District Briefs

Headquarters Commission awards one $1.41 million contract in May

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded a nearly $1.41 million contract for a Wyoming Department of Transportation construction project during its May 11 regular business meeting.

Cheyenne-based Simon Contractors was awarded an almost $1.41 million bid for a project involving paving, guardrail work, grading, traffic control, drainage work, fencing, seeding/erosion control and other work on about 0.40 of a mile on Interstate 25 at the US Highway 85 interchange in Laramie County. The contracted completion date is October 31, 2023.

The project is primarily funded with federal dollars. Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bid.

National Police Week

CHEYENNE – National Police Week is an annual observance which honors law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It also serves as a time to reflect on the challenges facing police officers every day and how we can support them.

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

National Police Week is an important time to reflect on the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers as shown in the statistics of 2022, when 246 officers died in the line of duty in the United States.

In-person events were held May 14-20, 2023, in Washington, DC, to offer respect, honor, remembrance, and community support for National Police Week while allowing law enforcement, survivors, law enforcement families and citizens to gather and pay tribute to those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

In Wyoming, from 1877 to the present, there have been a total of 61 officers who have died in the line of duty. In honor of these officers, the Wyoming Peace Officer Memorial ceremony was held May 19 at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol honors all law enforcement who have made the ultimate sacrifice. We thank all law enforcement members for their dedication and service to the state of Wyoming.

District 1

WYO 70 over Battle Pass opens for the season

SARATOGA – Wyoming Department of Transportation maintenance crews reopened the seasonally-closed section of Wyoming Highway 70 for the summer season.

Crews from Saratoga and Baggs started work on the 23-mile stretch of highway in early May, using multiple rotary plows, snowcats and other heavy equipment to clear large drifts of snow.

The highway is one of several high-elevation mountain roads in Wyoming that closes annually in late autumn when relatively low traffic and deep snow accumulations render plowing operations impractical. This season the route, which tops out at 9,955 feet as it crosses the Continental Divide at Battle Pass, closed Nov. 29.

Motorists driving the scenic highway should use caution; severe weather is still possible at higher elevations in late spring, including heavy, wet, intense snow storms. Check road conditions before you travel at www.wyoroad.info or on the Wyoming 511 mobile app.

Tim Morton, WYDOT District 1 maintenance engineer, warned drivers to “be aware of melting snow along the roadway. The snow melt can refreeze at night creating isolated hazardous slick spots which may catch drivers off guard.”

WYDOT maintenance crews may be in the area in the coming weeks to make repairs to items like guardrail or sign posts damaged by snow. Stay alert for workers in the area and be prepared to slow down.

WYO 70 typically has a target reopening date of the first week in June. Last year, WYO 70 opened May 23. The highway reopened May 20 in 2021, May 21 in 2020, June 3 in 2019, May 21 in 2018, and June 1 in 2017.

Public meeting held for College Drive traffic study

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation, along with traffic engineers from Kimley Horn, hosted a public meeting to get public input on a planning and traffic study that was being conducted for the College Drive corridor. The meeting was May 23 from at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne.

The study focused on College Drive between Interstate 25 and the intersection of Campstool Road and was intended to inform future decisions on improvements and the vision for the corridor. The purpose of this meeting was to present initial findings from the study, go over potential projects, and receive public input that will help shape the future of College Drive.

After a short presentation, WYDOT and Kimley Horn was available to discuss further and field questions about the study.

The public was invited to attend. WYDOT officials and other subject matter experts were on-hand to answer questions and discuss any concerns.

Temporary closure near Laramie between Quealy Dome, Herrick Lane

LARAMIE – Crews with Simon Contractors and the Wyoming Department of Transportation temporarily closed a portion of Hunt Road between Quealy Dome interchange and Herrick Lane on May 17.

The road closure started at the Quealy Dome interchange and extended a quarter mile south.

Crews put down concrete to accommodate the increased commercial traffic using the additional parking at Quealy Dome. This project is included with the Winter Freight Project where crews have been adding additional truck parking and climbing lanes along I-80 between Rawlins and Laramie.

Travelers wishing to use Hunt Road during the closure were encouraged to seek an alternative route.

The temporary closure reopened May 24.

Work resumes on I-80 Winter Freight project

RAWLINS – Crews with Simon Contractors and the Wyoming Department of Transportation resumed work on the Interstate 80 Winter Freight project between Rawlins and Laramie.

Crews are completing work at the Fort Steele Rest Area at milepost 228 where they have built nearly 100 new semi-truck parking spaces. Work is also continuing at the Quealy Dome truck parking area at milepost 290 where 100 more spaces have been added.

The Fort Steele Rest Area, including parking areas, remained closed during construction. Flaggers may be present to direct local traffic through the area. Please avoid parking on the on- and offramps in the Fort Steele interchange as it will likely impede work at the rest area. Once the project is complete, the rest area will reopen.

Traffic on I-80 saw minimal impacts as crews completed climbing lanes on I-80. There will be short lane closures in the eastbound lanes over Halleck Ridge (mileposts 250.5-252.5) west of Elk Mountain.

First started in the fall of 2020, the $20 million project is funded by a federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant and is expected to be complete in summer 2023.

Paving near Vedauwoo on I-80, delays expected

LARAMIE – Travelers experienced delays as crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Simon Contractors began paving work on Interstate 80 by Vedauwoo on May 10.

Crews set traffic control, including lane closures, between mileposts 324 and 330 on I-80.

The project is a continuation from last year. Bridge rehab has been completed. Pavement and surface work is now being addressed.

Motorists encountered construction zone speed limits and traffic shifts into and out of highway crossovers. Delays were expected due to the traffic configuration. A 15-foot width restriction was in place for interstate traffic during this project.

Work is expected to be complete at the end of June.

Summit Rest Area on I-80 by Laramie to be closed for cleaning and repairs

LARAMIE – The Summit Rest Area near milepost 323 on Interstate 80 east of Laramie was temporarily closed on May 9-10, due to facility repairs and deep cleaning.

The closure began at 6 a.m. on May 9 and remained closed through May 10 while repairs, cleaning and maintenance took place.

Facilities, including restrooms and tourist information areas, remained closed to the public. Truck parking remained available while car and RV parking was closed.

Cheyenne Port of Entry temporarily closed for paving operations

CHEYENNE – Maintenance crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation temporarily closed the Interstate 25 Port of Entry May 8.

The closure began on May 8 and reopened the next afternoon.

Crews repaved large portions of the parking lot to address problem areas.

Briefs continued on page 6

Briefs continued from page 5

Once the mix cooled and could handle live traffic, the Port of Entry reopened.

WYDOT maintenance crews to start paving in Laramie County

CHEYENNE – Maintenance crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation started seasonal paving operations in various locations around Laramie County this month.

Work began May 1 near Burns on Wyoming Highway 213 between mileposts 13.3-14.2. After crews wrapped up there, work began on WYO 212 east of Four Mile Road.

Other locations in Laramie County maintenance crews plan to pave this construction season include:

• I25 Port of Entry;

• I80 Service Road starting just east of County Road 135; and

• Various other areas, including the Cheyenne complex maintenance yard.

Motorists should stay alert if driving through any of these areas and expect potential delays.

Road work underway on US 85/South Greeley Highway

CHEYENNE – Crews with Simon Contractors and the Wyoming Department of Transportation continued work on US Highway 85/South Greeley Highway on May 1.

Crews addressed a section of US 85/ South Greeley Highway from mileposts 3.9-7.3. Work includes milling and paving. A 12-foot width restriction was in place for travelers through this project.

The project then moved to Wyoming Highway 216 through the town of Albin, from mileposts 15.7-16.2. The project is a continuation from 2022.

Motorists encountered travel delays through the work zone, including potential lane shifts and lowered speed limits. Travelers should take it slow and stay alert for changing construction patterns.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of June.