay Eckhardt placed this for rent sign at his workstation after he shared he would be retiring with 33 years of service with WYDOT. To date there have been no rental offers! Co-workers had a pizza lunch with Jay on his last day. His sense of humor will be missed. Jay began his career with Wyoming Highway Department in 1978 as a summer maintenance hand in Cheyenne.

In February 1979, he became a permanent employee and later moved to Laramie to work in Maintenance and Construction. In 1990, he transferred to Gillette to work in construction until his retirement. Jay is married to Barb and they have two children, Katie and Cody, and one grandchild.

Jim Hulet

Wyndell Dixon

Retirements Jay Eckhardt, Gillette Construction; Ernest Grow, Gillette Maintenance; Dale Hancock, Gillette Maintenance; and Karen Stanford, Sheridan Maintenance.

Dale Hancock

(Left) Trooper Scott Carey receiving the 2011 District 4 Trooper of the Year Colonel’s Commendation from Capt. Carl Clements.

Congratulations

Jonathan Struebing

Photo: WYDOT District 4

Photo: WYDOT District 4

George Wanke

(Left) Ernie Grow enjoying his retirement luncheon with guests looking on.

Trooper Scott Carey on receiving District 4 Trooper of the Year.

Corey Vine and Christie Butler, Sheridan-Dietz POE for successful completion of Special Officer class.

Troy Tyree, Sheridan-Dietz POE for successful completion of Level 3 Inspector class.

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Noteworthy District 4 completes inventory of all accesses in the District

District 4 Traffic has a reached a major milestone in fulfilling the request of the commission in providing a Business Ready Access Database.

Work was accomplished through development of a cross-function/cross-program task force that divided up and assigned data gathering for all road sections across the district between Construction, Maintenance and Traffic staff.

Once the data was received on a road section, District 4 Traffic Technician Dave Schwabauer performed a quality assurance/quality control review and then loaded the information into the access data base. More than 7,800 accesses have been documented in District 4.

District 4 Traffic repeatedly expressed gratitude and appreciation for Construction and Maintenance personnel for stepping up and volunteering to work on a project outside of their normal areas of responsibility. The milestone was reached without hiring outside manpower to perform the work.

Congratulations to District 4 for reaching this important milepost!

Passings John Landon Retiree John Landon of Meeteetse died Nov. 22, in Cody. He was 79.

Landon retired from WYDOT in June 1995, after serving 17 years with the Meeteetse Maintenance crews. During some of that time, he did double duty, serving as mayor of Meeteetse for several years.

Landon came to WYDOT from a ranching background, having previously worked on several ranches in the Sheridan area and then at the 71 Ranch near Meeteetse.

Private memorial services for Landon were conducted in Meeteetse.

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Total number of employees: as of Nov. 29, 2012

2,058

One month ago

2,055

Paid for by Federal Highway Safety Funds

9057a2-101012-v3

One year ago

2,050

Training ata Glance

Here are upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT University and the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) Date Class Location Jan 8-11 Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 17

Jan 16-17 Jan 23-24 Jan 29-31 Jan 30 Dou ble Header Jan 31

New Supervisor Orientation #1 (NSO) Managing Organizational Communication Overcoming Anger, Anxieties, and Impulses Speak Up!: Improving Your Assertive Communication WISE, Part 1 Train-the-Trainer WISE, Part 2 Generations in the Workplace Team Dynamics

Coming up in February 2013: Feb 4-8

New Employee Orientation #3 (NEO)

Cheyenne TLN Cheyenne

WYDOT-only TLN Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne

To register, or to find out more details, call the Training Program and talk to David Talley (777-4792), Jim Boyd (777-4791) or Rhonda DeLeeuw (777-4790).

When you call, ask about the videos, books and audiotapes available from the Training Resource Library.

WTDEA rings in holiday season with annual Christmas parties and community outreach

attendance received a “Merry Christmas” envelope with cash in it – either $10, $20 or $50. Many local businesses donated door prize gift baskets and gift cards.

Dancing was a calorie busting afterdinner activity. Music and disc jockey service was provided by Adam Martin of Encore Presentations, husband of Heidi Martin from Right-of-Way. The annual kid’s Christmas party was held a week later at Cheyenne’s Roller City on Dec 8. Over 100 people attended, either to skate or to accompany their young skaters. There was good food, fast skating, goody bags, candy canes and pictures with Santa for all. The WTDEA also sponsored a McDonald’s gift card give-away for 40 lucky skaters.

J.T. Todd, husband of Kim Todd in Financial Services, portrayed Santa at the event. Steve Askey, husband of Jeannean Askey, retired from Project Development, volunteered to be Santa’s photographer.

WTDEA also is proud to be involved out in our communities. They decorate a tree at the VA in Cheyenne every year.

The tree is located in the Cardio-Pulmo-

Seven-year old Thomas Berta, son of Christina Spindler from Traffic, took a breather from skating to sit on Santa’s lap for this photo op.

WTDEA thanks their 2012 sponsors!

Eileen’s Cookies Olive Garden Little Philly The Historic Plains Hotel De’s Candies Bouquets Unlimited Buffalo Wild Wings Steamboats Steak and Smokehouse Underwood Flowers Geology Program Bridge Program Internal Review Program Strategic Planning WyHy Federal Credit Union Right-Of-Way Program Bridge Program

Pam Fredrick (left) and Holly Hopwood with the Christmas tree WTDEA trimmed at the VA in Cheyenne.

Cash Calendar

WTDEA Store

Photo: Christina Spindler

The WTDEA adult Christmas party was held at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne the first Saturday of December. The gathering was a success with 92 people coming to enjoy the holiday spirit, good food and great company. Everyone in

nary section at the VA. This year, Pam Fredrick from Internal Review, Holly Hopwood with Employee Safety and Judy Cummings from Driver Services volunteered to trim the VA tree.

Photo courtesy Pam Fredrick

WTDEA Happenings

An 18 Month Calendar (7/2012 - 12/2013) is selling for $15. Daily chances to win starting January 2013. Contact your representative for information.

Gloves

July 2013 Sunday

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Pigskin leather work gloves. $5.25 for members, $6.25 for non-members. Call Tina Thomas at 777-4486.

Cookbook

The Roadkill Cookbook is selling for $10.

Call Barbara Thomasee at 777-4494.

Hats

WTDEA State Board is selling hats. The hats are $18. Contact your WTDEA representative for more information.

If you would like your WTDEA event to be placed in Interchange, please contact Tina Thomas, tina.thomas@wyo.gov or Tony Niswender, anthony.niswender@wyo.gov

Be sure to check out our internet classified site at:

http://wtdeaclassified.com January 2013

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In The Community Warm blankets from warm hearts

was decided upon. The edges of this type of blanket get tied to make a decorative fringe. Since the pattern involves no sewing, just minor cutting, each blanket took Cheyenne – Each 4-H club opens the no longer than an hour and 15 minutes door for young people to learn each. According to the club memleadership skills and explore ways bers, the cutting took the majority to give back to their community. of their time while tying the edges The Clover Club is Cheyenne’s was the easy step.

4-H organization and the young When asked what their people involved uphold the 4-H favorite part of the community principles of head, heart, hands, service project was, the resoundand health through fun and engaging response from the group ing programs. was, “Choosing the fleece!” Most The Clover Club chapter of blankets are 3 by 5 and run ap4-H recently stopped by WYDOT proximately $10 per blanket. Each Headquarters to present handblanket uses two squares of fleece made blankets to the Wyoming giving each a unique quality.

Highway Patrol. Lt. K.C. Ramsey The group made 30 blankets and Sgt. Duane Ellis were present that were split between the WHP to receive the blankets on behalf of Representatives of the local 4-H group, the Clover Club, along and area fire stations.

WHP. “We’ll give the blankets to with their parent sponsors, presenting handmade blankets to “We at 4-H wanted to make WHP. (From left: Annie Brenner, Sgt. Duane Ellis, Trisha Whettroopers to put in their cars,” said blankets to give back and make Ellis. “The blankets will be helpful stone, Nikki Whetstone, Brianna Santora, Dennis Santora, Ashley our community a better place. We Santora, Lt. K.C. Ramsey and Lauren Brenner. for when we pull up on a crash thought the fire department and scene and there is a family there,” The project of making blankets was a the Highway Patrol could use the blankets Ramsey added. The troopers will give the decision made by the Clover Club memwhen they went out on missions,” said family members a blanket for warmth, bership to give back to the community.

Brianna Santora. comfort, or a little of both.

An easy no-sew fleece blanket pattern – Carlie Van Winkle Dennis Santora from Headquarters Photo: Rick Carpenter

Repair Shop gets involved with the local 4-H group because his two daughters Brianna and Ashley are both members. Brianna is president and Ashley is recorder of the local 4-H chapter.

Wyoming has had a primary law prohibiting text based communications while driving since July 1, 2010. That said, many youthful drivers still engage in this dangerous behavior prompting the need for creative educational efforts.

On Dec. 7, students from Cheyenne area high schools (Central, East and South) learned firsthand why they shouldn’t text and drive. The program was sponsored by AT&T and hosted by Cheyenne Central High School at its Ag Body Shop. Collaborating with AT&T in this event were the WYDOT Highway Safety Office sub grantees: The CLICK Program, Drive Safe Wyoming, Laramie County Safety Communities and the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

The program contained several components.

First, students watched a 10-minute video showing them the tragic consequences of texting and driving. It is estimated that over 500 students watched the video. Time permitted 200 of these students to participate in a hands on texting and driving scenario using AT&T’s car simulator.

Few of the students made it through the almost

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n January 2013

Photo courtesy Deb Buchhammer

AT&T texting simulator event

Cheyenne area teens pledged not to text and drive at the recent AT&T texting simulator event held at Cheyenne’s Central High School.

minute-long drive without crashing.

Students were also given the opportunity to sign a pledge board. By day’s end the board was filled with signatures.

Sgt. Duane Ellis of the Wyoming Highway Patrol was one of the speakers at the event. He emphasized to the students the risks and dangers of texting and driving.

Cheryl Riley, Director of External Affairs with AT&T, arranged for the simulator to be at the event. In a conversation with Highway Safety Office Program Supervisor Robert Tompkins, Riley said: “These are our products. This is our service. But we don’t want people dying because they are using our products incorrectly.”

Riley added, “It’s so tragic to lose a life at any age but particularly at this age when it’s so preventable.”

January 2013

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(Right) Shane Patrick’s 12-year old son, Wesley, shot this four-point buck in his first year of hunting. Shane Patrick is an IT technician in District 5.

ntenance, Meeteetse Mai ve and right), . 2 and a bo pt (a Se s in on s gg Shawn Co lvet at 15 yard ve ll archery fu t in es er rg la de took down a The bull is his s. rd ya 5 9.

21 at bull elk Sept. date. bull killed to

Photo courtesy John Eddins

tesy Photo cour

sz Kim Kura

(Below) Proud dad Kevin Maynard, of South Pass Maintenance, snapped this shot of his 12-year old daughter, Mia, after she shot this bull elk in Oct. with one rifle shot on South Pass.

lecik Photo courtesy Chuck Kaka

Photo courtesy Shawn Cogg

ins

Shawn Coggins Photo courtesy

WYDOT Outdoors

Photo cour tesy

Kar Photo courtesy

20

McLean Eddins (below), with dad John looking on, and the whitetail buck he harvested in November. The elder Eddins is District Engineer in District 3.

Karmen W arrington

n men Warringto

ountain gged a m rns of ance, ba o n h te e h in T a f Cody. ubois M bove), D hunt northwest o (a sz ra u Kim K tember late Sep ches. goat in a measured 10 in l a im n a the Driver on of Rawlins rmen Warringt ested near Ka rv ) ha w e lo sh be d at th (Right an a cow moose e es wide. m ch ho in t .5 gh antlers at 28 Services brou ith w er de e a mul Pinedale and

Interchange

n January 2013

Photo courtesy Mark Baumgart ner

Photo courtesy Anthony Warb urton

Photo courtesy Shane Patrick

Hunting runs in the fam ily – three generation s of Warburtons are pictured. Right- Of-Wa y’s Tony Warburton’s you ngest son Brandon, center, bagged this pro nghorn antelope Sept.

29. (From left) Tony’s brother John, father Jac k, son Brandon, Tony, and son Clint.

Mark Baumga rtner, Sheridan Sign Crew fore his whitetail bu man, with ck in late Oct ober outside Baumgartner Dayton. Mark ’s daughter, M cKinley (below a whitetail bu ), also snagge ck from their d hunting trip.

Photo courtesy Terry Uhrich

Photo courtesy John Eddins

uarters Chuck Kakalecik, Headq h his cow Telecom supervisor, wit for filling elk bagged and ready urger. h-b bus h the freezer wit

Photo courtesy Chuck Kaka lecik

Photo courtesy John Eddins

Photo courtesy Mark Baumgart ner

(Below) Jeffary Niswender, District 1 sign crew in Laramie, harvested his first white tail deer in Area 16 during rifle season at the beginning of the rut. He green scored 180 3/4.

(Above) Terry Uhrich’s 12-year-old son, Tyler, brought down this six-point bull elk this fall while archery hunting. He was very excited to harvest this nice elk on his very first elk hunt.

Terry Uhrich is the District 2 equipment supervisor.

Gabe Gutierrez, who wo rks in the WYDOT TMC harvested this bull elk this hunting season.

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Photo: WYDOT District 1

District 1 Maintenance Snow Plows in the Cheyenne Christmas Parade. Each of the three trucks had a specially painted blade courtesy of area high schools. Cheyenne East High Art Club (right) won the 2012 first place award. Other plow blade entries were from Burns High (right center) and Cheyenne South (far right). WTDEA sponsors a blade painting contest annually which results in a cash award for the winning art club.

Photo: WYDOT District 1

Holiday Fun at WYDOT

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Photo: Rick Carpenter

David Messman and Lynn Spence of Headquarters Mailing Services got into the spirit this holiday season!

The ladies in Financial Services dressed their office up with wrapping paper, garland and a collection of Santas. From left, Tracy Willmarth, Sue Hopkins, and Shelly Erickson.

Photo: Duane Ellis

Lt. Troy McLees and fellow elves, Antonia Torres (left) and Andi Jones were judges at a gingerbread decorating contest held by Fuel Tax.

Photo: WYDOT District 4

Nothing wrong with a little orange, brown and yellow on a Christmas tree, is there? Not according to the folks in Photogrammetry and Surveys. (from left) Robert Alles, David Norby, and Kathleen Kinney.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

District 4 office pictured from left to right are: Larry Konetzki, DME; Marty Bach, Maintenance tech; Kaylina Houston, HR; Ronda Holwell, Public Involvement; (kneeling) Chris Simon, Building and Grounds tech; Carl Carmichael, district surveyor; Jim Evensen, DTE; (hiding) Rick Dowdy, District Construction; Kim Ashley, district clerk; and Mark Gillett, DE.

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Break Time

Photo courtesy Merna Carver

Photo: WYDOT District 1

Can you spot the five differences in the photos below? Check your answers online at: www.employees.dot.state.wy.us, or if not able to access the employee site: www.dot. state.wy.us/wydot/engineering_technical_programs/manuals_publications/interchange.

Dave Way, with his daughters Ellie and Brenna (left), went to see Santa after the annual Christmas program at the Baggs school. Santa was chatting with his helper, Maddie McEvoy (on Santa’s lap), who took a break from handing out bags to children after they spoke with Santa.

The jolly man was our own Tom McEvoy, Baggs Maintenance, who was a sensational fill-in for the busy Santa!

Retiring from WYDOT?

Don’t want to miss a single issue of Interchange?

Give us your name and address and we’ll be sure to put you on our mailing list.

Retiree name:

Photo courtesy Merna Carver

Mailing address:

Janet Farrar and Mel Anderson, of Strategic Performance showed off their “cool” holiday decor with Frosty and glittering icicles.

Please fill in, cut out and return this slip to WYDOT Public Affairs Office, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009. Or, email Carlie Van Winkle at carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

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Interchange

Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd.

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340

Pre-sorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Cheyenne, WY 82009 Permit No. 24

Address Service Requested

ICE & SNOW? Take it slow Know before you go.