District briefs

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Wyoming Highway Patrol participates excessive speed enforcement safety campaign

CHEYENNE – The Western States Traffic Safety Coalition (WSTSC) will initiate a special effort beginning this week to identify and address the dangers of excessive speeds on our highways. The WSTSC is made up of 12 states which include the Arizona Department of Public Safety, California Highway Patrol, Colorado State Patrol, Idaho State Police, Montana Highway Patrol, Nevada Highway Patrol, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Oregon State Police, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Utah Highway Patrol, Washington State Patrol and the Wyoming Highway Patrol. These law enforcement agencies are committed and unified in keeping the people and highways in their communities safe.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused people to drive less in 2020, many of those who did drive were driving faster. In 2020, factoring in the traffic patterns observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wyoming Highway Patrol experienced a 15% decrease in speed citations issued (31,021) while seeing a 29% increase in speed citations being issued in excess of 100 mph (1,481).

Driving at high rates of speed is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to serious and fatal crashes for drivers of all ages. Speeding or traveling too fast for the conditions of the highway was cited as a main contributing factor in 1,637 critical crashes between 2010 and 2019 in Wyoming. Critical crashes include all fatal and serious injury crashes.

Excessive speed has a devastating impact on the safety of life for those traveling on state highways. To help address this issue, the WSTSC conducted an excessive speed enforcement safety campaign June 25-27. Assertive traffic law enforcement activity with a targeted public safety focus was the purpose of the WSTSC partnership and campaign.

The WSTSC encourages drivers to plan ahead and allow plenty of time to arrive at the destination safely to avoid feeling the need to speed. National Secure Your Load Day

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Highway Patrol reminds motorists of the dangers of driving with unsecured loads on state highways.

The WHP will participate in the national Secure Your Load Day on June 6th, 2021. Governor Gordon has signed a proclamation recognizing June 6th as “Secure Your Load Day” in Wyoming.” Troopers will be educating the public about the importance of having secured loads through social media campaigns and by posting safety messages on variable message signs.

“Loss of load crashes are 100% preventable,” says Lt. Dustin Ragon. “All cargo items travel at your vehicle speed, so a 10-pound item at 50 mph has a crash force of 500 pounds. Secure your load as if your family is driving the car behind you.”

The Secure Your Load safety day started in 2004 through Robin Abel, a Washington resident whose daughter was severely injured by an unsecured load. Her work resulted in federal lawmakers, including load-securing recommendations to the states in the FAST Act of December 2015.

In 2019 there were 739 deaths, 17,367 injuries and 89,915 incidents involving debris on U.S. roadways.

Information from AAA Foundation for Safety indicated statistics show that unsecured loads are a nationwide issue. Road debris caused approximately 200,000 crashes in the past four years. Out of those crashes, about 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths resulted.

As a nation, the U.S. spends about $11.5 billion on litter cleanup. Nearly 40 percent of litter is from unsecured loads.

“Injuries and crashes from unsecured loads are preventable,” said Lieutenant McKay. “Our mission is to ensure the safety of all travelers on Wyoming’s roadways, which is why we are participating in this event.”

Wyoming also requires motorists to secure their loads when traveling.

Wyoming Statute 31-5-228 states, “No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, shifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom.” This state law carries a $100 fine. Under Federal Commercial Carrier Regulations, a commercial truck driver can be fined $200 for an unsecured load violation and placed out of service until the load is secured correctly.

Motorists can follow several tips on how to keep their loads secure. They include: • Securing loads with proper ropes, netting, or straps. • Securing large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer. • Covering the entire load with a tarp or netting. • Avoiding overloading the vehicle. • Checking to ensure the load is secure after it’s been secured.

District 1

Bridge rehabilitation work, delays near Bosler, Medicine Bow

LARAMIE – Crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Reiman Corp. began work on a bridge rehabilitation project this summer, causing some delays.

The project focuses on a bridge over the Medicine Bow River on Wyoming Highway 487 near the town of Medicine Bow at about mile marker 4.01, as well as a bridge over the Laramie River on US Highway 30/287 near Bosler at about milepost 310.66.

Crews have mobilized equipment and traffic control in both areas. Work involves milling and paving the bridge decks and approaches, joint work and a latex overlay.

A traffic signal is in use guiding motorists through a single lane across the project area in both locations.

This project is expected to be complete in fall 2021.

Briefs continued from page 3 Seasonal paving operations in Albany County

LARAMIE – Maintenance crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation began seasonal paving operations in Albany County on June 15.

Work began on the Interstate 80 service road/Old US Highway 30 near Vedauwoo, between mile markers 5-6.18. This operation took about two days.

Once that section was complete, crews focused on various approaches off of US 30/Grand Avenue between Vista Drive and the I-80 interchange, including east Bill Nye Avenue and Pilot Peak Road.

Other routes scheduled for paving include: • A small section of WYO 230 near Fox

Run Golf Course at about milepost 4.7 • A portion of WYO 34 near Sybille

Road, between mileposts 10.01-11.5 • A section of WYO 11 near Albany at about milepost 9.4 • A section of WYO 130 outside of

Centennial at about milepost 26.5

Motorists will encounter delays due to lane closures, reduced speed limits and other traffic control. In any work zone, be sure to avoid distractions like cell phones and obey all posted signs and flaggers.

Paving operations in Albany County are expected to take about a month. Rock work on I-80 in Telephone Canyon

LARAMIE – Motorists traveling on Interstate 80 near Laramie experienced minor delays as crews with Oftedal Construction and the Wyoming Department of Transportation began rockfall mitigation work in Telephone Canyon June 7.

This routine maintenance work helps to prevent potential rockfall from impacting the lanes below. Crews used techniques like scaling bars and pneumatic airbags to complete this project. The work was focused on a rock face near the eastbound lanes at about milepost 319.

The far right lane often used by commercial vehicles was closed through the project area, which caused minor delays for traffic traveling up the canyon. Motorists were encouraged to stay patient and prepared to slow down.

During select times this summer, a short-duration closure of I-80 eastbound out of Laramie will be required to remove large rocks that may pose a risk to adjacent to traffic. More information about these closures will be released as they are scheduled.

This project is expected to be complete in fall 2021. All WYDOT project scheduling is subject to change, including due to inclement weather and material or equipment availability.

Photo: WYDOT

Rockfall mitigation on I-80 eastbound through Telephone Canyon.

WYDOT paving work at I-25/I-80 interchange

CHEYENNE – Maintenance crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation paved part of the interchange connecting Interstate 25 and Interstate 80.

This is a continuation of a seasonal paving project started earlier this summer in Laramie County. Crews focused on the I-80 westbound off-ramp to southbound I-25. The ramp (exit 359A) was closed during the paving process.

Once the I-80 westbound/I-25 southbound ramp was complete, crews switched to working on the I-80 eastbound off-ramp to southbound I-25, followed by the I-25 northbound offramp to eastbound I-80. This phase of the project took 1-2 days per ramp.

A detour was in place during each phase of the project, with signs guiding motorists to use either the U.S. Highway 30/Lincolnway interchange (exit 358 on I-80 or exit 9 on I-25) or the Wyoming Highway 222/Roundtop Road interchange (exit 357 on I-80).

Pavement work on the I-80/I-25 interchanges caused minor delays to commuters.

District 2

Work on Walsh Drive bridges underway

CASPER – A two-year-long project to replace a pair of bridges on Interstate 25 in Casper began June 1.

WYDOT is demolishing the two bridges over Walsh Drive and replacing the overpass with one, shorter bridge structure. The pair have towered over Walsh Drive for years, and once allowed trains to pass underneath, moving freight on an east-west path to the Glenrock area. However their age and design have led to increasing costs for maintenance over the past decade or so. Frequent issues have arisen with expansion joints, water retention after storms or snow events, and seemingly endless hours and materials spent patching the surface. The current bridges are curved and boxed - basically sealed from the outside - which has helped cause deterioration within the superstructures.

“This project will allow us to take care of a long term maintenance issue. We have expended a lot of time, effort, and funds over the past 10 years to maintain a safe, drivable surface for I-25 traffic through Casper,” said District 2 Engineer Mark Ayen.

Ames Construction, of Burnsville, Minn., is currently constructing detour ramps for I-25 traffic in the area of Walsh Drive, or I-25 milepost 186.5. The detours will allow interstate traffic to bypass the construction area. Once completed, northbound traffic will be diverted via ramps to the eastbound lanes of Yellowstone Highway. Southbound traffic will be diverted to the area just to the south of the bridges. Interstate traffic will be one lane, either direction, during the project.

Traffic on Yellowstone Highway will be one lane, either direction diverted to the current westbound lanes. Yellowstone Highway and interstate traffic will be separated by barriers and will not be able to interact.

“Because of the size of the existing, and planned structures, there are challenges in constructing this work during the usual construction seasons. Therefore, the project has been sequenced such that we are building detours that will carry all I-25 traffic, both northbound and southbound, for the entire duration of the project,” Ayen said.

The detours also allow Ames Construction to work continuously without needing to shut down the project during the winter months or work under traffic.

Ayen said the project was made more challenging because the bridges span an old railroad bed that is now a part of the City of Casper’s Rails to Trails system. Although not currently in service nor do tracks exist, the Rails to Trails agreement requires the replacement structures had to be designed to be able to accommodate a future railroad track if it was needed. The bed is currently used as a multi-use path.

Ames was awarded the project contract in April 2021 in the amount of $29.7 million. The entire project is expected to be completed by June 30, 2023. The replacement bridges will be approximately 850 feet long each, or about half the length of the current structures. This is the first of three projects on I-25 through Casper over the next six years.

Photo: WYDOT

A look at the bridge decking, illustrative of the maintenance challenges on the Walsh Drive Bridges over the years. Wyoming Boulevard through Mills closed for Centennial Celebration

MILLS –The city of Mills hosted its Centennial Summer Fest Celebration June 12. The location for the festival included a portion of Wyoming Highway 258 (Wyoming Boulevard), from Pendell Boulevard to 13th Street in Casper.

This section of Wyoming Boulevard was closed to traffic from 8 a.m. Saturday, June 12 until sometime early Sunday morning.

Wyoming Boulevard was closed to truck traffic south of US 26 (Yellowstone Highway) to CY Avenue for the duration, and was closed to all traffic from Pendell Boulevard southward to the 13th Street intersection in Casper. Truck traffic normally using this stretch of Wyoming Boulevard may use WYO 257 (West Belt Loop) or WYO 258 (CY Avenue and Poplar Street) to circumvent this closure.

The city of Mills requested the closure to host its centennial festival and met all requirements of WYDOT’s special event permit. The city of Mills made arrangements for detours and posted detour signs along with other traffic control measures to guide drivers around this area.

District 3

Interstate 80 east of Rock Springs will see ramp closures and delays

ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from IHC SCOTT Inc., set girders on the bridge at the Baxter Interchange June 28 through July 2. Due to the work, the Baxter crossroad was closed intermittently between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to give crews the space and safety they need to do the work.

During that time, the westbound off-ramp was also closed while crews conducted concrete paving on the project. Traffic traveling westbound to the airport, or Middle Baxter Road, was detoured to exit 122, or travel to Rock Springs and circle back.

The project encompasses work on roughly 13 miles of I-80 beginning at milepost 107 on the east side of Rock Springs. Work includes grading, milling existing asphalt, concrete paving and bridge replacement and rehabilitation.

The completion date for this project is set for November 30, 2021.

A WYDOT webcam image captures the detour of westbound travelers in head-to-head traffic with eastbound travelers.

Bridge work in Rock Springs, Green River area

ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from Coldwater Group Inc. performed a silica fume deck pour on the bridge deck at milepost 97, eastbound, between Green River and Rock Springs in the early hours of June 3. The work lasted roughly 7 hours. During the work, speeds were reduced to 10 mph. Speeds were also reduced to 25 mph for 20 hours following the pour.

Speeds were reduced for more than 24 hours during a silica fume deck pour on eastbound I-80 between Green River and Rock Springs. Work resumes on Flat Creek at night

JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation resumed work on the Flat Creek bridge the week of June 13. Crews finished the bridge girder paint, grooving north bound concrete deck and installation of an expansion joint.

Work was done at night, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The work took 2-3 nights. Traffic was disrupted during work hours, but all traffic control devices were removed each morning and traffic resumed normally during daytime hours.

The project scope of work includes extensive rehabilitation work to the deck and abutments, as well as other miscellaneous work. The work is part of a

Briefs continued on page 6

Briefs continued from page 5 district-wide bridge rehabilitation project. The project was awarded to Cannon Builders, Inc. WYO 22 speed limit changes

JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation recently completed a speed study of the Wyoming Highway 22 corridor using the Engineering Approach recommended by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The study produced a recommended speed limit of 55 mph for the corridor in both winter and summer time.

At the request of the Teton County Commission, WYDOT reviewed other methods to determine speed limits. WYDOT ran the study data through a secondary speed limit expert approach which targets rural highways with higher than normal roadside features with some geographical challenges. That study produced a recommended speed of 55 mph in the summer while the winter component resulted in a 50 mph speed limit.

WYDOT has taken into consideration the results of both speed studies, and based on the Teton County Commission’s request to lower the limit and to make it year-round, WYDOT has determined the appropriate speed limit to be 50 mph year-round for the WYO 22 corridor between Spring Gulch and Emily’s Pond. WYDOT will be making this change in the coming months, with the targeted implementation date of July 1, 2021.

District 5

Public meetings address northwest Wyoming highway projects; online meeting launches July 26

BASIN – A series of annual public meetings are scheduled in July to address future highway improvement projects in northwest Wyoming, and a self-guided online meeting to allow citizens to provide input launches July 26.

A key part of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) process involves annual meetings with public officials and other individuals who play key transportation partnership roles in Wyoming, said Wyoming Department of Transportation District Engineer Pete Hallsten, P.E., of Basin.

“These in-person meetings provide an opportunity for local officials and citizens to provide input into WYDOT’s planning process and to maintain and improve our excellent partnerships with counties, cities and towns. Please plan to attend,” Hallsten said. “The STIP is a 6-year program approved by the Wyoming Transportation Commission. It provides a snapshot of existing and expected projects and their schedules, and it is continually updated.”

The self-guided online meeting can be accessed at www.wydotSTIPmeeting.com where citizens can learn more about the STIP and other transportation improvements. The online meeting also offers an opportunity to provide feedback, pose questions or express concerns. The online meeting is available beginning July 26 and it will close on Aug. 30.

Public involvement is a crucial component of WYDOT’s mission to provide a safe, high-quality and efficient transportation system.

The STIP is a prioritized construction plan for the 1,326 miles of highway in northwest 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.

WYDOT has planned in-person public meetings July, as part of regular county commission meetings, to receive input and answer questions: • 1:30 p.m., July 6. Big Horn County,

Big Horn County Courthouse, County

Commission Chambers, 420 C Street,

Basin. • 1:15 p.m., July 13. Park County, Park

County Courthouse, County Commission Chambers, 1002 Sheridan

Avenue, Cody. • 10:30 a.m., July 20. Washakie County,

Washakie County Courthouse, County Commission Chambers, 1001 Big

Horn Ave., Worland. • 3 p.m., July 20. Hot Springs County,

Hot Springs County Government

Annex Building, County Commission Chambers, 117 North 4th Street,

Thermopolis.

Next phase of Riverton Main Street repairs began June 24

RIVERTON – Rehabilitation of Riverton Main Street’s concrete driving surface began June 24 between North Federal Boulevard and North 1st Street. 71 Construction, of Riverton, is the prime contractor on a $1.443 million concrete rehabilitation project on Main Street in downtown Riverton.

Concrete milling began at North Federal Boulevard and continued for up to four days (including Sunday, June 27) in the westbound lanes of Main Street.

During concrete milling operations (turning lanes and driving lanes), side street intersections were closed on the north side of Main Street.

Wyoming Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Robert Scheidemantel, of Riverton, said 2-way traffic was maintained on the south half of the roadway while work was being done on the north half of Main Street.

During the week of June 28, the contractor cleaned milled concrete from the westbound lanes of Main Street. The North Broadway Avenue/Main Street intersection reopened June 28-29, and Broadway closed for cleaning on June 30. Paving is scheduled beginning July 6.

No work is scheduled July 16-18 during Riverton’s annual hot-air balloon rally.

Similar concrete repairs on the south half of Main Street (eastbound driving lanes) are scheduled to begin the week of July 19, with similar side-street closures, and paving scheduled to start on July 26.

The concrete rehabilitation project is 0.50 miles in length between North Federal Boulevard and North 1st Street. The project includes concrete milling, asphalt paving, and curb, gutter and Americans with Disabilities Act ramp repairs.

Project completion date is Oct. 31. Chip sealing on US 14/16/20 pavement improvement project near Emblem

BASIN – Chip sealing of a 5.6-mile highway preservation project began June

14 on US 14/16/20 between Cody and Greybull, according to Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Michael Miller of Basin.

The project is located about 10 miles west of Greybull (mileposts 87.79 to 93.75). Work on this project has included grading, asphalt paving, chip sealing and other work.

McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co., of Worland is the prime contractor on the $2.3 million project.

Contract completion date is June 30. US 287 paving underway north of Lander; ADA concrete repairs continue eastbound

LANDER – Asphalt paving operations have started north of Lander on the $6.89 million Lander concrete rehabilitation project/US 287 pavement overlay project.

Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Erik Smith said the pavement overlay begins just north of US 287’s intersection with Blue Sky Highway (WYO 132) and continues past Fort Washakie.

Two-way traffic movements (one lane in each direction) are being maintained throughout the Lander streets project, as concrete ADA work continues adjacent to the eastbound lanes of US 287/Main Street.

The $6.89 million US 287 (Lander Main Street Americans with Disabilities Act improvements and concrete rehabilitation, and US 287 pavement overlay) project is 16.2 miles in length, between the Main Street/Buena Vista intersection in Lander and Ft. Washakie. The project includes concrete grinding, concrete joint sealing, asphalt paving, chip sealing, and curb, gutter and ADA ramp repairs.

The contractor’s preliminary work schedule shows work mostly complete by the middle of July.

Please wear your seat belt

By Sgt. Jeremy Beck, WHP

So far this year, Wyoming has experienced 39 fatalities from motor vehicle crashes, with 60% of those fatally injured, not wearing a seatbelt.

Wearing a seatbelt is a straight-forward step motorists can do to increase their chances of surviving a motor vehicle crash. Single vehicle rollover crashes, without seatbelt use, continue to be the most significant contributing factor in fatal crashes investigated by Wyoming State Troopers. If involved in a rollover crash, you are more likely to experience a serious injury from being tossed around inside the vehicle or ejected from the vehicle if you are not properly restrained.

While motorists enjoy traveling to summer festivities this year, please remember to buckle up. In-state residents make up 69% of fatal crashes so far this year in Wyoming. We can all do better by taking the extra few seconds to buckle up and make sure everyone else in your vehicle is wearing a seatbelt before you head out to a destination.

Let’s all do our part this summer to ensure a safer Wyoming. n

Chip sealing east and west of Cody on US 14/16/20, WYO 120 south of Cody

CODY – Beginning in June, chip sealing south of Cody on the Wyoming Highway 120 project was scheduled, as well as a contract chip sealing project west and east of Cody on US 14/16/20.

In early June, fog sealing was applied on US 14/16/20 east of Cody between the intersection of WYO 120 and Sage Creek (mileposts 54.64 to 57.25); WYO 120, from the intersection with US 14/16/20 south past the Park County Landfill (mileposts 74 to 81.2).

The US 14/16/20 chip sealing is part of a $1.44 million contract chip sealing project in northwest Wyoming. Prime contractor is Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell, and the completion date for the chip sealing project is Sept. 30.

Contract chip sealing locations includ-

ed: – US 14/16/20 (mileposts 54.64 to 57.25), Cody-Greybull (Intersection of WYO 120 and US 14/16/20 to Sage

Creek), completed the week of June 8; – US 14/16/20 (mileposts 41.73 to 49.02), Yellowstone to Cody (North

Shore Bay to Stampede Park), completed the week of June 13; – US 16 (mileposts 33.99 to 44.04), Ten

Sleep to Buffalo (Ten Sleep Canyon to Deer Haven Lodge), completed the week of June 20; – US 20/WYO 789 (mileposts 116.38 to 128.32), Shoshoni to Thermopolis (Wind River Canyon), completed the week of June 27; – US 14 (mileposts 26.71 to 37.88), Shell to Burgess Junction (Shell Falls to the

Big County line), scheduled for the week of July 5.

Chip sealing of the WYO 120 project south of Cody was completed the week of June 8 by Mountain Construction Co. The $5.5 million, 6.8-mile project was completed last fall, with the exception of chip sealing. The Cody South project is located between the WYO 120/US 14/16/20 intersection adjacent to Yellowstone Regional Airport and milepost 74

Briefs continued on page 8