July 2015 Interchange

Interchange July 2015, Vol. 43, Issue 7

Mother Nature wreaks havoc Flooding and mudslides plague state

Thanks WYDOT family A special thanks for all the thoughts and prayers from my WYDOT family in the last few months.

Cancer is never a good thing, but with friends like you, things got a lot better.

James McLean, South Pass Maintenance Technician

I wish to thank everyone who donated time to me while I was off for the three surgeries I had.

I’m back to work now and feeling much better. Thank you all very, very much!

Ted J. Stienmetz Casper Striping Foreman

WYDOT workers lend a hand at crash scene On June 9, I witnessed a wicked car accident between Wamsutter and Rawlins.

I was one of the first people out of my car, along with a WYDOT crew that showed up right after the incident.

All of the WYDOT employees were true professionals. I can’t EVEN imagine what it would have been like dealing with traffic had they not been there.

It took first responders nearly 20 minutes to get there.

There were too many WYDOT men there to get each of their names, but I wanted to extend my thanks to each of them. The WYDOT workers in truck 700 were the first to arrive and were awesome.

They even checked on us after they were relieved of their duties flagging traffic.

Please pass on my appreciation. I know the party that was hit by the vehicle was appreciative as well.

Kind regards,

Heidi Krause Operations Manager, Transmission & Distribution Operations Rocky Mountain Power

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Miles of gratitude found on Wyoming highways

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 email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

I work at a port of entry and a truck driver came inside even though he was given the light to proceed. He wanted to tell me how gracious and appreciative he was for what he read on the electronic signs.

You see, he is a vet and when he returned home from Vietnam the welcome home wasn’t so welcoming. He hasn’t forgotten what he lived through and what he saw over there and what the reaction was from the very people he endured this for.

The message he read for 348 miles across Wyoming brought tears to his eyes as he read, “Welcome Home Vietnam Vets.”

He will never forget Wyoming and he will be sharing his experience here for the rest of his life, and he didn’t even have to get out of his truck to have this experience.

I just wanted you to know the impact of this small gesture. Please help me get this message to the person behind this random act of kindness.

Thank you!

Staff

Dawn Trautman Sheridan/Dietz Port Of Entry

WYDOT Director: John F. Cox Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee Photo courtesy Dawn Trautman

Letters

The welcoming message found on DMS signs was inspiring to many who travel on Wyoming highways.

The thank yous ‘flood’ in I would like to say “thank you” to the WYDOT crews for working so diligently to get our Niobrara County roads repaired!

Becky L. Freeman Niobrara County Clerk

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. David Wagener Patrol Photography: Rick Carpenter Public Affairs

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July 2015

DOT publication

Also in this issue:

Contents

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Letters.....................................2 District briefs.........................4 By the Numbers...................7

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Noteworthy..........................16 Training.................................18 TechNotes............................19

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District news.......................21 Passings............................... 23 Extra Mile Awards............. 24 5

WTDEA................................. 24

7

4

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Outdoors............................. 25 Break Time.......................... 27

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2

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8 In the aftermath:

WYDOT responds to Lusk/Manville flooding

10 Wind River Canyon

Mud and debris cause U.S. 20 to close for three days

12 Potential speed limit increases 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 website home page.

New laws go into effect July 1

14 WYO 59 turn lanes

Locations between Douglas and Bill effected On the cover:

Heavy May rain causes Wind River Canyon mudslides.

Photo: WYDOT

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District Briefs Transportation Commission awards $11.9 million in highway contracts

Cheyenne – Contracts totaling $11.9 million for 11 highway projects around the state, including one made possible by increased fuel tax revenue, were awarded by the Wyoming Transportation Commission during its May teleconference meeting.

Riverside Contracting of Missoula, Mont., won the largest of the contracts with the low bid of $3.4 million for surface and bridge rehabilitation work on 4.5 miles of US 14-16-20 about 14 miles west of Cody. The work will include rehabilitation of the Shoshone River and Trout Creek bridges at each end of the project, and a new layer of asphalt between the bridges. It will be paid for with revenue from the 10-cent fuel tax increase. The contract completion date is Sept. 30, 2016.

Kolbe Striping of Castle Rock, Colo., was the low bidder at $1.9 million for epoxy striping on highway sections in Albany, Carbon, Crook, Laramie, Lincoln, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton and Weston counties by Nov. 30. The epoxy striping lasts longer than standard paint, and is used on highway sections that are difficult to stripe or carry high traffic volumes.

Kolbe also won three smaller contracts for special markings to be completed by Oct. 15. The contracts were for:

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n $257,000 for installing thermoplastic

pavement markings on highways in Natrona and Niobrara counties.

The thermoplastic markings also last longer than standard paint, and are used at intersections and on heavily traveled roads;

n $180,000 for installing railroad cross-

ing markings in Big Horn, Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Platte, Sheridan, Sweetwater, Washakie and Weston

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counties; and

n $158,000 for installing thermoplastic

pavement markings on highway sections in Campbell, Johnson, Sheridan and Weston counties.

Dietzler Construction of Yoder won a $1.6 million contract to replace the bridge over the Medicine Bow River in Elk Mountain. The existing bridge was built before 1930 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, but WYDOT engineers determined the timber-decked structure could not be rehabilitated.

The pony trusses from the bridge will be removed and attached as an aesthetic enhancement to the nearby Mill Creek Bridge. The new Medicine Bow River Bridge will include a truss façade to make it look similar to the existing bridge. The bridge will be built on the same alignment, so the existing bridge must be removed first, and a detour will be in use throughout the project. The contract completion date is June 15, 2016.

Dietzler also was the low bidder at $1.3 million for rehabilitation of bridges in Goshen, Natrona and Platte counties

by Oct. 31, 2016. Much of the work will entail bridge deck repairs and new concrete pavement. The bridges involved are the Dry Creek and Horse Creek bridges on WYO 220 southwest of Casper, the US 26 bridges over the Platte River west of Guernsey and the Interstate Canal west of Fort Laramie, and the WYO 314 bridge over Richeau Creek about 2 miles east of Interstate 25.

Wilson Brothers Construction of Cowley submitted the low bid of $1.1 million for erosion repair work along the banks of the Big Wind River about 24 miles west of Riverton. The erosion that began during flooding in 2011, is threatening a US 26-287 bridge downstream.

The contract completion date is Oct. 31.

Reiman Corp. of Cheyenne was awarded a $753,000 contract for bridge rehabilitation work on 2 miles of US 20-26 about 16 miles west of Casper. The work is scheduled for completion by Oct. 31.

Lewis and Lewis Inc. of Rock Springs submitted the low bid of $617,000 for a full-depth reclamation on three-quarters

of a mile of WYO 410 in Mountain View. The work entails grinding off the existing deteriorated asphalt, mixing it with liquefied asphalt and using that as a base for a new layer of pavement. The contract completion date is Oct. 31.

Casper’s Hedquist Construction was the low bidder at $530,000 for adding turn lanes to WYO 220 at its intersection with Indian Springs Road in an area of Casper experiencing increasing traffic due to development. The work will include adding two left-turn lanes and one right-turn lane, and moving the existing electronic message sign slightly to the north to precede the new left-turn lane.

The work is scheduled to be complete by Oct. 31.

Investigation of suspected pipe bomb leads to I-80 closure Cheyenne – A section of I-80 just east of the Burns-Carpenter Interchange was closed for about an hour June 17 while bomb squad personnel investigated a suspected pipe bomb found beside the highway.

A WYDOT maintenance worker found a section of galvanized pipe about 14 inches long with end caps sitting just off the pavement beside the westbound lanes of I-80 about one-half mile east of the interchange. He reported it to the Wyoming Highway Patrol at 11:44 a.m.

Trooper Jeremy Beck responded, confirmed the device looked like a potential pipe bomb and requested assistance from the joint bomb squad of the Laramie County Sheriff ’s Office and Cheyenne Police Department, which recommended setting up a safety corridor in the area.

WYDOT first closed the westbound I-80 lanes at 1:31 p.m., and then closed the eastbound lanes at 1:55 p.m. Some traffic was allowed to continue through the area on the I-80 Service Road south of the eastbound lanes.

Bomb squad personnel first used a device to remove one of the end caps from the pipe to view the contents, and then Sgt. David McPherson, of the Laramie County Sheriff ’s Office, approached

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the pipe, inspected it and confirmed it was safe.

The contents of the pipe were determined to be vehicle registration and insurance information for an energy company vehicle.

The eastbound lanes of I-80 and the westbound passing lane were reopened at 2:52 p.m., and the final westbound lane was reopened at 3:10 p.m.

Patrol Capt. Tom Stoker thanked all the responding agencies for the cooperation that led to a successful outcome to the incident.

Bridge work at College Drive and Campstool Road in Cheyenne Cheyenne – Rehabilitation work began on the College Drive Bridge that crosses over the Union Pacific Railroad and Campstool Road on May 26. Travel across the structure is limited to one lane in each direction.

The rehabilitation includes concrete repairs on and around the bridge, curb and guardrail repairs with upgrades, asphalt paving, slab replacement and an epoxy overlay. The job is scheduled to be completed by October 31.

The contractor for the project is S&S Builders of Cheyenne. The cost is $1.7 million and it is paid for with state funds.

Road work on I-80 in Cheyenne Cheyenne – Paving crews concluded a project started last summer on I-80 between Roundtop Road and Otto Road.

The crews finalized the wear course in both the eastbound and westbound lanes.

The work was performed by closing one lane at a time.

Motorists were advised to be watchful for flaggers, lowered speeds and a 16foot width restriction.

The total project cost is $10.7 million dollars and it was federally funded with a completion date of August 31.

Chip seal season set in southeast Wyoming Cheyenne –Chip seal season is

underway on state roads. Knife River Corporation is the contractor for work in southeast Wyoming.

Laramie County (Chip Seal) n WYO 213 near Burns, milepost 0.10 to 10.80. n Torrington Highway (U.S. 85), mile-

post 35.00 to 43.32.

n Horse Creek Road (WYO 211), mile-

post 17.64 to 25.07 from July 9 to 14.

n Yellowstone Road (WYO 219), mile-

post 0 to 0.47.

n College Drive (WYO 212), milepost

4.71 to 5.15.

Laramie County (Micro-Surfacing)

n South Industrial Service Road, mile-

post 0.00 to 0.94, scheduled for Sept.

14 and 15.

n Round Top Road (WYO 222), mile-

post 0.00 to 1.81, scheduled for Sept.

16 and 17.

Albany County (Chip Seal only)

n U.S. 30 north of Curtis Street, mile-

post 316.00 to 327.01.

The chip sealing and micro-surfacing work WYDOT does each summer repairs damage, provides a skid-resistant surface, and saves money by preventing water from getting into the pavement through cracks and potholes. This extends the life of the roads by five to seven years.

Motorists are urged to be alert when driving through the work zones. They should watch for flaggers, pilot cars, and slow down to the posted speed limits. They should increase the distance between the cars that they’re following to minimize the possibility of damage caused by loose gravel.

Trooper locates drugs, arrests two while manning road closure Cheyenne – While manning a road closure due to flooding on U.S. 85, a WHP trooper located a felony amount of drugs. Two juveniles were arrested.

U.S. 85 was closed at milepost 33 from Cheyenne due to flash flooding on June 14. While manning the road closure gate, the trooper went to advise a passenger car at the gate of the closure. As the trooper approached the Oldsmobile

Intrigue, it accelerated around the gate.

The trooper stopped the vehicle shortly thereafter and developed reasonable suspicion to request a K-9. A Laramie County Sheriff ’s Office (LCSO) K-9 unit responded and alerted to the presence of a controlled substance in the vehicle.

With the assistance of the LCSO and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), troopers found over a half a pound of marijuana, three grams of cocaine and 30 grams of mushrooms in the vehicle. Two juveniles, ages 16 and 17, were arrested and have been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and felony distribution of a controlled substance.

It was determined the drugs were headed to Scottsbluff, Neb., from Fort Collins, Colo. The follow up investigation has been turned over to DCI.

Salt Creek Highway Project Update Casper – Underway since June 19, crews have moved paving operations further north on the Salt Creek Highway (WYO 254).

Crews are reconstructing the area of Salt Creek Highway from Revenue Boulevard to Skyview Drive, which is north of the port of entry.

Access to Revenue Boulevard is from the south (bypass), and access to Skyview Drive is from the north at Coleman Circle.

The Salt Creek on and off ramps at the Shoshoni Bypass are open. The bridge is open with an 11-foot width restriction. Access the port of entry via the Shoshoni Bypass.

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Tanker crash results in 25 tons of hot oil leakage into creek bed Lusk – A rollover crash May 26 resulted in more than 25 tons of hot oil spilling from the tanker hauling it. The crash occurred near milepost 105 on WYO 270 approximately five miles north Briefs continued on page 6 July 2015

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Photo: WHP

A WHP traffic stop resulted in finding a felony amount of marijuana in several forms.

Felony amount of marijuana discovered in traffic stop Farson – A traffic stop for speeding on June 15 led to the arrest of two Indiana residents for possessing multiple forms of marijuana.

The stop occurred around milepost 50 on WYO 191 north of Farson.

A Lincoln passenger car was stopped for speeding 79 mph in a posted 65 mph zone. While talking with the occupants of the Lincoln, the trooper smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

A cache of varying forms of marijuana and THC were located inside of the car including edibles, patches, liquids, lotions, sprays and gel sticks. Marijuana in plant form was discovered as well.

Afton – A rollover crash on May 28 involving a commercial tanker truck resulted in more than 4,000 gallons of diesel leaking from the tanker. The crash occurred at milepost 55 on U.S. 89 approximately 30 miles south of Afton.

The driver, a resident of Chubbuck, Idaho, was driving a 2015 Kenworth hauling diesel fuel at the time of the crash for Hansen Oil Company of Soda Springs, Idaho. The driver sustained minor injuries and was not transported to a hospital. He was cited for failing to maintain a single lane of travel.

Hazmat crews responded to contain the spill next to Salt Creek and it is believed that none of the diesel had entered the creek.

U.S. 89 was closed in both directions for six hours.

Wapiti East highway improvement project underway

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Photo: WHP

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A diesel tanker breached upon rollover near Afton May 28.

Riverton – A series of public meetings occurred in June to address future highway improvement projects in Northwest Wyoming.

A key part of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) process involves annual meetings with public officials and other individuals who play a key transportation role in Wyoming, according to Shelby G. Carlson, district engineer in Basin.

“These meetings provide an opportunity for local officials and citizens to provide input into WYDOT’s planning process,” Carlson said.

WYDOT planned meetings at county courthouses to receive input and answer questions. Meetings were held in Fremont, Washakie, Hot Springs, Big Horn and Park Counties.

The STIP is a prioritized construction plan for highways in Wyoming.

Projects enter the STIP process based on a complex long-range planning and needs analysis process, along with public input on known development issues that impact highway capacity.

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Diesel tanker breaches during rollover crash

Photo: WHP

Rollover crash near Manville caused a hot oil spill into a nearby creek bed.

June meetings to address future highway projects in Northwest Wyoming

The two occupants in the car were arrested and taken to the Sweetwater County Detention Center in Rock Springs, Wyoming. The two Richmond, Ind., residents have both been charged with felony possession of marijuana.

Briefs continued from page 5 of Manville.

The 1994 Kenworth tractor-trailer combination rolled and left the road.

Neither of the Wheatland-based occupants of the truck were wearing their seat belts and both sustained injury. A local rancher stopped to help the driver and passenger from the truck. The duo were then later transported to Niobrara County Hospital by ambulance.

The breached tanker leaked hot oil down an embankment, through a culvert and into a nearby creek bed. A hazmat team responded to clean up the spill.

Speed is being investigated as the contributing factor in the crash. A citation for speeding and two seat belt tickets were issued.

Cody – A $3.45 million highway improvement project began in June directly east of Wapiti on U.S. 14-16-20.

The prime contractor is Riverside Contracting, Inc. of Missoula, Mont.

Riverside is the same prime contractor currently completing highway improvements west of Wapiti.

The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded the U.S. 14-16-20 contract to Riverside in May. “The project starts at the North Fork of the Shoshone River bridge at Wapiti and goes to just east of Trout Creek Bridge,” according to WYDOT Resident

Heavy rain led to U.S. 14-16-20 mud slide on Tuesday west of Cody

to avoid the truck. A head-on collision was avoided, but the two vehicles still collided.

The collision pushed the patrol vehicle into the ditch and pinned the trooper in vehicle. Motorists stopped to help, but extrication by the fire department was required to get him out.

Both Miears and the driver of the truck were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. The truck driver was cited for failing to yield to oncoming traffic while making a left turn.

Miears was released from the hospital the same day and recovered at home.

Thank you to the citizens who came to Trooper Miears’ aid as well as the Park County Sheriff ’s Office, Wyoming State Parks, Cody Fire District and the West Park Ambulance and Hospital staff that responded.

Photo: WHP

Engineer Todd Frost of Cody.

Other than several pipe crossings across the highway, the highway surface will remain as asphalt through the duration of the project.

“Paving is tentatively scheduled to start the end of July. All work except the chip seal is tentatively scheduled to be completed about Aug. 31,” Frost said. “If the chip seal is not done this year, it will be done next June.”

Frost said the project also includes deck repair and an epoxy deck overlay to the North Fork bridge, and the Trout Creek bridge will have approach slab replacement and a silica fume deck overlay.

Frost said the bridge rehabilitation depends upon favorable temperatures, so it is important it is completed during the summer.

Frost said WYDOT’s contract with Riverside calls for maximum traffic delays of 15 minutes. “Traffic will be controlled by flaggers and a pilot car except at the bridges. No work will occur July 1-5.

“One-way traffic will be carried on these bridges during the work with use of traffic signals to control traffic,” Frost said. “The bridge work is scheduled to start after July 5.”

The Wapiti East project consists of a one-inch asphalt pavement leveling, a two-inch pavement overlay and a chip seal, with some minor slope flattening and some pipe replacement and bridge rehabilitation, on 4.45 miles of U.S. 1416-20 from milepost 31.98 to milepost 36.43 between Yellowstone National Park and Cody.

Contract completion date is Sept. 30, 2016.

A head on collision was narrowly avoided, but the trooper needed extrication by the fire department.

Total number of employees: as of June 1, 2015

Commercial truck collides with patrol car

2,007

Photo: WYDOT

Cody – Cody-based Trooper Rodney Miears was injured in a two vehicle crash on U.S. 14-16-20. The crash occurred near milepost 33 at the entrance of the Yellowstone Valley Inn west of Cody.

Miears was traveling east on U.S. 1416-20 when a westbound 2003 International commercial truck with trailer slowed to turn left into the Yellowstone Valley Inn. The commercial truck driver failed to yield to the eastbound lane of travel. The trooper utilized emergency braking and swerved right in an attempt

Cody – Heavy rains on U.S. 14-16-20 west of Cody led to rock and mud slides in several locations.

The highway didn’t close during the slides, but there were minor traffic delays associated with the rock and mud flows.

The slide occurred at milepost 12.5, which is 12.5 miles east of the east gate of Yellowstone National Park.

Mud and debris from the rain caused some problems with a handful of plugged pipes underneath the highway between mileposts 9 and 12.5.

The rocks and mud were cleared by WYDOT maintenance workers.

“A rain cloud hung over the area and caused the issues,” according to WYDOT Maintenance Foreman Jim Berry of Cody. “The soils are saturated with water, so we may see more of this if afternoon rain storms continue. Our maintenance workers are monitoring the situation.” n

Heavy rains caused several mud slides that affected U.S. 14-16-20 in Park County.

One month ago

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One year ago

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In the aftermath: Lusk flood necessitates quick WYDOT response

Photos: Rick Carpenter

by Jeff Goetz

Photo: Terry Uhrich

Photo: Rick Carpenter

The torrent of water that rushed through the town of Lusk in the early hours of June 4 was by some reports seven feet high. It washed through the Niobrara River area flooding everything in its path, including the WYDOT Lusk facility, while taking out houses, cars and the US 85 bridge that connects the town.

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A storm that had stalled over Niobrara County at around 9 p.m., June 3 was the likely culprit. It wasn’t until after midnight that the rain began to let up.

By daybreak, four highways were closed as a direct result of the flooding. Much of downtown Lusk was bathed in muck.

A highway bridge was gone. Lives and businesses were affected. And WYDOT crews sprang into action to help return the town’s highways to normal.

Approximately seven inches of rain fell during the overnight of June 3 (that’s about one-third of an entire year’s worth of moisture for the area), along with a large band of hail. The rain merged together through the many dry wash areas around the county working its way to the Niobrara River. A large wash area on WYO 270 just south of Lance Creek silhouetted the highway against a back drop of mud, tree stumps and other debris. In Manville, the small downtown area was under water, turning WYO 270 into a pond through town and along US 18-20 just west of town, a 60-inch culvert

Photo: Rick Carpenter Photo: Bruce Burrows

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Photo: Terry Uhrich

Photo: Bruce Burrows

The Lusk/Manville flood took Niobrara County by surprise. The UPRR bridge collapsed from the force of water rushing under it. Culverts were pushed from underneath highways, causing collapse. Cars and trucks were tossed like playthings. WYDOT’s quick response helped get roads open, detours created and culverts repaired.

was pushed downstream, taking about a 20-foot section of highway with it.

By the time the water reached Lusk, it was several feet deep, washing everything in its path downstream. Cars, railroad equipment, WYDOT vehicles and even a small house, fell victim to the torrent. The area highways were immediately closed as there was no way to go around the water.

According to Terry Uhrich, District 2 equipment supervisor, save for a small truck and a sander, “all of WYDOT’s Lusk equipment, 48 pieces, were affected by the flood.”

The water was so deep, Uhrich said, that Lusk’s three light-duty pickups were two-thirds under water and the heavyduty truck fleet had water to the floorboards.

“We had one eight-yard tandem-axle dump truck parked outside where the water was as deep as the valve covers on the engine,” Uhrich said.

As for getting the fleet back on the road, repairs have so far included totaling some of the vehicles.

“Repairs have ranged from cleaning up units and changing fluids to others needing more extensive repairs, as well as completely totaling out two light-duty

trucks where repairs would have been cost-prohibitive. Fortunately, for some of the heavy equipment, such as the motor grader and loader, these units are tall enough that they just needed checked over and cleaned up,” Uhrich said.

“It is yet to be determined what some of the long-term effects, such as electrical issues due to corrosion will be on some of the equipment, especially the heavyduty trucks. It has taken a joint effort and extra work hours by all of the District 2 shops working together to get the Lusk fleet back in service and I have been very pleased with the response of the shops in getting the Lusk equipment fleet back on its feet.”

Once the water receded, WYDOT crews worked feverishly to reopen US 20, US 18-20, WYO 270 and US 85 to traffic.

Within a day, US 20 had reopened from Lusk east to Nebraska. By June 7, WYO 270 was open from Guernsey to US 85, about 20 miles north of Lusk. By June 9, the pipe under US 18-20 was replaced and the road reopened. Now there is a detour around the collapsed bridge, allowing tourists and locals passage through town on US 85.

And while replacing the bridge is a longer-term project, District 2 Engineer Lowell Fleenor praised all who helped get the roads open.

“I commend everyone who stepped up and helped us out,” said Fleenor. “Their cooperation allowed us to reopen the highways faster, to get the cleanup process underway and to begin working on getting things back to normal.”

Fleenor thanked crews from districts 1, 2 and 4 along with High Country Construction of Lander, which repaired the washed out pipe on US 18-20.

District 2 Traffic Engineer Mark Williams voiced similar sentiments, lauding WYDOT crews for working several long days without complaint and describing how inter-agency collaboration was paramount.

“Everyone has been just tremendous to work with – the railroad, the town of Lusk, the county, the Emergency Management folks – all pushing towards one goal of getting the community back on its feet,” Williams said. n

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Photos: WYDOT

Wind River Canyon slide Most Wyoming residents are aware that the spring of 2015 was one of the rainiest across much of Wyoming, and one event that made headlines was the unprecedented mudflows and rock slides in the Wind River Canyon between Shoshoni and Thermopolis.

Over Memorial Day weekend, slide debris began spilling across U.S. 20 in numerous locations within a five-mile stretch through the canyon. Large rocks and boulders dislodged from the canyon walls tumbled down onto the highway and adjacent road shoulders.

The largest slide occurred at milepost 123, where more than 300 yards of highway were covered by muck and rocks.

Stretches of guardrail were lost to the slides and many culverts were plugged or damaged, causing the water to flow over the road in areas.

“The material came down three different drainages from high above the road,” said District 5 Engineer Shelby Carlson.

“There were areas with debris six-to-eight feet deep.”

Individuals from five different WYDOT crews, operating five loaders and two plow trucks, were initially able to keep the highway clear, but then started running the risk of being trapped between slide paths as more material came down behind them. They eventually had to temporarily retreat and a road closure was instituted late Sunday afternoon, May 24.

“Talking to the locals that have lived in Thermopolis for all their lives; 80, 90 years, nobody’s seen anything of this magnitude in that time frame,” said Clint Huckfeldt, area maintenance supervisor for WYDOT in the Thermopolis area.

In addition to the Wind River Canyon being closed, many nearby county roads became impassable from the massive precipitation, prompting local authorities to institute closures for

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by Carlie Van Winkle

those roads as well. Nevertheless, Hot Springs County Search and Rescue ended up having to assist motorists who became stranded when they attempted to use those alternate routes go around the canyon closure.

Fortunately, rains diminished, allowing the highway through the canyon to be reopened by mid-morning on May 27.

“After we got the road open, we focused on re-establishing our drainage; we had a lot of culverts that were plugged, and we need to get the water off the top of the road, so we wouldn’t have to worry about cars hydroplaning,” Huckfeldt said.

An emergency contract for nearly $200,000 was subsequently approved for cleanup of Wind River Canyon mudslides and removal of large rocks on U.S. 20. The contract went to Pab Good Trucking LLC, of Greybull. District 5 Maintenance Engineer Pete Hallsten estimated the cleanup of the estimated 10,000 cubic yards of material would require to two-to-three weeks, finishing by the end of June.

“We knew a contractor would be better equipped to help us out, due to their having larger trucks and other types of specialized earthmoving equipment needed to move the material faster.” Huckfeldt added.

Long term fixes for U.S. 20 include the possibility of installing large structures under the highway surface for run-off, mud and debris in the future. n

Clockwise from top: Mud and debris slid down the steep canyon walls to the highway on the east and the railroad tracks on the west side. Sections of guardrail were lost to the torrent, as were sections of railroad tracks, torn from the hillside. The Wind River Canyon was closed to through traffic for nearly three days.

District 5 sees high water and flooding in related briefs –

Greybull River high water nearing edge of U.S. 16-20/WYO 789 between Greybull and Basin

Wet conditions lead to cracks, reduced speed limit on WYO 296 near Cody Cody – Cracks appeared in WYO 296 in late May near Northwest College’s A.L. Mickelson Field Station, and WYDOT officials began monitoring the situation northwest of Cody.

The road damage is near milepost 36, about 10 miles west of WYO 296’s intersection with WYO 120 northwest of Cody.

The largest crack involves roadway that has slumped about six inches, and the cracking has occurred in four other locations in this area, according to WYDOT Maintenance Foreman Jim Berry of Cody.

The highway remained open to traffic, with the cracked areas coned for safety, and a 30 mph speed limit put into effect with two 11-foot driving lanes through the area.

Berry said the Painter Canyon roadway sub-base was saturated with water due to heavy rains and melting snowpack, and the unusually wet May weather likely contributed to the cracks in the pavement. WYDOT Geology Program personnel were dispatched to inspect the damaged area.

Pavement patching is planned for this summer as a temporary fix to the problem. Geology will consult with District 5 staff and other department engineers to determine a more permanent solution, which might have to wait until 2016 to complete. n Photo: WYDOT

Basin – In early June, high water fueled by snow melt and spring rains rose to nearly the edge of U.S. 16-20 south of Greybull.

The flood surge came close to overtopping the highway. At one point, water was backed up in the right of way and found its way under the highway at the Greybull River bridge and with the help of several other culverts.

WYDOT workers monitored the situation and to make sure the pipes were staying open and flowing water.

Further, the workers were prepared to begin sandbagging the upstream side of the highway.

WYDOT consulted with officials with the National Weather Service office in Riverton concerning forecasted temperatures and expected flows during the period of warm spring weather and high run-off.

Hallsten reminded motorists to use care driving through low-lying areas and to not drive through standing water they might encounter on the highway.

Photo: Michael Stroble

Greybull River overflowing banks June 3, near U.S. 16-20/WYO 789 between Greybull and Basin.

Chief Joseph Scenic Highway at milepost 36, July10 2015 n of Interchange 11 about miles west WYO 296’s intersection with WYO 120, north of Cody.

Potential speed limit increases, other new laws now in effect Study of speed limit increase progressing

Photo: Rick Carpenter

On July 1 it became legal for WYDOT to set speed limits as high as 70 mph on state highways, but only after an engineering and traffic investigation is completed, so drivers shouldn’t expect to see the higher limit before fall 2016.

With 4,900 miles of highway potentially affected by the new law, the process of identifying which sections a 70 mph limit would be safe on will include three steps.

The first step now underway involves three consultants assessing the highway segments on 18 different characteristics to eliminate sections on which the expense of the statutorily required engineering and traffic investigation would not be warranted.

Those include segments where the speed limit is already set below 65 mph, highways in mountainous areas and segments shorter than 15 miles, because too many speed limit changes over short distances result in a lack of compliance.

Based on those criteria, about 2,000 miles of highways have been eliminated from consideration, leaving 95 segments totaling about 2,900 miles continuing through the remaining 15 steps of the analysis.

They will be assessed on whether the highway is in a rural or urban area, crash history including total crashes, fatal and injury crashes and nighttime crashes, the location and number of roads and driveways intersecting the highway, the width of the travel lanes and shoulders, number of lanes and curves and whether those curves are signed for lower advisory speeds, traffic volumes and percentage of trucks, roadside hazards and pavement conditions.

Once that analysis is completed, the results will be presented to the Wyoming Transportation Commission in October and the Legislature’s Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee in November.

Then a decision will be needed on funding for the engineering and traffic investigation for highway segments that have survived the initial analysis and been designated as “green.”

“Step 2 would kick off with additional money and we’d investigate those green roads as to what are the speeds, what are the other

by Dave Kingham engineering aspects of this that would have to be changed, such as no passing barriers, signage, possibly some shoulder issues,” State Traffic Engineer Joel Meena said.

The third step in the process would be to look at some of the highway segments that came out of the initial analysis designated as “yellow,” meaning there were safety concerns that would have to be addressed before the speed limit could be increased there, and it would require a significant financial investment to address those concerns.

The study required to approve a speed limit increase on a twolane highway is far more complex than the study the department completed last year prior to increasing the speed limit to 80 mph on 488 miles of interstate highway.

“The interstates are already designed to the highest standards, and there’s not as much risk raising the speed limit 5 mph on that system versus the non-interstate rural state highways,” Assistant State Traffic Engineer Jeff Brown said. “There are just a lot more factors going on with the two-lane analysis.”

At-grade intersections, traffic exiting and entering the road, nopassing zones, school bus stops and many other factors must be considered to retain a safe and efficient two-lane highway system.

Meena said all that was required for the increase to 80 mph on the interstates was changing the speed limit signs on the affected segments, because the design speeds, clear zones and other safety features were already in place on the four-lane divided highways.

That will not be the case on the state’s other highways.

“At the very minimum the markings and regulatory signs on the road have to be adjusted, and then there is a whole host of warning signs that might come into play when we post the higher speed,” Meena said. “All those improvements, if you’re talking about hundreds of miles of highway, could amount to a lot of money just to increase the speed limit 5 mph, and do it in a safe manner.”

The changes also will take time, because they will have to be fit into work schedules or contracts.

“It’s not going to be an overnight thing,” Meena said. “We may not be done with the green segments for many years.”

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Other new laws for 2015

Several new laws affecting WYDOT and Wyoming motorists took effect July 1.

Speeding penalties: The fine for exceeding the 80 mph speed limit in effect on 488 miles of Wyoming’s interstate highways by up to 5 mph is reduced to $5 for each mile per hour over the speed limit. That is the same fine imposed for exceeding the 75 mph limit in effect on the rest of the interstates.

Passing bicyclists: Drivers overtaking and passing bicyclists traveling lawfully in the same direction as their vehicle are now required to maintain at least 3 feet of separation between the right side of their vehicle, including mirrors or other projections, and the bicycle, when space allows.

Move over for tow trucks: Drivers are required to move over or slow down when passing a tow truck parked beside the road with at least one flashing red, blue, white or amber light visible for 500 feet in either direction. On a road with more than one lane in each direction, drivers must move to the lane farthest from the tow truck. On a two-lane road, drivers must slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit. The move over requirement already applied to police, fire, ambulance and other emergency vehicles.

Nonconsensual towing services: This law essentially puts into state statute the Highway Patrol’s system for operating the list of towing companies called on a rotating basis for nonconsensual towing in cases of crashes or arrests. It requires towing companies to file a summary rate disclosure document for typical

towing and recovery work. If fees charged are disputed, the law places the burden of proof on the towing company to show its fees are fair and reasonable. It also creates potential penalties for companies found to have violated the criteria required for being included on the list, and an appeals process for companies to dispute any penalty imposed.

Alternative fuel taxation: A tax of 24 cents per gasoline gallon equivalent or diesel gallon equivalent is created on alternative fuels such as liquefied natural gas or compressed natural gas, along with an annual $50 fee for electric cars. Fuel Tax Program Manager Wayne Hassinger said the law gives his office clear direction on how to handle alternative fuels at a time when more alternative fuel stations are expected to begin appearing around the state.

Time allowed for vehicle registration: Wyoming residents who purchase a new or used vehicle now have more time to get the vehicle registered in the state. The new law increases the time period from 45 days to 60 days for vehicles purchased from a dealer and carrying a temporary license permit, and for vehicles purchased from a private party, so long as the buyer has a notarized bill of sale.

Front license plate exemptions: Antique vehicles and any vehicle originally manufactured without a bracket or other means to allow displaying a plate on the front are now exempt from the state’s requirement that vehicles display a front license plate.

Already exempted from the requirement were motorcycles, multipurpose vehicles, trailers, street rods and custom vehicles. n July 2015

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Turn lane project on WYO 59 begins mid-July

by Bruce Burrows

Construction of several new turn lanes on WYO 59 in Converse County is set to be begin in mid-July.

The project will encompass seven locations between Douglas and Bill. Motorists are encountering the work zones at:

1 Mileposts 5-6 – Left-turn lane southbound and

northbound right-turn/decelerate lane at Bill Hall Road;

2 Mileposts 8-9 – Left-turn lane southbound onto Flat Top Road; 3 Mileposts 10-11 – Left-turn lane southbound; right-turn lane northbound at Walker Creek Road; 4 Mileposts 15-16 – Left-turn lane southbound onto Robinson Road; 5 Milepost 22 – Approach work at Highland Loop.

Widening approach (entrance) to 40 feet with new cattle guard; 6 Mileposts 29-30 – Left-turn lane southbound and northbound; right-turn lane onto Esau Road; and 7 Mileposts 35-36 – Center turn lane through Bill.

Construction impacts on traffic will be minimized by having work in progress at no more than two locations at any one time. In addition, work will temporarily cease during shift changes at local mines; the

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stoppages will vary depending on the location under construction.

The speed limit through the work zones, which measure 2,000 feet or less, will be reduced to 45 mph, with flaggers stationed at each end. Portable temporary rumble strips will be in place prior to each work zone to provide an extra alert to approaching motorists.

The project, which will improve safety and reduce traffic congestion, is scheduled to be substantially complete by October.

A boom in oil and gas development in the area has resulted in steady increases in traffic on WYO 59, much of it in the form of heavy trucks. That development has heightened public concerns about mobility and safety issues.

The possibility of improvements to the highway between Douglas and Wright was the topic at two community meetings last October.

The turn lane project will address traffic congestion caused by truck traffic slowing and waiting to turn from WYO 59 onto local roads.

Another project this year will involve grinding shoulder and centerline rumble strips at various locations along the entire Douglas-Gillette corridor of WYO 59. n

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Over the Limit?

Under Arrest.

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Satellite image courtesy Google Earth

4

Always use a designated driver.

OMING WY HWAY PATRO

HIGHWAY SAFETY

HIG

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Photo: Rick Carpenter

PROGRAM

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Photo: Rick Carpenter

Maintenance training videos on intranet

Three Boys’ State participants visited headquarters on June 11. Director John Cox and Lt. Col. Shannon Ratliff met with (seated left) John Hunter of Yoder – WHP Colonel for a day; (standing) Aaron Kerbs of Saratoga – Aeronautics Administrator for a day; and (seated right) Landon Matthews of Evanston – WYDOT Director for a day.

Wyoming Boys’ State delegates visit Cheyenne The American Legion Boys’ State program teaches high school students going into their senior year about leadership and citizenship. The delegates visited WYDOT as part of their education in state government.

John Hunter, Aaron Kerbs and Landon Matthews met with Director John Cox and Lt. Col. Shannon Ratliff before touring the WYDOT campus. Stops on their tour included Patrol, the Materials Lab and the Rigging shop. The boys also stopped by the Aeronautics hangar. n

WYDOT Toastmaster brings home hardware

Photo courtesy Gary May

Skyler May, son of Gary and Carla May of Arlington, attended Boys’ State in Douglas the week of June 8. Skyler was selected to serve as the adjutant general for a day. Skyler returns to Rock River High this fall as a senior.

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Why look elsewhere when subject matter experts are on hand? That is the question Field Operations Maintenance Staff Engineer Jeff Frazier mulled over while tasked with looking for training to deploy to WYDOT maintenance crews.

Prerecorded training videos covered some of what WYDOT crews needed, but it seemed incomplete. Frazier spoke with Public Affairs Videographer Matt Groth and the two began collaborating on the production of in-house training videos.

Frazier looked for subject matter experts within WYDOT who would be willing to go on camera for the project.

Shane Powell with Casper maintenance agreed to be on-screen for the training videos of the snowplow and dump truck pre-trip checklists. Assistant State Equipment Manager Brian Wenger explains the Force America 6100 system placed on each plow truck to control the sanding, pre-wet and plow blade positioning in the third video.

“Once I started looking around at our

by Mike Hand Brian Rentner, a design team leader in the Bridge Program and member of Roadmasters Toastmasters in Cheyenne, took second place in the Toastmasters District 26 Table Topics competition held May 16 in Aurora, Colo.

Although disappointed he didn’t take first place, he was pleased to show that the public speaking skills that are being developed and refined in Toastmasters clubs in Wyoming are producing award winning speakers.

“This is a big deal. To compete at the district competition, Brian finished first place in three earlier rounds of competition,” said Janice Haldi, president of Roadmasters. “Brian was the only contestant from Wyoming and he competed against five other division winners from Colorado, finishing better than all but one.”

Haldi added that Roadmasters has a long history of producing contest winners

going back to the founding of the club in 2004.

In the table topics competition, all contestants are removed from the room and escorted to the stage one at a time.

They are then asked a question to which they must respond with a speech that is a minimum of one minute and a maximum of two minutes thirty seconds in length.

Roadmasters meets every Monday at 12:05 p.m. in the WYDOT U classroom, second floor of the Planning Building. Everyone wanting to improve their leadership and speaking skills are welcome. n

Photo courtesy Mike Hand

Noteworthy

people, I knew we had enough expertise here within the department to create our own videos,” said Frazier. “To date, we have produced three training videos in house – a snowplow pre-trip, a regular dump truck pre-trip and a training course on our Force America 6100 systems.”

All the videos can be found on the WYDOT intranet site on the Maintenance Staff page under the Equipment Training Videos tab.

The Maintenance Program plans on offering more training videos in the future. Currently, Groth is producing a fourth video with Jason Fleming of Lovell maintenance about the 150 hour lubrication schedule.

“As the need arises for more of this type of training, we’ll keep adding more topics,” said Frazier. “This is quick information that we can get out to the crews for both refresh training and new hire training.”

Each click and play video is less than 10 minutes long and are designed for supervisors to show at safety meetings with each maintenance group statewide.

Employees may also watch the videos at their leisure and report back to their supervisors for documentation toward their job-related training on their Employee Safety record. n

Brian Rentner of Bridge shows off a wellearned trophy from a recent district competition in Colorado.

Noteworthy

The “chilly dog” system is a stand alone back up system which alerts the trooper if the vehicle’s ambient temperature is too hot for the K9 or if the engine is overheating or having mechanical malfunctions. The system is capable of rolling down windows and turning on the air conditioner or heat (in colder months).

The second half of the demonstration was centered on the WHP K9 program. There are On June 18, the transportation comcurrently six K9 teams in Wyoming commissioners stopped by the WYDOT Headprised of Malinois (Belgian shepherd), English quarters car barn for an education session springer spaniel and Labrador retrievers. The facilitated by Patrol Capt. Josh Walther narcotics dogs are in Riverton, Pinedale, Rock explained the process of new vehicles, Springs, Sundance and Elk Mountain. Cheyequipment procurement, installation and enne will have one narcotics and one explosives retirement of vehicles to the transportadetection K9. The explosive detection dog is tion commissioners and other guests. currently in training.

The first half of the learning sesThe current cost of a narcotics dog ranges sion was focused on patrol vehicles and from $7,500-8,500 per dog, not including the equipment. Walther and Lt. K.C. Ramsey fees for a minimum three-week basic K9-hanshowed the commissioners one of the dler training class. newest additions to the WHP fleet, a “The K9s are not just a partner or a piece new Chevy Tahoe. Walther explained the Trooper Jeremy Beck is the handler of yellow of equipment,” said Ramsey. “The dogs really lengthy process of getting a new WHP become part of the trooper’s family.”

Labrador retriever, Hunter. Beck and Hunter vehicle from bid to delivery. Since troop- are together 24/7 putting them on 24-hour K9s and their handlers are required to have ers are up for new vehicles every 120,000 call. Beck and Hunter stole the show at the a minimum 16 hours of training. WHP dogs session with a drug detection demonstration. miles, the bidding process starts long typically train on a daily basis, giving them before the 120,000 miles has been reached. more than 16 total hours of training per week. In addition to the “Patrol looks at vehicle cost, the cost of purchase and installaminimum hours of training, K9 teams need yearly certification tion of light bars, communication equipment, exterior trim packthrough the National Police Canine Association (NPCA). WHP ages and especially for the K9 vehicles, the “chilly dog” vehicle is implementing an internal certification that will be even more temperature monitoring system prior to ordering,” said Walther. rigorous than the NPCA certification for their K9 teams.

“When purchasing components for each patrol car, WHP tries to What does certification entail? Narcotics dogs are trained and order items that are “future-proof,” and will fit in or on subsecertified on five odors – marijuana, amphetamines, methamphetquent models of patrol cars so the components last longer than amines, cocaine and heroine. the life of the vehicle to keep costs down.”

“During certification, odors are set out for the dogs to find.

New vehicles purchased for WHP are pursuit-rated all-wheel The trooper and K9 have a certain amount of time to locate all drive cars or SUVs. The current fleet consists of Chevy and the odors to within 5 to 6 inches of the location or the team is not Dodge vehicles, and WHP is looking into a Ford sedan model certified,” said Trooper Jeremy Beck. “The certification sometimes for future use. Upon ordering a vehicle, the newly ordered car entails searching an empty car and it’s up to the handler to know or SUV has already been assigned to a specific trooper in the if the dog is unable to locate the odor or if the odor doesn’t exist.” field. When the trooper picks up the new vehicle, the old one is Once deployed after certification, WHP K9 teams are available swapped out, stripped of all equipment and markings and then to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the state. n taken to auction.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Transportation commissioners attend WHP K9 learning session

WHP K9 Lou retired June 1 after six years of service with Patrol. Trooper Josh Hardee and Lou were paired six years ago through Federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas funding and stationed in Casper. Health concerns with Lou’s joints and hips forced his retirement.

Lou loved doing educational school deployments so he could be petted by kids, make them laugh and lick their faces. Lou was also continuously deployed by several agencies outside Patrol including the city of Casper, numerous agencies in Natrona and Converse counties, as well as

multiple district deployments statewide.

Some of Lou and Hardee’s more notable interdictions from over 400 plus deployments include 25 pounds of marijuana, 75 grams of cocaine, 318 grams of methamphetamine, 350 grams of illegal pills, four illegal guns off the streets and over $433,000 in cash seized.

Lou will remain with Hardee, but plans on living the retired life lying around, chasing tennis balls and stealing food from the counter. Hardee continues his career with Patrol in the Capitol Protective Services Division in Cheyenne. n Photo: WHP

WHP K9 Lou retires

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Training

What if we don’t … and they stay?

by Todd DePorter, Training Services There’s a familiar story about a large corporation’s chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO) sitting down at a working lunch to discuss the next year’s budget. The CFO is reviewing the previous year’s professional development budget and says to the CEO, “Too much money is being spent on training and education.”

The CFO further expresses his concern by stating, “We must drastically cut back on the employee professional development money and direct it to more important business funded investments. After all, what will happen if we invest this money in them, only to have them gain new skills and leave for another company?”

The CEO stopped eating, she looked up and across the table at the CFO and she simply responded, “What if we don’t invest in our employees’ professional development and they stay?”

Your development is directly associated with your growth and enlightenment. It’s your intentional thinking and movement from where you are now to where you want to be. We all know someone who works hard at their job and waits for opportunity to come to them, only to find out they are being passed over. In many cases, they removed themselves from contention because they didn’t take advantage of the many professional development opportunities that are available to them.

In my many years in both the military and civilian work sectors, I’ve had the opportunity to sit on several hiring panels.

In one example, I reviewed 20 applications for people applying for one lucrative job. I assessed all 20 applications; however, the number of qualified applications quickly dwindled down to just a handful of applicants. There were several different factors why most of the applications weren’t being considered. One consistent theme was that most of the applicants lacked the necessary skills and education inherent for the position. It was evident most of the applicants lacked continual or recent intentional learning and development efforts. In your opinion, do these applicants have what it takes to work for you or take on a significant project?

What about yourself now or the people you may supervise?

At WYDOT Training Services we provide an array of tools and opportunities to help you and others develop. In March of this year we launched the WYDOT e-Learning Library (WeLL), and with it, the opportunity for you to leverage distance educa-

tion and professionally develop at your own pace.

In addition, several times throughout the year we will highlight different leadership and development courses and material on the WeLL home page. For this period we have selected the course series “Managing Your Career.”

I’ve made it my goal to complete this course series over the summer, and I hope you will join me. The series consists of 11 short courses to better prepare you for the workplace and includes: n Creating a Path – 1 hour; n Getting on the Right Track – 1 hour; n Professional Networking Essentials – 1 hour; n You and Your Boss – 1 hour; n Leveraging the Performance Appraisal – 1 hour; n Conquering Career Stagnation – 6 minutes; n Developing Your Career – 15 minutes; n Building and Managing Upward Relationship – 15

minutes;

n Planning Your Career – 15 Minutes; n Exploring Self Development – 15 Minutes; and n The series completes with a 30 minute simulation –

Managing Your Relationship with Your Boss.

You can access this course series now by logging onto the WeLL and selecting Business Skills > Professional Effectiveness > Career Development > Managing Your Career.

Mark Twain is one of America’s most quoted authors. He said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing you can do is keep your mind young.”

It’s probably safe to say the CEO eating lunch with the CFO at the beginning of this article probably knows professional development and keeping your mind young are the keys to a productive work force and team.

In her response, “What if they stay?” the CEO believes the cost of keeping employees who aren’t professionally developed can be higher than the risk of losing a handful of company funded and developed employees.

Here at WYDOT you are provided generously funded professional development opportunities, like at the WeLL and WYDOT University Courses. The costly investment in your development is worth the risk. n

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Photo: Max Morbeto

The WeLL promotional giveaway only required participation by completing a course, reading a book synopsis or watching a video. Names were pulled in May by Ken Shultz and Tom Lofin.

Janet Farrar and Roger Kindsfater were the two employees who did just that and it landed them some cool swag!

Congratulations to both of them.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Winners of the WeLL giveaway

Mark Gillett presents Roger Kindsfater with his WeLL giveaway prize of a wireless headset.

Training Services manager Jim Boyd and Director John Cox with Janet Farrar, who won a copy of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.

TechNotes

shared from another location on the FTP server or most commonly, a location on the users local computer. (Fig. 5) Once complete, the user will select “Upload” at the bottom right and an email is sent to the external customer with a secure link for them to access and download the file(s) shared.

WYDOT’s FTP site

by AJ Myers, IT Many employees share files on a daily basis with consultants to get their jobs done. Many of those files are larger than the 15MB limit or contain file types which are not allowed by Gmail. With these restrictions, employees are left to wonder, “How am I to share files?” It can be done easily with WYDOT’s FTP site.

FTP is the File Transfer Protocol that allows a user to send and receive files that are too large or not allowed to be sent through the Gmail system. As a WYDOT employee, you can use your global user ID and password that you log into your computer with every day to access the FTP site.

To access WYDOT’s FTP site, go to: https://wydotfilestore.dot.state.wy.us (Fig. 1) The FTP site has a few ways for sharing files with external customers.

Option 1 Send Files: In order to access the Send Files option, after first logging into the FTP site, in the upper right corner is a drop down list called “File Sharing.” (Fig. 2) The user will select “File Sharing” from the drop down list, which will move the user to the File Sharing screen. On the File Sharing Screen, in the upper left is a “Send Files” link that the user will select. (Fig. 3) Once selected, the user is directed to a screen that operates somewhat like email where a Subject, Comments (like an email body), Name of Sender, Email Address of Sender, External Customer’s email (or multiple customers), an expiration date for the link, and option password can be entered. (Fig. 4) When the user is content with what has been entered, select “Next” at the bottom right of the screen.

The next screen allows the user to select the files that will

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

be

Fig. 1

Option 2 Request Files: In order to access the Request Files option, after logging into the FTP site, in the upper right is a drop down list called “File Sharing.” (Fig. 2) The user will select “File Sharing” from the drop down list which will move the user to the File Sharing screen. (Fig. 3) On the File Sharing Screen, in the upper left is a “Request Files” link that the user will select. Once selected, the user is directed to a screen that operates somewhat Continued on page 16 July 2015

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like email where a Subject, Comments (like an email body), Name of Sender, Email Address of Sender, External Customer’s email (or multiple customers), an expiration date for the link, and option password can be entered. (Fig. 6) Once complete, the user will select “Send Request” at the bottom right and an email is sent to the external customer with a secure link for them to access and upload the file(s) to be shared.

Option 3 Constant External User Access: If the business being conducted with the external WYDOT customer requires constant files sharing and the File Sharing is not the best option, WYDOT users can request a Constant User for the external customer.

Information Technology can setup a User ID and password for the consultant to access a specific area that is within the WYDOT user’s FTP files. This would allow the WYDOT User and External User to constantly share files (Read/Write or Read-Only access) without having to constantly send the File Sharing requests.

This option would be discussed with the WYDOT user to make sure that it is the best option prior to creating an external user account. n

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Training ata Glance Classes in July: Date Class 7/13/15 New Employee Orientation 7/20/15 TLN Roundtable – Route, Preliminary Survey and LiDAR 3-D Modeling 7/29/15 Crucial Conversations Coming in August: Date Class 8/6/15 MBTI and Teams 8/11/15 New Supervisors Orientation 8/19/15 NEW! The Art of Negotiation 8/20/15 NEW! Building Teams Through Problem Solving 8/25/15 Taking Care of the Customer: People Retention

Here are upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U and the Transportation Learning Network (TLN)

PMI Competency Addressed Communication Vocational Communication

Location WYDOT-U TLN WYDOT-U

PMI Competency Addressed Team Player Leadership Communication Judgement & Decision Making Customer Service

Location WYDOT-U WYDOT-U WYDOT-U WYDOT-U WYDOT-U

To register, or to find out more details, call the Training Program and talk to Jim Boyd (777-4791), Kurt Borgaard (777-4792) or Todd DePorter (777-4790).

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District News Headquarters

Welcome Ashlee Adams, Patrol-Records; Christopher Corriveau, Patrol-Dispatch Manager; Benjamin Dreher, Patrol-Dispatch Manager; Meghan Ealy, Patrol-Dispatch Manager; Jamie Janicek, Patrol-Support Services Commander; Nathaniel Sainz, Highway Development-Photogrammetry/ Survey; and Stephanie Wheeler, PatrolDispatch Manager.

Scott

Farris

Retirements

Promotions and Transfers Renee Krawiec, Driver ServicesAdministrationCheyenne; and Laura Miazga, Driver Services-Policy and Records.

Fox

Romo

Hertel

Thomas

Miazga

Service Awards Michael Bush, Enterprise Technology – 40 years; Sandra Scott, Commission – 35 years; Kim Todd, Financial Services-Revenue – 30 years; Bob Bonds, Environmental Services – 25 years; Dawn Farris, Patrol-Commercial Carrier – 25 years; James Garland, Traffic – 25 years; Marilee Manalo, Planning-System Planning – 25 years;

Vanessa Guerra, Patrol-Dispatch – 15 years; Jeffery Boyce, Port Of Entry-Cheyenne I-80 – 10 years; Jan Hertel, Fuel Tax-Administration – 10 years; Travis Posthumus, Aeronautics-Flight Operations – 10 years; Tina Thomas, Highway DevelopmentAdministration – 10 years; Justin Mordahl, Geology – 5 years; Sarah Rickgauer, Materials-Pavement Management Systems – 5 years; and Kathleen Winger, Cheyenne Driver Services – 5 years.

Rickgauer

Parking lot renovation project at headquarters will likely begin in July.

The project will focus on what is termed the “employee” parking lot, located immediately south of the main building. Work will include milling some sections of existing pavement and placing an overlay. The effort includes repairs to deteriorated concrete (curb, gutter and sidewalk).

According to a tentative schedule, the project will be undertaken in three phases, and could extend into October.

Anticipated to begin later in the summer is renovation of the auditorium in the headquarters building. The work will serve to completely remodel the auditorium, which has existed in its present configuration since the building was opened in 1959.

Also this summer, work will be ongoing at headquarters to install an emergency generator for the maintenance shop, sign

James Van Kirk, Planning-Counter Shop – 25 years; Patricia Fox, Port Of Entry-Cheyenne I-25 – 20 years; Christopher Romo, Material-Concrete – 20 years;

Recent retirements at WYDOT Headquarters included Carol Anderson and Shelly Erickson.

Anderson had been in the Budget Program since 2007 and had been a grants analyst the past six years. She grew up in Idaho and worked for Crookham Co., a seed company in Caldwell, Idaho for nearly three decades before moving to Wyoming and joining WYDOT. Erickson had been with Financial Services since 2004 and had served as Payroll Section supervisor for nearly her entire time with WYDOT. She attended schools in Erickson Cheyenne and holds an associate’s degree in Accounting. n

shop and fuel islands.

Remodeling of the old Drivers Services building (originally WyHy Federal Credit Union), already in progress, is proceeding ahead of schedule toward an October completion date. Once that work is done, the facility will house offices and classrooms for WYDOT’s Training Program.

Remodeling and rearrangement of office space in the Planning Building is also in progress. Similar work is slated for the Materials and Testing Laboratory and the main building over the next two years.

Also on the horizon is a major project to renovate HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems in the main building. The project, expected to begin in 2017 or later, will require displacement of all employees who work in the main building at some point. More detailed information will be provided as planning moves forward. n

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District 2

District 1

Welcome

Peter Andrews, Medicine Bow Maintenance; Robert Auerbach, Laramie Maintenance; Sarah Ballard, Laramie Driver Services; and Justin Marquez, Highway Development-Project Development-Laramie Design Squad.

Promotions and Transfers

Service Awards

Promotions and Transfers

Service Awards

Boughton

Kerry Nelson, Evanston Mechanics – 30 years; Wayne Tompkins, Jackson Construction – 15 years; and Waylon Lym, Evanston Construction – 5 years.

Sinner

Nelson

Tompkins

Welcome

Cradle Call

Carla Hirschfield, Lander/Dubois/Riverton Driver Services.

Brenda Ellis with Cody-Lovell Driver Services is beaming with new twin grand babies. Ellis’ daughter, Katie, and husband Justin Winke are the proud parents of Gage Brian and Reed Michael born on May 18.

Gage weighed in at 6 pounds and measured 19.5 inches while Reed weighed in at 4 pounds, 15 ounces and measured 18.5 inches.

Ellis now has six grandchildren to spoil!

Promotions and Transfers

District 4

William Schoening, Cody Construction.

Welcome

Melissa Percy, Gillette Driver Services.

Service Awards

Promotions and Transfers

Schoening

Peter Hallsten, District 5 Maintenance Staff – 25 years.

Undeberg

Retirements

Service Awards

Interchange

Quint Wagner, Port Of Entry-Evanston.

District 5

Muller

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Brady Kelly-Coe, Torrington TrafficStriping.

Brian Sinner, Torrington Patrol – 5 years.

Kraig Crawford, Cheyenne Maintenance – 25 years.

Hallsten

Photo courtesy Brenda Ellis

Larry Jansma, Cody Construction.

Cook

Holwell

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July 2015

Photo courtesy Cody Beers

Michael Hoover, District 4 Traffic-Electrical – 35 years; Calvin Cook, Newcastle Maintenance – 30 years; Ronda Holwell, District 4 Administration – 10 years; and Kerri Becker, Gillette Driver Services – 5 years.

Welcome

Service Awards Gebauer

Joshua Undeberg, Sundance Patrol.

Welcome

Michael Boughton, Wheatland Maintenance.

Joshua Gebauer, Cheyenne Patrol; and Charles Muller, District 1 Maintenance Staff.

District 3

David Layman of Atlantic City retired after 9.5 years with WYDOT. He posed with South Pass Maintenance Foreman Mike Hitshew (left) and Area Maintenance Supervisor Jim Thomas at his retirement luncheon May 28 at the South Pass Highway Camp.

Passings

Gerald Cook

Willard “Gene” Holthus Agency retiree Gene Holthus, 88, died June 9 in Cheyenne.

Holthus, a radio technician, joined the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency, in December 1970, and served nearly 18 years prior to his retirement in September 1988.

He was a native of Nebraska and a graduate of Alliance High School in the Cornhusker State. After high school, Holthus served in the U.S. Army, including a tour of duty in Japan.

Funeral services were conducted June 15 in Cheyenne.

Holthus

s

S tate E mployee

SERG

up

Retirement Gro

Gather with other state retirees monthly.

SERG meets at noon the second Monday of each month at the Cheyenne Holiday Inn.

Longtime Worland resident and retired WHP Patrolman Jerry Cook, 73, died June 21 at the Washakie Medical Center.

A Casper native, he graduated from Natrona County High School in 1960 and served his country in the Navy. After his tour of duty, Cook returned to Wyoming, married and relocated to Laramie where he apprenticed as a taxidermist.

Later, he went to work for the Laramie Police Force as an officer until 1969, when he began his career with the Wyoming Highway Patrol. He graduated from Central Wyoming College in 1973 with a criminal Justice Associate degree.

Cook During his time with the Highway Patrol, he always greeted people with, “Howdy.” Many folks came back to tell his family that he made them feel guilty for breaking the law because he was so nice to them. After 26 years of service, Cook retired on June 30, 1995.

After leaving WHP, he filled his time with artwork and photography. Many Worland homes and businesses are adorned with his artistic works. He kept active with bowling for more than 35 years. He was voted into the Hall of Fame due to the number of years he bowled and for his personal contributions made to the league. He was very active in men’s softball for 15 years and volunteered as a coach for Little League and Babe Ruth. He served on the Baseball Commission/Worland Rec Center Board for four years and was instrumental in adding field No. 3 to the Newell Sargent Park. He was a lifelong member of the Elks.

Memorial services were held June 26, at the Worland Middle School Auditorium. n

Service Award Recipients

The gatherings include a brief business meeting, social luncheon and an educational program.

Contacts for further information:

Roger Nelson – 634-1881 Ron Labreque – 632-8240 Donella Marrs – 635-5858

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Service award luncheons are held by the Transportation Commission for employees celebrating milestones of 25 years of service or greater.

Service award recipients at this month’s luncheon: (front row, from left) Dawn Farris, Paul Cortez, Greg Hampshire, Kim Todd and Ricky Wilcox. (back row, from left) Marilee Manalo, Mark Janicek, Calvin Cook, Mike Bush and Tom DeHoff.

July 2015

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The Annual 2015 WTDEA Walleye Derby was a smashing success with 44 participants this year, including four kids under the age of 11. The derby took place June 13 at Grayrocks Reservoir northeast of Wheatland.

Contestants were allowed to start fishing as early as 5 a.m., and just needed to meet at a specific location in the early afternoon to qualify for prizes.

Three prizes were awarded.

First-place winner was Lorraine Allbright of Wheatland, with a catch of 5 pounds, 4 ounces. Second-place finisher was Eric Tuttle who reeled in

a walleye weighing 2 pounds, 13 ounces. Third place went to David Bitner landing a catch of 2 pounds, 7 ounces.

The winning contestants each received a portion of the monies collected for the event.

First place was awarded 50 percent, second place 30 percent and third place took home 20 percent.

A huge thank you to WTDEA for the support and contributions for the door prizes and kids’ trophies. The manager from Sportsmen Warehouse, Lonnie, gave a discount to help our dollars go further when buying the door prizes. n

Photo courtesy Vickie Hintze

2015 Walleye Derby a confirmed success

The turnout for the 2015 Walleye Derby was nine higher than the previous year’s derby.

Photo courtesy Vickie Hintze

WTDEA

And the winners are... (from left) third-place finisher, David Bitner; secondplace finisher, Eric Tuttle; and first-place finisher, Lorraine Allbright.

Extra Mile

Classic? Hot rod?

Late model?

Two wheeler?

AWARDS Congratulations to our May recipients!

Get those photos in!

WYDOT salutes the following Director’s Extra Mile Award recipients.

The award is presented to individuals who have traveled the “extra mile” in service to WYDOT.

Chrissy Cuthbert Kevin Kaiser Scott Kinniburgh William (Mack) McMillion Mack Miller Elena Mondragon Kenneth O’Leary

Marvin Pantle Dawn Pratz Joshua Simonson Randall Taylor Kevin Treat Tyler Willie Billy Zeiger

For more information about the Extra Mile Award or to nominate someone, contact Janet Farrar at janet.farrar@wyo.gov or Mel Anderson at mel.anderson@wyo.gov.

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July 2015

Rides

submission deadline:

08/14/15

carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

Photo: Mack Miller

Outdoors

Spindler Photo: Christina

Mack Miller, with Sa ratoga Maintenance, snapped this humo photo-bombed imag rous e. (From left) Luke Eigenberger with the quarters Maintenan Headce Shop, curious an d quite photogenic Tom Allen also from elk, and the Headquarters Ma intenance Shop.

Photo: Carlie Van Winkle

Photo: Carlie Van Winkle

led her ogram peda the Traffic Pr ross ith w Ac er de dl Ri in ke Christina Sp week-long Bi e th g rin du s bike 427 mile Nebraska.

The streets of Venezia req uire no snow plowing – ever. Public Affa irs Office employee Carlie Van Winkle and her family visited Venice, Italy and floa ted the canals on a few different and eleg ant gondolas during their visit in May.

ece on a Mediterranean

Gre ed the Acropolis in Athens, lic Affairs Office recently visit t. righ Carlie Van Winkle with the Pub the ion is on on the left and the Erechthe vacation. The Parthenon is

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Interchange

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July 2015

Break Time Take five and find five differences in the images.

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Interchange

Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd.

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340

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