May 2014 Interchange

Interchange May 2014, Vol. 42, Issue 5

Motor Vehicle Services Keeping Wyoming tagged

Letters

Thanks to WYDOT family I would like to thank those that donated sick leave for the extended time I was off of work recovering from an injury. It was a relief to know that I was helped out, as the extended time away was unexpected.

I would also like to thank those that have asked and followed up as the recovery and physical therapy continues. I am so thankful for all of you, and for being a part of the WYDOT organization.

Thank you again for your caring and generosity.

Miranda Hall, Right of Way

This is a note to all my WYDOT family who donated sick leave to me during my recent illness.

You all have my heartfelt thanks and gratitude from myself and my family for your help and caring.

Thank you and God bless.

Charlie Goff, District 2

WYDOT thanks heard over airwaves This was written by a local woman in Encampment. Pretty nice of her to take the time to write. I have to brag every chance I get. Like the rest of the crews, we usually only hear the bad! The following was read over our local radio station several times one morning: Mornin’ Jim (O’Reilly, morning show), I just wanted to do a “shout out” to our highway department. I think they do an amazing job keeping our roads safe for all of us. The crappy conditions and the hours they put in–well, it can’t be fun and I’m sure at times they sacrifice THEIR own safety!

I just wanted to let Scott Kinniburgh, and all his gang, know how much I appreciate all their hard work!!

Whenever I see all those flashing lights, it always gives me a sense of relief that I’m gonna be OK and I’m not the only crazy fool out here! LOL. (Sort of like a little guardian angel...)

Thanks a million, Michelle Rakness 2

Interchange

Interchange Motor Vehicle Services getting the job done right Ms. (Debbie) Lopez, I am writing to let you know how much I appreciate Jennifer Naatz and the great customer service she provides.

I have filed numerous Form E’s over the last several months and Jennifer always gets them processed quickly and is very good about returning a copy to me via email.

It is not uncommon, in some of the other states I make filings in, for me to have to wait a week, 10 days, even two weeks or longer to receive an “accepted” copy back. This greatly slows down my job efficiency and causes additional work not just for me, but for others in the underwriting units, too. However, more often than not, when I send a filing to mvs@wyo.gov, Ms. Naatz will have an “accepted” copy back to me within an hour, or two at the latest. To put it frankly, that is AWESOME! I thought you should know what a great job she does and the quality service she provides.

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

Staff WYDOT Director: John F. Cox

Sincerely, Elaine Hugueley, National American Insurance Company

Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee

WYDOT equipment shows Wyoming pride

Mr. (Jeff) Madden, Just a comment. I realize when people ask you questions at the auction, answers are, a majority of the time, in the auction description and you seem to have a lot of patience with those people. I commend you for the way you respond. I have purchased several vehicles through public surplus. Even though you and I have never done business together, I can tell by your professionalism and your vehicles that this is, by far, the best state to do business with.

Ya’ll are honest in your descriptions and your vehicles are in great shape. I work for the city and our employees have no pride in maintenance or appearance as the state of Wyoming does. All public

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

Letters continued on page 14

a n

May 2014

DOT publication

Also in this issue:

Contents 8

Letters.....................................2 District briefs.........................4 Training at a Glance............7

12

By the Numbers...................7 HR Happenings..................15 District news.......................16 Awards..................................19 Noteworthy..........................21

13

Passings............................... 24 Extra Mile Awards............. 24

8 Casper Construction

WTDEA................................. 25 Break Time.......................... 27

10

Spring projects up and running

9 Diverging Diamond wins award

WYDOT bestowed 2013 Project of the Year

10 Motor Vehicle Services

Keeping Wyoming tagged

12 Boost in revenue fuels work 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.

2014 construction season under way On the cover:

WYDOT’s license plate plant produces the majority of license plates and all of the other decals that are used on vehicles statewide.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

May 2014

n

Interchange

3

District Briefs Transportation Commission awards $24 million in highway contracts

Cheyenne – Contracts totaling $24.4 million for 12 highway projects around the state, including two made possible by increased fuel tax revenue, were awarded by the Wyoming Transportation Commission during its April meeting.

Concrete Foundations of Douglas won the largest of the contracts with the low bid of $6.2 million for improvements to US 20-2687 (E. Richards Street) between the East Douglas Interchange and Mesa Drive in Douglas. About one-half mile of the highway on the eastern end of the project will be rebuilt with concrete pavement because it carries growing heavy truck traffic. The remainder of the section will have deteriorating pavement milled off and replaced with a new layer of asphalt pavement. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2015.

Gillette’s S&S Builders won a $4.8 million contract to widen two I-25 bridges over the Laramie River about three miles north of Wheatland. Currently the bridges are about 10 feet narrower than the standard for interstate bridges, which creates problems for wide loads. The work is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 15, 2015.

Thirteen bridges on highways in Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie counties will be rehabilitated under contract won by Gerber Construction of Lehi, Utah, with the low bid of $2.9 million. The project will be funded with revenue from the 10-cent fuel tax increase and the completion date is Sept.

30, 2015.

HK Contractors of Idaho Falls submitted the low bid of $2.8 million for patching to extend the life of pavement on highways in Lincoln, Sweetwater, Teton and Uinta counties by Oct. 31.

Knife River of Casper was awarded a $2.6 million contract for patching on highway sections in Carbon and Laramie

HQ

4

Interchange

n

May 2014

counties by Oct. 31.

Lander’s Patrick Construction won a $1.7 million contract to replace two aging timber bridges on WYO 132 south of Ethete. The bridges at Mill Creek and Coolidge Canal are more than 60 years old and will be replaced with steel and concrete structures. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2015.

Intermountain Slurry Seal of Watsonville, Calif. was the low bidder at $1.3 million and $787,000 for contracts to complete resurfacing work on US 85 in Lusk and I-90 in Gillette by Oct. 31.

Also awarded during the meeting were contracts for: • $459,000, to Redi Services of Lyman for replacing culverts on WYO 72 between Hanna and Elk Mountain by Sept. 30; • $355,000 to McGarvin-Moberly Construction of Worland for concrete pavement repair and crack sealing on US 16 in Worland by Oct. 31. The project will be funded with revenue from the 10-cent fuel tax increase; • $261,000 to Casper Electric to upgrade the road closure gate system and lighting on US 16 west of Newcastle by May 31, 2015; and • $87,000 to Gerber Construction of Lehi, Utah, for rehabilitation work on the US 30 bridge over the Smith’s Fork River north of Cokeville by June 30, 2015.

Supervisors meeting held in Laramie Laramie – About 275 WYDOT employees gathered in Laramie last month for the biannual Supervisors Meeting to network and learn about a wide range of topics. The bulk of personnel who attended were drawn from maintenance, traffic and equipment functions.

The event kicked off the afternoon of April 8 with a general session which featured remarks from WYDOT Director John Cox and Chief Engineer Del

D1

McOmie. Cox provided the audience with an overview of current transportation funding issues, including the status of efforts to enact a new federal highway bill to supersede the current “MAP-21,” which expires this fall.

Cox also revisited the Wyoming Legislature’s vote in 2013 to increase the state fuel tax by 10 cents per gallon. He said that WYDOT’s data and information, combined with support from a broadbased coalition of stakeholders, was crucial in the Legislature’s decision and that, although the increase is a proven need, the agency is now subject to heightened scrutiny of its operations. Cox praised the workforce for meeting the challenge by being demonstratively efficient, competent and interactive.

McOmie also touched on the fuel tax increase, relating how WYDOT’s executive staff had set up a distinct funding category to receive and track the increased fuel tax revenue. The goal in doing so was ensuring transparency and boosting awareness among the public that the revenue is in fact being used, in keeping with WYDOT’s commitment to legislators, only for making contractor payments, and not for administration, preliminary engineering or other internal costs.

Following the remarks from Cox and McOmie, winners of annual safety awards were announced. The afternoon then wrapped up with a presentation by Highway Patrol Lt. Klief Guenther about workplace safety and security.

The meeting resumed April 9 with a day full of breakout sessions. Attendees had their choice of two dozen available presentations representing a wide range of maintenance, equipment, traffic, information technology, human resource and other subjects.

Some of the attendees returned April 10 for coordination meetings for decision makers involved in facility maintenance, equipment, snow control and traffic operations.

Crews begin work on northbound U.S. 287 Laramie – Travelers south of Laramie on U.S. 287 will notice construction activity between Tie Siding and the state line has picked up.

Crews are building two new northbound lanes on the east side of the cur-

Co. resumed work on the Flaming Gorge Road (U.S. 191 south) and I-80 interchange south section.

The project has been dormant the better part of the winter, but will now be an active construction site again.

Mid-April, residents and travelers saw crews working on and around the Bitter Creek Bridge on US 191 south. Motorists did not see lane closures or flagging, while workers prepared for more construction.

The Flaming Gorge Road project consists of one bridge replacement and two bridge improvements at the intersection of U.S. 191 south and I-80 near Cruel Jack’s. The first bridge off exit 99 that travels over I-80 has been replaced.

The next two bridges traveling south on U.S. 191, one over railroad tracks and the other over Bitter Creek, will be widened and rehabilitated.

The three-mile section of U.S. 191 (Flaming Gorge Road) that stretches over the bridges will be widened with additional lanes, creating a turning lane to accommodate an increase in traffic flows to and from local industrial areas.

The project should be completed by the end of October.

D3

Westbound I-80 closed due to a 54 vehicle crash Elk Mountain – A pileup involving 54 vehicles in 10 separate crashes forced WHP troopers and WYDOT personnel to close westbound I-80 for 18 hours on April 13.

The crash was reported seven miles east of Elk Mountain where speeds on the interstate had been reduced to 45 mph due to winter conditions.

The pileup occurred during snowy, windy and icy conditions that limited visibility.

Crash victims were transported to nearby area hospitals.

Two of the crash victims in a Subaru vehicle were trapped for nearly two hours as troopers and first responders attempted to extricate them from their vehicle, which had been crushed between two tractor trailer vehicles.

Troopers investigating this pileup blame speeds too fast for existing conditions by motorists is a contributing factor leading to so many vehicles being involved.

Photo courtesy WHP

Flaming Gorge Dam Spillway Bridge sees repairs

The cab was knocked off the chassis of a tractor trailer combination in the crash. The driver was unhurt.

Flaming Gorge Road construction kicks up again Rock Springs – WYDOT and contract crews from Ralph L. Wadsworth

Rock Springs – The Utah Department of Transportation will be doing work on the Flaming Gorge Spillway Bridge, south of Rock Springs on U.S. 191. Construction began April 21 and the work is scheduled for completion on May 9.

Work will be conducted on the bridge beginning on the east end of the Flaming Gorge Dam, near milepost 393.5, on the opposite end of the dam near the Visitor’s Center.

During the work, approaching traffic alternated across the bridge in a single lane, controlled by a temporary traffic signal system.

Work was scheduled during daytime hours and no work or lane closures took place on the weekends. Traffic restrictions were also removed at night and when no work was taking place.

WYDOT begins work on Conroy Bridge Diamondville – Local residents of Diamondville should see some construction activity on Conroy Street this May as WYDOT and contract crews from Cannon Builders, Inc. prepare for the replacement of the Conroy Bridge.

WYDOT Resident Engineer Jennifer Hoffman said crews are waiting for water levels to drop so a detour can be built while crews prepare to tear down the old bridge.

“We will be building a temporary crossing, which will consist of some culverts with dirt over the top. This way, residents can still access their homes,” Hoffman said.

After a detour is created, crews will tear down the old bridge and build a new bridge in the same location. The new bridge will be a safer, more efficient and durable bridge.

“The new bridge will be significantly wider and have a concrete driving surface rather than a timber decking that currently being used,” Hoffman said.

The detour and temporary crossing should be completed near the end of May, and construction on the new bridge will begin in June. The project should be completed by October 31.

The cost of the Conroy bridge replacement is $765,103 and will be funded by WYDOT’s Bridge Replacement “OffSystem” Program. The BROS program is a federally funded bridge replacement program to reduce the number of deficient off-system bridges. It applies to bridges owned by cities, towns and counties, located on a non-federal aid roadway and open to the public. It helps communities replace eligible bridges that are unsafe due to structural deficiencies, physical deterioration and/or functional obsolescence.

Photo courtesy Stephanie Harsha

rent roadway and speed limits have been lowered to 55 mph within the ten mile project area.

In 2015, the southbound lanes in the same area will be rebuilt, completing a four-lane divided highway for that stretch of US 287.

The contractor is Kirkland Construction out of Rye, Colo. The cost for the project is $17 million and it is federally funded.

The Conroy replacement bridge will be significantly wider and will have a concrete driving surface rather than timber decking.

Briefs continued on page 6 May 2014

n

Interchange

5

Briefs continued from page 5

14A from Burgess Junction to Lovell snow removal efforts started Burgess Jct. – WYDOT crews began the process of reopening the 22mile stretch of scenic mountain road from Burgess Junction to Lovell mid-April. The stretch of U.S. 14A is seasonally closed in November and typically reopens around Memorial Day. The process to reopen the stretch of highway can take several weeks. It may take longer this year because of the abundance of snow that has fallen in the Big Horn Mountains.

Weather permitting WYDOT is hoping to have motorists back on this stretch of highway by Memorial Day.

Photo: Tom Anderson, Burgess Junction Maintenance

D4

These photos were taken April 3 on the Burgess Junction side of 14A.

WHP Dispatchers assist in multistate pursuit Sundance – The WHP Communications Center assisted in the apprehension of two subjects who were involved in a high-speed chase on the evening of March 19.

The pursuit, which originated in Wyoming was terminated in South Dakota at milepost 12 on eastbound I-90. The individuals in the Chevrolet Cavalier were held in South Dakota custody facing traffic and misdemeanor drug possession charges.

Wyoming troopers have also cited both occupants of the vehicle on numerous traffic charges to include eluding, driving while under suspension, reckless

6

Interchange

n

May 2014

driving and interference with a peace officer.

The incident began when a WHP trooper stopped an eastbound vehicle at the Pine Ridge Interchange on I-90, 20 miles west of Sundance. The trooper issued a written warning to the driver, 35-year-old January Carter from Lakeland, Fla. As the trooper attempted to explain the warning, Carter rolled up the window of her vehicle and drove off.

WHP dispatchers were in contact with the Crook County Sheriff ’s Department and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.

“Through their diligence and teamwork, they were able to quickly alert other law enforcement agencies of the situation, including the South Dakota Highway Patrol who ultimately stopped the vehicle,” Wyoming Highway Patrol Capt.

Troy McLees said, praising the dispatchers. “Numerous phone calls were made, location and speed was updated, and other important details were constantly relayed throughout the pursuit. Timely notifications were paramount, as at one point during the incident, the suspect vehicle turned around and was headed westbound in the eastbound lane.”

After crossing the South Dakota state line, troopers from the South Dakota Highway Patrol became the primary agency in the pursuit with the Wyoming trooper following some distance behind.

Just after crossing into South Dakota, Carter avoided stop sticks placed across both eastbound lanes of the interstate by South Dakota troopers. She eventually stopped her vehicle at milepost 12 where she and her passenger were taken into custody without further incident.

The passenger in the vehicle, 25-yearold Seth Tomlinson also from Lakeland, Fla., was cited by Wyoming troopers for driving while under suspension and interference with a peace officer and arrested

by South Dakota troopers for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Greybull-Shell pavement overlay project under way Greybull – A $2.75 million asphalt pavement rehabilitation project began on U.S. 14 between Greybull and Shell.

The project was made possible by revenue from the 10-cent fuel tax increase, passed by the Wyoming Legislature in

2013.

The project includes one-inch pavement leveling, a two-inch pavement overlay, chip sealing, and other work between mileposts 7.8 and 15.1 east of Greybull.

“The project will start at the Game and Fish turnout and end at Shell,” said Ben Steed, Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer in Basin.

Steed said once paving begins, traffic will be controlled by pilot vehicles and flaggers. He said haul trucks will be using Horse Creek Road between the Horse Creek gravel pit and U.S. 14, and a dust control agent will be applied to Horse Creek Road.

Mountain Construction Co. of Lovell is the project’s prime contractor. The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded the project to Mountain Construction in October 2013. Contract completion date is Sept. 30.

D5

Project update for Riverview Road highway improvement project Riverton – An important milestone has been reached on the Riverview Road project in Riverton.

Work on the box culvert for the Riverton Valley Irrigation District canal is complete. In all, 18 sections of the box culvert weighing more than 600,000 pounds have been installed. With additional concrete work on each end of the box culvert, the completed structure weighs nearly 800,000 pounds. The concrete canal liner is complete and ties in with the old liner, and rock rip-rap has been placed on the upstream side of the box culvert – all completed by the April 15 deadline in advance of the upcoming irrigation season in the Riverton area.

The new box culvert structure is very wide; for a reason. It will accommodate the new and improved roadway, and also the walking path for pedestrians who will use the improved walking path along Riverview Road in the future.

Bornhoft and WYDOT workers are thankful for cooperation of landowners and citizens who drive through the project every day.

Photo: Cody Beers

Road improvements are scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.

Citizens are reminded of the weekly work progress public meeting at 1 p.m. every Thursday at the city of Riverton’s Public Works Building on Monroe Avenue. Citizens are invited to attend these public meetings to learn about the contractor’s future work schedule and to ask questions.

The Riverview Road box culvert portion of the project has been finished. More than 600,000 pounds of concrete box culvert were installed.

Lovell Streets project under way Lovell – More than $4.9 million in highway improvements are underway in downtown Lovell, according to Ben Steed, WYDOT resident engineer in Basin.

This U.S. 310/WYO 789 project was made possible by revenue from the 10-cent fuel tax increase, passed by the Wyoming Legislature in 2013.

Project work began with the removal of concrete median between Hampshire and Idaho avenues, and also between Oregon and Pennsylvania avenues.

“The two inside lanes were closed to allow this work to be done,” Steed said.

“These sections of median were removed so traffic control can be set up to do the work on the east and west ends of the project.”

“WYDOT and the town of Lovell are requesting residents to avoid parking on Lovell’s main street from Hampshire to Great West avenues, and also from Pennsylvania to Quebec avenues. This will aid the contractor is completing its work,” Steed said.

The Lovell Streets project’s goal is to replace 60-plus-year-old water and sewer lines, fix the deteriorating driving surface of Lovell’s main street and gain Ameri-

cans with Disabilities Act compliance with sidewalks.

“WYDOT and the town of Lovell will actively take public input during this project, including working with businesses to maintain access to businesses, daily and at the weekly public working meetings,” Steed said. “We understand this project will bring disruption to the normal atmosphere of Lovell, and we appreciate everyone’s patience during this important project.”

The Lovell Streets project is a combined project with WYDOT and the town of Lovell. It includes removal and replacement of concrete pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalks, asphalt pavement, installation of new water lines, new sewer lines and one irrigation pipe along Lovell’s main street.

The project is located between mileposts 236.25 and 237.43 on U.S. 310/ WYO 789.

The contract was awarded to Reiman Corp. of Cheyenne by the Wyoming Transportation Commission in March.

Contract completion date is Oct. 31.

Total number of employees: as of April 1, 2014

1,983

One month ago

1,997

One year ago

2,060

Training ata Glance Here are upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT University and the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) Date Class Location May 1 Big Block Segmental Retaining Walls Applications for Restricted Right of Way Webinar May 1 Team Dynamics and Collaboration Cheyenne NEW! May 5 Automated Pavement Distress Data Collection Round-Table Discussion TLN May 5-8 New Employee Orientation #4 (NEO) Cheyenne May 13 Legal Aspects of Supervision WYDOT Only TLN May 14 Taking Care of the Customer Cheyenne May 14 Gravel Roads Maintenance TLN May 15 NEW! Using Social & Emotional Intelligence to Improve Relationships Cheyenne May 20-21 Leading at the Speed of Trust Cheyenne May 29 Results Based Performance Management WYDOT Only TLN Coming up in June: June 3 Presentation Skills June 4 Body Language as an Art June 5 The Work/Life Balancing Act

Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne

N EW !

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

May 2014

n

Interchange

7

Photos courtesy Jeff Goetz

Casper area sees construction ‘spring’ up

by Jeff Goetz

With several warm and dry days, April kicked off the 2014 road construction season in Casper as traffic control devices, barricades and temporary signals cropped up around town.

Three major WYDOT reconstruction projects will bring increased efficiency to drivers moving from one end of the city to another.

US 20-26 and WYO 254 Fresh pavement and new ramps will improve a portion of US 20-26 (Shoshoni Bypass) surrounding WYO 254 (Salt Creek Highway), which will also be improved. The $18.5 million project has a contract completion date of Oct. 31, 2015.

Shoulder grading and surface work on US 20-26 will extend 1.46 miles between the Interstate 25 interchange (exit 189; milepost 2.66 on US 20-26) west to milepost 1.20.

A portion of Salt Creek Highway at the interchange will be expanded to five lanes, with a widened bridge over the Bypass. This will allow for easier access to the ramps and for through-traffic on Salt Creek. This project extends from Opportunity Boulevard north past the Port of Entry to Revenue Boulevard.

WYO 251 – WYO 258 junction The intersection of WYO 258 (Wyoming Boulevard) and WYO 251 (Casper Mountain Road) will receive a $2.4 million facelift including fresh concrete pavement, new signals, shoulders, curb and gutter and sidewalks.

Work at the intersection is being done in quadrants and

8

Interchange

n

May 2014

temporary signals have been installed to keep traffic flowing. The project is similar in scope to a recent reconstruction of the intersection of Wyoming Boulevard at Poplar Street, and encompasses slightly less than a half-mile of Wyoming Boulevard.

The contract completion date is Oct. 31.

CY and Poplar streets intersection Reconstruction of the intersection of CY Avenue (WYO 220) and Poplar Street will include widening to accommodate an additional left-turn lane on CY and right-turn lanes on Poplar to improve traffic flow at the busy intersection.

Improvements include a segregated left turn lane into both the Albertson’s and Walgreens parking lots from east and westbound CY Avenue; right turn lane from eastbound CY onto southbound Poplar and expanding the northbound turn lane onto Poplar from eastbound CY to two left-turn lanes (dual left turn).

Additional improvements include a turning lane from northbound Poplar onto CY as well as a larger right turn area from CY onto northbound Poplar. Access to West 15th Street will also be improved.

The project will affect the following areas: Poplar Street from just south of the Walgreens parking lot entrance to West 14th Street, and CY Avenue from West 15th Street to Westridge Lane entrance.

Work on the $4.5 million project is scheduled for completion by May 31, 2015.

Hedquist Construction of Mills is the prime contractor on all three projects.

WYDOT project named Engineering Society’s Project of the Year

by Ross Doman

The Wyoming Engineering Society has named WYDOT’s diverging diamond project at the I-25 College Drive Interchange in Cheyenne its 2013 Presidential Project of the Year.

The award is given annually to recognize excellence in engineering and surveying projects utilized by and benefiting the people of Wyoming.

The project was designed by WYDOT and HDR Engineering and built by S&S Builders of Gillette at a cost of $3 million.

The diverging diamond design was a profound makeover for a vital interchange.

In the year 2000 the average annual daily traffic counts at the College Drive & I-25 Interchange were 6,400 vehicles, with 1,600 of those being large trucks. By 2010 the figures jumped to 10,810 vehicles, with 1,807 of those being trucks.

The interchange services I-25 and is in close proximity to I-80. Destinations accessible from the structure include the Swan Ranch Industrial Park, three truck stops, a motel, several restaurants, big rig repair shops and a nearby branch of WYDOT Driver Services.

Traffic volumes here only rise and by 2013, operational deficiencies on the College Drive structure had become acute. Traffic movements, particularly left turn movements, deteriorated as the 50-year-old standard Diamond configuration inadequately accommodated use. Vehicles queued up across the bridge, on the ramps, and down onto the interstate.

Unless a solution was found, increasing traffic snarls and decreasing safety would threaten interest in current and future economic developments.

Last year came the answer as District 1 resident engineer,

Wayne Shenefelt and chief inspector, George Escobedo oversaw the construction of a design that eliminates congestion and retools the College Drive Interchange as a cornerstone for development in southeast Wyoming.

They would retrofit the existing interchange to a diverging diamond interchange, or DDI. This is the first of it’s kind built in Wyoming and possibly the first single-lane DDI built in the United States. It thrives as a traffic solution for backed up left turn lanes.

So, how does it work?

With the DDI design, opposing lanes of traffic are guided to crisscross lanes between the ramps on each end of the interchange. Thus, while crossing the bridge, oncoming traffic is on the right side of the road instead of the usual left. The switch accommodates left-turning movements without conflicting with oncoming traffic. All movements on and off the interstate become free or yield. At either end of the bridge, vehicles cross back over, returning everyone to the accustomed side of the road.

Green time is improved with reduced congestion and increased safety.

Conflict points and the number of potential crashes are reduced with the DDI. Violation of driver expectancy (the whole driving on the wrong side of the road issue) is limited as traffic signals, signs, pavement markings and raised island barriers guide motorists through the interchange.

Operating as closely as possible to continuous flow on both College Drive and the ramps, queuing onto the interstate is eliminated. With the relatively short length of travel across the bridge, when switched to the opposite lane, most drivers report completing the trip before noticing the difference.

The College Drive DDI saved millions of dollars versus widening the structure DDI continued on page 24

May 2014

n

Interchange

9

Photo: Rick Carpenter

The group that keeps Wyoming tagged

by Carlie Van Winkle

Motor Vehicle Services (MVS) is one of only a few WYDOT programs that directly or indirectly interact with most Wyoming citizens at one time or another. For example, every licensed car or truck in the state displays the thin aluminum license plate or reflective sticker.

Program manager Deborah Lopez oversees three main sections within MVS; managing commercial vehicles, coordinating duties associated with each county clerk and county treasurer, and producing license plates and reflective tags.

MVS handles many important facets of the licensing process for truckers and drivers of other commercial ventures, such as taxis, tour buses and hunting Lopez guides. They also issue “transporter” license plates to companies that haul new vehicles from the manufacturer to Wyoming dealerships.

For the trucking community, MVS issues apportioned license plates and fuel decals, also known as IFTA decals, to over-theroad truckers who want to travel in and out of Wyoming without having to buy registration or fuel trip permits at the port of entry.

IFTA is short for International Fuel Tax Agreement.

Licensing with an apportioned plate allows an individual trucker or trucking company to drive in other states without paying a per-trip permit. When truckers apply for apportioned plates, the monies paid to Wyoming pay Wyoming registration fees and also pay registration fees to other states in which the carrier travels.

Nearly 1,100 Wyoming-based companies drive with apportioned plates on their vehicles, bringing the number of truck and trailer plates issued to over 17,000.

Currently, all apportioned plates expire on December 31, but have a grace period for renewal until March 31. In the near future, MVS will move to a staggered renewal system, much like regular licensing, so the MVS office will not be inundated with renewals at the end of March.

10

Interchange

n

May 2014

The IFTA decals that trucking companies are able to purchase help states collect tax that wouldn’t otherwise be collected from the truckers who fill up at the border in one state and are able to drive across the next state without refueling.

“We sell IFTA decals to over-the-road truckers and they report their miles and fuel purchased quarterly. If they buy fuel in Wyoming, but use it in a neighboring state, the calculation on their quarterly return takes the fuel tax paid to Wyoming and sends it to that neighboring state and vise versa,” said Lopez.

Truckers track their miles and save their fuel receipts so the state that is traveled through will be paid fuel tax from the taxes Wyoming collected earlier in the trip. Wyoming-based drivers fill out a return and submit that to the MVS office. Should that driver be audited, receipts must be provided from the trip in question.

“IFTA members avoid being taxed twice; once at the pumps for the fuel purchase and then again when charged $15 dollars for a permit at a port of entry,” said Lopez. “It’s a better deal for over-the-road truckers to be part of IFTA.” Another facet of the commercial side of MVS is operating authority. Operating authority is issued to allow commercial carriers to haul products or people from one location in Wyoming to another. These carriers can include freight vehicles, tow trucks and wreckers, welding trucks, tour buses, taxis and hunting guides. Once the proper insurance is provided, we will issue operating authority.

Business license customers, such as car dealerships, rental car companies and car manufacturers receive forms from WYDOT for temporary tags and special license plates. WYDOT MVS registers and licenses car dealerships, vehicle manufacturers and salvage yards, in order for them to do business in the state.

All specialty plate applications go through the MVS office including personalized prestige, University of Wyoming, firefighter, EMT, military, national guard, veteran and embossed. These plates are ordered either online or by filling out the appropriate form and sending it in to the MVS office. The MVS staff reviews the application and verifies that it meets standards before making or issuing the plate. Personalized prestige plates are the most

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Photo: Rick Carpenter

placed in the door frame of the rebuilt vehicle so that future prospective buyer will know that the vehicle is rebuilt salvage.

Salvaged vehicles can not be registered with the state until they go through this process.

“Each state has different rules regarding salvaged vehicles. In Wyoming, if a car has been totaled in the first eight years of it’s life, the vehicle will get a salvage title. In Colorado, for example, their law only specifies six years,” said Lopez. “So if you purchase a 7-year old used vehicle that has been totaled and rebuilt with a non-salvaged title in Colorado and go to re-title it in Wyoming, the title will be run through the NMVTIS database. The county clerk’s office will see that the car has been totaled in it’s first eight scrutinized, as combinations of numbers and letters have been years and you will be issued a salvage title. Buyers of out-of-state known to spell inappropriate words or phrases, or may already be vehicles need to beware of salvage rules in other states.” in use by another citizen.

State assigned VIN number issuance is another duty of MVS “We have a system in place online for people who want for vehicles or trailers that are homemade without a VIN, or personalized plates. They can enter in their choice to see if it is vehicles and trailers that have been rebuilt with parts of other already taken. If the new plate’s combination of letters and numvehicles with different VIN numbers. bers hasn’t already been taken, the citizen can place their order,” “If a citizen wants to replace a door with a VIN plate on said Lopez. “The orders are compiled every two weeks and are their current vehicle, due to a crash or other circumstances, and sent to the plate plant for printing.” purchases a car door with a VIN plate from a salvage yard, a state Once the plate plant finishes the personalized plates, they are assigned VIN number will need to be issued,” said Lopez. “Other sent to the county treasurer for distribution to scenarios can include the rebuildthe plate’s owner. ing of a vehicle using two vehicles Aside from the personalized prestige, amateur with two different VIN numbers, radio and embossed plates, all other specialty or if a vehicle or trailer is missing plates are pre-made and are sent out to the couna factory VIN number because it ties only after applications and fees have been has been worn or washed off in the sent in, reviewed and approved. case of boat trailers.”

Some specialty plates are issued directly Another miscellaneous duty through the MVS office. Those plates include of MVS is to provide abandoned the transporter, novelty, pioneer, custom, street vehicle owner information to rod and exempt (city, county, state, etc.). Citizens customers and law enforcement who apply for these novelty and specialty plates or notify owners or lien holders will pick up the plate from the MVS office durof abandoned vehicles when law ing regular business hours, or have the plates enforcement has reported them mailed to the shipping address they have proas abandoned. MVS provides law vided on the application. enforcement the green abandoned In dealing with standard issue license plates, vehicle sticker to place on abanMVS provides secure title paper and registration doned cars or trailers. forms to each county, as well as a stock of license MVS staff housed at the “plate plates for each registered vehicle. In turn, each of plant” in Cheyenne design, prothe state’s 23 counties sends title and registration duce and deliver license plates, data via file transfer protocol (FTP) to WYDOT. expiration stickers, IFTA decals, The data uploaded from county clerks and treamobile machinery stickers and surers is saved on WYDOT’s mainframe server WYDOT vehicle logo stickers. The The newly minted 2017 edition of the apportioned for secure storage. plant is located just off the Missile trailer plates lined up ready to be stuffed into MVS also advises county clerks and treasur- envelopes.

Drive Interchange on I-25. ers should they have questions or concerns During times of high volume about registration, title law or the National Motor Vehicle Title plate making, WYDOT hires temporary labor forces from CheyInformation System (NMVTIS), which is similar to the nationenne’s Magic City to stuff the newly minted license plates into ally known brand Carfax. NMVTIS is the federally mandated envelopes and then box up for shipment to each county. database of information that states use to verify the validity of the The only plates not manufactured in-house are the embossed paper titles being presented for transfer and check on any brand plates, which are ordered through an out-of-state vendor and or junk and salvage information. Any citizen can look at the shipped to Wyoming.

NMVTIS website (www.vehiclehistory.gov) for approved providEvery eight years WYDOT introduces a new license plate ers, allowing you to purchase the information about a certain car. design. The newest license plate is currently being printed and Other miscellaneous MVS duties include issuance of rebuilt will soon be shipped to county offices throughout Wyoming. The salvage decals to customers whose vehicle title has been branded official rollout of the new Upper Green River Lakes plate will salvage and who has had the vehicle rebuilt. These decals are begin in 2017.

May 2014

n

Interchange

11

Photos: Rick Carpenter

Boost in revenue fuels needed pavement preservation work The familiar rhyme, “April showers bring May flowers” rings true in much of Wyoming, and it’s also a fact that the advent of spring weather means road construction zones are blooming in numerous locations.

A portion of the projects getting underway fall into the pavement preservation category, a result of action taken by the Wyoming Legislature in early 2013 to enact an increase in the state fuel tax rate. In doing so, legislators stipulated that the additional revenue be used for projects which would serve to maintain the highway system in its current condition.

Consequently, WYDOT is using the extra fuel tax revenue to fund pavement and bridge rehabilitation work on non-interstate highways. What are designated as “fuel tax projects” were those identified through WYDOT’s asset manPaving operation on rural Wyoming highway agement system, which prioritizes necessary work that, if completed in time, can delay the need for reconstruction work that would otherwise cost four to eight times more.

So far, 18 fuel tax projects, ranging in value from less than $350,000 to more than $6.9 million and encompassing about 110 miles of road, have been let to contract for a aggregate total of about $48 million. Most of these projects had previously been delayed due to budgetary constraints. Another 35 similar projects

12

Interchange

n

May 2014

by Bruce Burrows

are tentatively scheduled between now and the summer of 2016.

A list of the upcoming projects is posted on WYDOT’s webpage.

Overall, during the current fiscal year, WYDOT anticipates letting about 140 projects valued at approximately $315 million.

Following are summary descriptions of some of the larger and more notable projects which will be under way this construction season.

On the interstate system, major projects starting up this spring include a $12.5 million effort consisting of pavement milling and resurfacing, with bridge rehabilitation work, on 11.2 miles of Interstate 80 in the vicinity of Fort Bridger.

Similar work, valued at $6.1 million, will be in progress on 5.1 miles of I-80 between Rawlins and Sinclair, and on the same route for 6.3 miles between the Summit and Vedauwoo interchanges east of Laramie ($5.5 million). In addition, 10.4 miles of the route (westbound lanes only) just west of Laramie will be milled and resurfaced (also $5.5 million.) Another I-80 milling and resurfacing project, encompassing 8.9 miles of I-80 immediately west of Cheyenne, is set to go to contract this month.

Four sizable projects on I-90 are continuing from last season, including resurfacing, with isolated reconstruction, on a 5.8-mile,

Opposite: Numerous sections of interstate highway will be resurfaced.

Above images: Workers place fresh asphalt.

$20.3 million project east of Buffalo, and pavement milling and resurfacing project, with bridge rehabilitation work, on an eightmile, $11.2 million project in Sheridan County, including the Sheridan marginal. The other carryover I-90 projects are repair of the Crazy Woman landslide, also east of Buffalo ($3 million); and milling and resurfacing on 8.9 miles west of Sundance ($7 million).

Also on I-90, a milling and resurfacing project, valued at $6 million, is starting on a 4.8-mile section of the route between the Ranchester and Acme interchanges northwest of Sheridan.

Continuing this spring is a project involving three miles of northbound I-25 near the El Rancho Interchange north of Wheatland. The work is a mix of reconstruction, bridge rehabilitation, widening, and resurfacing. Another project on I-25 in the Wheatland area, rehabilitating and widening the Laramie River bridges for $4.8 million, will be gearing up soon.

Major work will be in progress on a number of non-interstate routes as well. The project slate includes a section of US 287 south of Laramie, where work is starting this spring on a $17.9 million project to extend the current four-lane divided highway by six miles from south of Tie Siding to the Colorado state line. Meanwhile, another US 287 project, located north of Rawlins, continues from last year. The $11.9 million effort consists of placing pavement overlay for 10.3 miles and adding a set of north and southbound passing lanes between mileposts 19 and 20.

Another notable carryover project involves reconstructing and widening 3.5 miles of US 14A northeast of Cody. The $12.3 mil-

lion job marks the conclusion of a series of improvement projects which began in 2001 to widen the entire 23-mile length of US 14A between Cody and Powell.

Near Rock Springs, $14.5 million worth of work continues on US 191 leading south from the Flaming Gorge Interchange on I-80. The first mile is being reconstructed and widened; the next two miles are being resurfaced and widened in select locations.

Start-up projects include resurfacing 9.2 miles of US 14-16 northwest of Gillette($11.9 million) and eight miles on US 16 from Newcastle east to the South Dakota state line ($20 million).

Preservation continued on page 14

Chip sealing is another important pavement preservation strategy

May 2014

n

Interchange

13

Letters continued from page 2

Preservation continued from page 13

employees can, and should, take lessons from the state of Wyoming as to how to care for taxpayer dollars and equipment.

Congratulations on a job well done.

Thanks for your time.

The later project consists of widening and resurfacing work, along with three miles of reconstruction and rehabilitation of three bridges. Also moving forward is a $6.6 million project to repair two landslides on US 14 in the Big Horn Mountains east of Shell.

Nearing completion is the $25 million reconstruction of Hoback Junction, south of Jackson where US 189-191 and US 26-89 converge. The focus of work has been the junction into a roundabout and replacing the bridge over the Snake River located just west of the junction.

On US 16 just west of Ten Sleep, a project to widen and partially reconstruct 2.6 miles of road is set to go to contract this month. Also possibly going to contract by this summer is an overlay and widening project on 4.3 miles of US 14-16-20 near Wapiti west of Cody.

North of Hulett in Crook County, resurfacing and widening work worth $8.3 million will involve eight miles of WYO 112. Also in Crook County, pavement overlay and minor widening is slated for

Larry O’Hearon New Mexico

WYDOT generosity abounds First, we would like to say how humbled we are for the overwhelming support shown for the Gutierrez benefit chili cook off held on April 11. The outpouring of support from the WYDOT family, friends of family, and neighbors only shows how great a person Mekenna was and the type of impact she made on those around her.

There were over 261 people in attendance who tasted 16 different chilies.

The great cooks made chilies which ran from mild to wild - red, green, and white - giving attendees a great selection to satisfy their taste buds. Due to the overwhelming attendance, we ran out of most of the chili before the event was over. The event raised over $4,800 for Zach Gutierrez and family to support him in this difficult time, and we are still receiving donations.

We would like to thank everyone who helped make this so successful.

Please know that a heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to all of you. Without you, this event would not have been such a tremendous success.

Also, a special thank you to the Highway CafĂŠ for your donation of 2 roasters of chili. We value your unwavering commitment to WYDOT. Thank you for your donations: Great Harvest Bread Co., The Bread Basket, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Walmart, Taco Johns, WyHy Federal Credit Union, Olive Garden, Jo-Ed Produce, and Frito Lay.

The Zach Gutierrez Benefit Chili Cook-Off Committee

14

Interchange

n

May 2014

5.1 miles on WYO 116 south of Sundance. The WYO 116 work ($6.9 million) includes replacing the Inyan Kara Creek bridge.

The most comprehensive slate of work in an urban area is located in Casper. For details, see the article on page 8 from District 2 public involvement specialist Jeff Goetz.

In Sheridan, a bridge on Lewis Street over Big Goose Creek is being replaced as part of a $4.9 million project, and in Lovell, 1.2 miles of Main Street will be repaired (also $4.9 million). In Laramie, a half-mile section of Grand Avenue adjacent to the University of Wyoming campus will be reconstructed for ($4.5 million) , and in Riverton, a $5.1 million reconstruction project is in progress on sections of Federal Boulevard and Monroe Avenue just south of the downtown business district and also on Riverview Road on the west side of town.

Win

Colorado Rockies tickets from Toastmasters!

The WYDOT Roadmasters chapter of Toastmasters will be giving away two club level tickets to the June 7th Colorado Rockies game vs. the L.A. Dodgers at their June 2nd meeting.

To enter for the ticket giveaway, just attend a meeting of Roadmasters. Attendees will receive an entry for each meeting attended, until the day of the drawing.

Roadmasters meets every Monday at 12:05 p.m. in the second-floor WYDOT U classroom of the Planning building.

Please contact Mike Hand (777-6153), Sherman Wiseman (sherman.wiseman@wyo.gov / 7774190) or Brian Rentner (brian.rentner@ wyo.gov / 777-4048) for more information.

Is a job interview in your future? We have some tips to help you make a terrific impression! u Prepare a detailed, organized and complete application. u If contacted for an interview, prepare for it. o Research details of the position (i.e. read the pro-

grams website, if available). If you are familiar with the general content of the position, it will show you are genuinely interested in the opportunity and help to generate questions about the position during the interview.

o Compare the details of the position with the experi-

ence you have listed on your application and resume.

o Identify the strengths from your experience that will

contribute to the position for which you are being considered.

o Review potential interview questions. The inter-

viewer is using the time during the interview to get to know you as a potential candidate. Be ready to use the time to speak about your experiences.

u Be punctual and professional. o Familiarize yourself with the location of where your

interview will take place.

o Knowing where to be and arriving on time will help

keep you calm and prepared.

u Use the interview to: o Express your interest in the opportunity. o Detail your experience and how it will benefit the

position.

o Provide the interviewer with insight into you as a

candidate.

u Closing an interview: o Ask questions about the next steps of the process. o The closing of the interview is just as important as

g Preparin for an w; Inter vie A Few Tips Helpful If you have interviewed recently, you may have noticed that many of the questions were seeking specific examples of past experiences. If you experienced that, you may have been in an interview using Behavioral Based Interviewing techniques. This is an interviewing technique that is becoming more commonly used. u Behavioral Based Interviewing: o Using this technique, the interviewer asks questions that seek examples from the interviewee and generally start with “Tell us about a time ...; describe an example of …” o The interviewer will be listening for examples of past

behaviors so as to gain an understanding of how the candidate would handle future situations.

u How to respond to a Behavioral Based Interview question: o Use the STAR Method:

N Situation – Identify a situation that best

addresses the question being asked in the interview.

N Task – Describe the details involved in the

situation – what was your role?

N Action – What did you do?

N Result – What was the outcome of the situation?

Remember to prepare, stay calm, and be ready to share your detailed job-related experiences – all of which can assist you in the interviewing process.

Should you have specific questions, please feel free to contact your HR representative.

the beginning – remember to leave a positive impression to the interview team.

o Extend your appreciation for the interview.

May 2014

n

Interchange

15

District News Headquarters

Welcome Photo: Rick Carpenter

Marc Correra, Cheyenne I-80 Port Of Entry; Christopher Pivik, Traffic; and Andrew Smyth, Motor Vehicle ServicesRegistration/Title.

Aubrie Adams, Procurement-Buying; Carol Dewitt, GIS/ITS; Jason Fernandez, GIS/ITS; Troy Grandpre, Highway Development-Project Development; Marissa Larson, Highway DevelopmentProject Development; and Tabetha Wolf, Right Of Way-Negotiations.

Service Awards Aarron Curry, Maintenance Staff – 35 years; Craig Alexander, Right Of Way-Administration – 30 years;

Alexander

Mickle

Kevin Brookshire, Highway Development-Photogrammetry/Survey – 25 years; Douglas Hatch, Traffic – 25 years; Andrea Allen, Highway DevelopmentProject Development – 15 years; Doug McGee, Public Affairs – 15 years; Kevin Mickle, Traffic-Sign Shop – 15 years; and Justin Brown, Patrol Dispatch – 5 years.

Equipment Trainer Aarron Curry receiving his 35-year service award from Field Operations Manager Mark Eisenhart (left) and State Maintenance Engineer Kent Ketterling.

Photo courtesy Doug McGee

Promotions and Transfers

Public Affairs Officer Doug McGee receiving his 15-year service award from Director John Cox.

District 1

Welcome

Michael Pukash, Telecommunications-Telephone – 15 years; Benjamin Kiel, Laramie Patrol – 5 years; Aaron Kirlin, Elk Mountain Patrol – 5 years; and Kaycee Shroyer, Elk Mountain Patrol – 5 years.

Damon Dowell, Rawlins Maintenance; Calvin Hanner III, Elk Mountain Maintenance; Tyler Johannes, Laramie Maintenance; Aaron Miller, Rawlins Mechanics; and Leo Montoya, Laramie Maintenance.

Retirements

Promotions and Transfers

Dwain Carey, Cheyenne Construction and Field Survey Technician.

Shawn Fletcher, Traffic-Signing; Joshua Petty, Laramie Maintenance; and Bradley Schaefer, Cheyenne Maintenance.

Service Awards David Lacy, Laramie Port Of Entry – 30 years; Martin Mayfield, Rawlins Maintenance – 30 years; Brand Fogg, Pine Bluffs Maintenance – 25 years; Ralph Tarango, Rawlins Construction – 25 years;

Lacy

16

Fogg

Interchange

n

Pukash

May 2014

Cradle Call Congratulations to Brett and Nichole Baker on the arrival of their new baby girl. Kenzleigh Marie Baker entered the world on March 12 weighing in at 8 pounds and measuring 19.5 inches long.

Big brother, 2-year-old Pryce, welcomed little Kenzleigh to their family.

Kiel

Kirlin

Shroyer

District 2

Welcome Austin Adsit, Casper Mechanics; and Chance Phillips, Casper Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers Scott Elliott, Douglas Mechanics; Jeff Erdahl, District 2 Maintenance Staff; Asa Kidney, Casper Maintenance; Kenneth Pantier, Casper Maintenance; Ronald Reinke, Wheatland Maintenance; and Eric Wiles, Shirley Rim Maintenance.

David Green, Casper Construction – 30 years; Randy Reynolds, Casper Mechanics – 25 years; and William Hatch, Torrington Construction – 15 years.

Photo: Jeff Goetz

Service Awards

Mechanic Brett McKinley, left, and Marvin Lambert, Wheatland shop foreman, apply new reflective striping to a new half-ton pickup. McKinley recently celebrated his five-year anniversary with the department. Lambert has worked for WYDOT for 19 years.

District 3

Service Awards

Dylan Jensen, TelecommunicationsDistrict 3 Radio Shop; and Robin Lester, Evanston Port Of Entry.

David Chapman, District 3 Shop – 25 years; Gary Lance, Patrick Draw Maintenance – 25 years; and Raymond Avery, Traffic-Electrical – 15 years.

WYDOT

workforce.

Number of Employees

0-5 = 588 6-10 = 416 11-15 = 279 16-20 = 208 21-25 = 151 26-30 = 136 31-35 = 127 36-40 = 65 40+ = 8

Jensen

Lester

Promotions and Transfers Joshua Ferguson, Farson Maintenance.

Photo courtesy Stephanie Harsha

Years of Service

Lance

David Chapman receiving his 25-year service award from District Engineer John Eddins.

Photo courtesy Stephanie Harsha

A dedicated

Welcome

Ray Avery receiving his 15-year service award from Darin Kaufman.

Condolences To Stu Richardson and his wife Rita on the passing of their son Jonathan Day.

May 2014

n

Interchange

17

Welcome

Cradle Call

Luz Craig, Gillette Driver Services; and Ronald Mattingly, Gillette Maintenance.

Congratulations Rob and Courtney Goodnough on the birth of their twins Fischer and Maeleigh born Feb. 25. Goodnough is a highway maintenance technician in Moorcroft.

Promotions and Transfers Kerri Becker, Gillette Driver Services; Jesse Burgess, Newcastle Mechanics; Darcy Fox, Gillette Construction; and Jerry Melneck, Sheridan Maintenance.

Burgess

Service Awards

Photo courtesy Rob Goodnough

District 4

Fischer and Maeleigh Goodnough

Money

Melneck

Photo courtesy Barb Miller

Corey Vine’s birthday celebration at the Sheridan/ Dietz Port of Entry made people just green with... frosting? The March birthday cake offered those who indulged a chance at a mouthful of green frosting which promptly turned their teeth green. Thanks to Bruce Knudsvig and Andy Harkins for sharing their smiles with us.

District 5

Photo courtesy Rusty Speidel

Congratulations to Rusty and Amanda Speidel on the birth of Addlynn Faith born on Dec. 28. Speidel is the maintenance crew leader in Sundance.

Kerry Money, Buffalo Construction – 15 years.

Addlynn Speidel

April Service Award Recipients

Promotions and Transfers Karl Germain, Worland Patrol; Matthew Jones, Ten Sleep Maintenance; and Scott Thomas, Basin Maintenance.

Service Awards Jones

Mark Schaeffer receiving his 30-year service award from District 5 Construction Engineer Keith Compton.

18

Interchange

n

May 2014

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Photo courtesy Cody Beers

Lori Ebersberger, Cody Construction – 30 years; and Mark Schaeffer, Worland Construction – 30 years.

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: (From left standing) Douglas Hatch, Randy Reynolds, Ralph Tarango, and Kevin Brookshire. (From left seated) Craig Alexander, Lori Ebersberger, and Martin Mayfield.

Awards

Safety awards presented at the 2014 supervisors meeting Employee Safety Officer Ron Chavez and Del McOmie present safety awards to four winners. Top left, Tory Thomas, District 3; top right, Darin Kaufman, District 3; bottom left, Ted Wells, District 3; and bottom right, Frank Hancock, District 5.

Photos: Rick Carpenter

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Highway Safety Awards. The awards were presented during the supervisors meeting held in Laramie last month.

Employee Safety uses a formula to measure performance in each district using the number of injuries, accidents on the job, loss of time and man-hours.

Employee Safety Officer Ron Chavez and Chief Engineer Del McOmie presented the awards to Tory Thomas from District 3 Maintenance, Darin Kaufman from District 3 Traffic, Ted Wells from District 3 Construction and Frank Hancock District 5 Mechanics.

District 5 maintenance crew honored at Cody Chamber of Commerce Founder’s Day dinner

Chamber of Commerce. WYDOT employees Jim Berry, Shaun Emmett, Joe Klein, Jerry Fritz, Jason Fleming and Cody Beers were on hand to accept the award.

May 2014

n

Interchange

19

Photo courtesy Cody Beers

Photo: WYDOT

Employees from Cody and Lovell maintenance, along with the District 5 public involvement specialist, attended the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce 114th Annual Founder’s Day Dinner on March 20, in Cody.

The WYDOT plow drivers and outreach effort received the Si and Corky Cathcart “Friend of Business” Award at the banquet.

The award was given to the crews for their efforts to open the east gate of Yellowstone National Park last April and to the outreach effort to the Cody community. Jim Berry, Shaun Emmett, Joe Klein, Jerry Fritz of Cody maintenance; Jason Fleming of Lovell maintenance; and Cody Beers, public involvement specialist were all present.

The plaque is currently in Lovell, but will soon be routed to Cody through Basin for everyone to see and enjoy.

Berry also shared a scrapbook from the effort for everyone to see. The scrapbook chronicles the effort by WYDOT from the beginning to the luncheon at Old Faithful to this year’s announcement

by Yellowstone that help with plowing wasn’t needed!

All in all, it was a fun night shared with good guys, laughs, and was an especially nice gesture made by the Cody Cody Maintenance accepting the Si and Corky Cathcart “Friend of Business” Award at the Cody Country Chamber.

Photos: Bruce Burrows

HQ employees support Gutierrez benefit A “chili cookoff ” luncheon held last month at WYDOT headquarters to benefit employee Zach Gutierrez and his young family was a big – and gratifying – success, according to organizers.

Gutierrez, a project engineer in Project Development, lost his wife Mekenna after a sudden illness in early March. He is a sixyear Department employee and is left with two young children, three-year-old daughter Taylor and infant son Grayson.

A diverse group of WYDOT employees at headquarters decided to host the chili competition on April 10 to raise funds for the Gutierrez family. Organizers included several members of the Headquarters Chapter of the Wyoming Department of Transportation Employees Association (WTDEA).

The 260-plus luncheon attendees had 16 chili recipes to sample. Cooks were drawn from a number of agency programs, as well as WyHy Federal Credit Union and the Highway Cafe.

After the tasting, the attendees could vote for their favorite chili.

Lauren Carver (Right-of-Way) was the winner, followed by second-place Julio Reyes (Highway Cafe) and third-place Chuck Kakalecik (Telecommunications).

The charity event raised more than $4,800 for the Gutierrez family, and the family has since received additional donations.

20

Interchange

n

May 2014

by Bruce Burrows “The outpouring of support from the WYDOT family, friends of family, and neighbors only shows how great a person Mekenna was and the type of impact she made on those around her,” WTDEA Headquarters Chapter President Heidi Martin said.

The organizers thanked everyone who assisted, attended or otherwise pitched in, with a special thank you directed to the Highway Cafe for its donation of two large batches of additional chili. Other sponsors included the Great Harvest Bread Co., The Bread Basket, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Walmart, Taco Johns, WyHy Federal Credit Union, Olive Garden, Jo-Ed Produce and Frito-Lay.

Noteworthy

The piece features icons, images, tools, and memories from 100 years of transportation. Examples include maps of the nation’s transportation system throughout the years, photos of iconic and significant transportation projects, snapshots of important transportation moments in history, logos of various AASHTO programs over the century, and photos of past executive directors.

The shadowbox will be on display at AASHTO’s office in Washington, D.C., though it will travel to the 2014 AASHTO annual meeting (held Nov. 25-28) in Charlotte, N.C.

AASHTO centennial shadowbox makes first appearance at Washington briefing

Originally published in the March 2014 AASHTO Newsletter http://centennial.transportation.org/newsletter032014.html

Image ©2009-2014 One Of A Kind, Inc. Art Studio. Created by Lawrence M. Romorini. www.oneofakindinc.com

Photo courtesy AASHTO Centennial Newsletter

AASHTO Executive Director Bud Wright unveiled a special shadowbox commemorating AASHTO’s 100th anniversary during a Washington Briefing reception last month. The large shadowbox is a major piece of the association’s centennial celebration created to highlight the member transportation departments’ accomplishments throughout the last 100 years in transportation and within AASHTO. AASHTO President and Kentucky Transporta“As many of you know, we have kicked tion Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock (right) and AASHTO Vice President and WYDOT off this celebration of Director John Cox with the AASHTO centennial 100 years of AASHshadowbox at the Washington briefing.

TO,” Wright said at the event. “We have put together a number of keepsakes that we will be able to have with us for a long time, that show what you all have done in our state departments of transportation. This event is about AASHTO reflecting on what our members have accomplished, but it also gives us the opportunity to look forward to where we’re headed.”

AASHTO President and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock, along with AASHTO Vice President and Wyoming Department of Transportation Director John Cox, were on hand to present the 141-piece shadowbox.

C

IT

OR

ET

LICK

T IC K

Chief Engineer Del McOmie accepted an award April 16 on behalf of WYDOT for the diverging diamond interchange located south of Cheyenne at the I-25 and College Drive exit.

Excellence was noted for the project in the category of municipal streets and intersections less than 30,000 square yards.

The Colorado/Wyoming Chapter Del McOmie accepting an award for excellence of the American Concrete Pavement given to WYDOT by the concrete paving industry.

Association, the Concrete Association of Wyoming, and the Portland Cement Association (Rocky Mountain Region) bestowed the award.

The diverging diamond interchange was also named in an award by the Wyoming Engineering Society. Please see related article written by Ross Doman District 1 public involvement specialist on page 9 for additional information.

May 2014

n

Interchange

21

Photo courtesy Sandy Scott

Additional accolades for the diverging diamond interchange in Cheyenne

Long time employees retire; look forward to travel and hobbies Kent Lambert

Kent Lambert, WYDOT civil rights manager since 2007, retired May 2. He departed after having accumulating a total of nearly 40 years of service with the agency.

Lambert first worked for WYDOT’s predecessor, the Wyoming Highway Department, during 1970 as a summer hire on a Laramiebased construction crew. He started on a permanent basis Lambert as a member of the District 1 striping crew and subsequently worked as engineering technician in both Laramie and Cheyenne and as a traffic design technician in Cheyenne. Prior to his appointment as Civil Rights Program Manager, he had served stints as a staff technician at headquarters for both the State Maintenance and State Construction programs.

Lambert, who was born in Laramie, is a graduate of Wheatland High School. He studied biological sciences as a student at the University of Wyoming.

He and his wife Jan plan to continue their residence in Cheyenne, but will be embarking on some well-earned travel, including a cruise trip to Alaska this summer.

Gaylan Wright

Trooper Gaylan Wright retired from the Wyoming Highway Patrol earlier this year, capping an 18-year career with the agency.

Wright signed on with the Patrol in early 1996 and received his commission after 19 weeks of recruit training at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy in Douglas.

He was initially posted to Division M in Lusk and the following year, transferred to Wright Division A based in Cheyenne. In 2001, he moved to the Motor Carrier Division, where he remained until retirement.

Wright, a native of Chicago, served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force prior to joining the Highway Patrol. While he was active duty in the Air Force, he earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice.

22

Interchange

n

May 2014

Since his retirement, he has announced his intention to be a candidate in this year’s election for state representative in House District 10. The seat covers the eastern half of Laramie County and a small portion of eastern Goshen County.

Sgt. Stephen Townsend

Sgt. Stephen Townsend of the Wyoming Highway Patrol at Cheyenne headquarters May 2, capping a 34-year career with the Patrol.

Townsend signed on with the Patrol in March 1980. Following seven weeks of recruit training at the Wyoming National Guard facility in Guernsey, he was commissioned as a patrolman and assigned to duty with Douglas-based Division M. In 1989, he transferred to Division A Sgt. Townsend is sent off with a donutin the Cheyenne area, shaped piggy bank complete with coins for and in 2001, Townsend spending. was promoted to sergeant and appointed as staff coordinator at headquarters. His duties in the latter position included serving as the Patrol’s public information officer; over the past dozen-plus years, Townsend issued hundreds of news releases and participated in numerous media interviews. In doing so, he became arguably the most recognizable member of the Patrol statewide.

Townsend was born in Vinita, Okla., and graduated from high school in Rifle., Colo. His retirement concludes a grand total of nearly four decades in law enforcement. He got his start in 1975 as a deputy with the Moffat County, Colo., Sheriff ’s Office and later worked in a similar capacity for the Mesa County, Colo., Sheriff ’s Office.

He departs the Highway Patrol as the agency’s longest current tenured officer, and ranks fifth on the all-time Patrol longevity list, behind only Maj. Gary Marsden (1966-2003), Maj. Art Reese (1940-1976), Capt. Neil Boyd (1941-1977) and Capt. Wayne Ritterbush (1965-2000).

Townsend and his wife Suzie plan to maintain their residence in Cheyenne. The couple enjoys international travel, having already visited South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and they continue to plan additional foreign tours.

Photo: Carlie Van Winkle

Noteworthy

Noteworthy Cody pioneer Ned Frost

Todd Frost is Cody’s resident engineer, and his roots are in Cody.

His dad, Greg, worked for WYDOT’s engineering crew in Cody for nearly 40 years. And his great-grandfather, Ned Frost, was a Cody pioneer cowboy. The Frost family remains involved in the Cody community.

Through work with Federal 402 Highway Safety Funds, strong local seat belt and safety messages are being delivered to communities all over Wyoming. This advertisement is an example of that effort, and it is designed to tie in with Cody’s past and today.

This advertisement and characters involved present the readers of the Cody newspaper’s Legends Magazine with an important life-saving safety message. This “local” approach with local people delivering messages works well in Wyoming’s small communities.

– Cody Beers

From Cody’s Pioneer Generation to

Today...

buckle up for every ride,

every time.

C

IT

ET

T IC K

Artwork courtesy the Cody Enterprise

Todd Frost, great grandson

OR

K C I L

May 2014

n

Interchange

23

Passings Clark Stillahn

le Afte yc

r

ading!

Re

ease Re c Pl

Clark Stillahn, 49, a long-term WYDOT employee in Cheyenne, died unexpectedly March 30.

He was born in Syracuse, Neb., and had lived in Wyoming since early childhood.

Stillahn graduated from Cheyenne East Stillahn High School in 1983 and subsequently attended Laramie County Community College.

He started with the Wyoming Department of Administration and Fiscal Control (now Administration and Information) in 1986 as a mailroom clerk.

Two years later, Stillahn transferred into a similar position with the old Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency. He later worked as a records specialist for Highway Safety before moving to Driver Services in 1995. Stillahn held a variety of positions in Driver Services, and for the past two years, had been a commercial driver license examiner.

In all, Stillahn chalked up 27.5 years of state service, including 25-plus years with WYDOT. He often remarked how important his “WYDOT family” was to him.

Stillahn, who was raised around agriculture on his family’s ranch north of Cheyenne, continued to be involved ranching and farming operations while working for WYDOT. His affiliations included the Wyoming Junior Hereford Association, the Wyoming Hereford Association and Future Farmers of America.

Funeral services were conducted April 4 in Cheyenne at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where he was a member.

DDI continued from page 9 for additional lanes. Capacity exists for a 20-year horizon of projected traffic and planned developments. Eventually, the current design may be modified with minimal impact to accommodate two additional travel lanes when traffic volumes increase beyond this horizon, mainly through structure work.

The DDI configuration makes it easier for large trucks to pass through the interchange and traffic conflicts are reduced.

Islands and barrier between the lanes inherently slow speeds making it safer for all users, including pedestrians. The barrier also provides a pathway for

pedestrians and bicyclists to cross to the middle of the road and travel in-between the eastbound and westbound lanes with protection from traffic.

The new DDI configuration will move oversized loads, including lengths necessary for the wind turbine industry.

WYDOT consulted with the F.E. Warren Air Force Base and the bridge is designed to accommodate missile trucks. Around the clock the College Drive DDI moves tourists, commuters and goods of all stripes and sizes.

The project turned a tired pony of an interchange back into a war horse for economic development.

Extra Mile

AWARDS Congratulations to our March recipients!

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. Kevin Kaiser

Tom Allen

Dennis Daniel

Warren Moeller

Christine (Chrissy) Cuthbert

Elling (Herm) Mellem

William (Mac) McMillion

Ryan Higgins

Don Bridges

Stacey Gierisch

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.

Law enforcement is on the lookout for buzzed drivers.

Always designate a sober driver.

24

Interchange

n

May 2014

Spring skiing?

Beach vacation?

Hunt lately?

Get those photos in!

July WYDOT Outdoors submission deadline:

06/20/14

carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

WTDEA

Eight awarded through Grant Assistance Program for first quarter 2014 WTDEA headquarters chapter awarded eight Grant Assistance Program (GAP) Awards for first quarter 2014.

Each of the recipients who applied received $75. The awards this quarter were for the following: college textbooks; a cultural retreat; registration for the Bolder Boulder; and fees for various memberships to a crossfit gym, gymnastics instruction and baseball.

As a reminder, the WTDEA Grant Assistance Program is available to all headquarters chapter active and life members in good standing. Each WT-

DEA member can apply for themselves, a spouse, children, stepchildren or grandchildren.

The cycle for second quarter 2014 is now open and applications will be taken until June 30 for the July 2014 award.

Fundraising activities will determine the dollar amount and number of grants available. These may vary each quarter due to funding.

The GAP board determines the dollar amount and number of grants offered each year based on the monies available. The award amount may be the actual cost of the activity or may be up to the maximum amount if the actual cost exceeds the maximum award amount.

WTDEA District 2 Poker Run We invite you to attend the 10th annual District 2 Poker Run, which will be held in conjuction with the WTDEA State Board Picnic. The ride will begin on June 28 at 8 a.m. at the Wheatland shop. Riders will head west on Highway 34, through Sybille Canyon, into Laramie. Then hop onto I-80, exit to see Ames Monument, and travel on Happy Jack Road, through Veedavoo and Curt Gowdy State Park, then into Cheyenne. The ride will conclude after a short trip on I-25, back to Wheatland, where an afternoon can be enjoyed with WTDEA friends and family.

Lewis park has a wonderful playground area that includes merry-go-rounds, two big slides, and see-saws. Enjoy a well-maintained grassy area, covered picnic tables, shady trees, accessible parking, tennis courts, and a small skate park with lights. Lewis Park is also within walking distance of an outdoor pool!

Poker Hands are $5 • • • •

Best hand: Second best hand: Worst hand: WTDEA Relief Fund:

25% of the proceeds 15% of the proceeds 10% of the proceeds 50% of the proceeds

*Winners need not be present to win.

Please contact Myron Witt at 307-331-3444 or Debbie Herbold at 307-473-3258 for Poker Hands.

May 2014

n

Interchange

25

rates % as low as 3.75

APR*

on all recreational vehicle loans

Save a ton on your next ATV, motorcycle or RV. Visit our website for full details.

WyHy.org/RV 800.442.2392 307.638.4200 Cheyenne • 307.234.2373 Casper *APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rate listed is based on “as low as” rate. Rates and loan terms subject to credit approval. Other conditions may apply. Offer limited to recreational vehicles only. Current loans at WyHy are not eligible for this offer. Membership Eligibility Required.

Certain restrictions may apply. Rates are subject to change. Excludes other offers, promotions or interest loans.

26

Interchange

n

May 2014

Break Time Check your answers online at: employees.dot.state.wy.us, or if not able to access the employee site: www.dot. state.wy.us/home/engineering_technical_programs/manuals_publications/ interchange.html.

See if you can find the following 25 words hidden in the grid to the right:

Apportioned Awards Casper Commission Concrete Construction Contract Crash Dirt Elk Mountain Green River IFTA Sticker Interchange Lovell Meeteetse Motor Vehicle Services Natrona Pavement Pioneer Poker Run Retirees Salvage Yards Spring Warmth WYDOT

P

L

I

N

O

E

C

G

H

Q

U

E

R

T

Y

X

Y

L

O

P

W

A

Z

X

D

R

T

O

E

D

S

P

R

I

N

G

A

F

T

O

H

I

H

S

I

E

E

O

N

F

A

M

B

N

R

O

C

E

U

S

A

N

M

S

R

R

V

Y

S

T

T

N

E

G

C

I

O

M

N

A

A

M

E

E

T

E

E

T

S

E

R

D

I

E

C

S

N

A

G

L

R

I

A

M

R

E

L

A

L

I

L

A

Y

L

U

C

C

K

Y

V

T

O

H

W

O

R

K

K

A

N

P

T

C

S

M

U

R

C

H

A

A

W W

O

N

D

M

E

R

T

F

O

U

T

O

L

E

A

J

G

O

B

Y

A

W

H

O

E

R

E

I

G

K

E

T

T

T

N

O

E

P

A

D

O

R

N

U

N

D

R

A

S

Y

E

O

S

E

O

C

Y

Y

L

O

N

U

M

N

Y

R

C

C

N

F

O

R

C

L

R

H

A

L

C

T

S

A

C

T

W

O

H

K

O

O

F

V

R

I

T

I

R

F

O

U

I

N

D

A

H

R

A

I

U

M

S

E

E

U

A

R

D

S

N

V

U

F

C

I

S

I

N

N

G

N

M

H

I

A

N

C

S

M

S

G

E

I

T

N

Z

P

G

R

G

C

E

I

F

E

W

A

H

O

T

E

N

L

S

A

C

I

E

A

L

R

L

C

S

L

Q

O

A

N

R

Y

F

I

L

R

S

E

A

R

E

D

A

L

L

S

T

U

D

B

U

O

U

N

D

N

C

T

S

V

X

A

R

E

O

T

I

Y

C

F

C

A

O

R

U

A

S

K

I

S

C

M

D

S

N

L

O

O

W

E

T

I

B

A

S

D

Y

R

B

C

P

A

V

E

M

E

N

T

N

H

I

O

W

I

R

A

N

B

L

I

K

F

Z

R

O

I

U

S

T

D

O

I

A

A

E

E

P

A

E

T

R

E

U

V

S

M

A

X

Y

A

N

D

W

A

E

S

T

U

M

G

A

T

R

I

L

E

D

R

R

S

N

A

M

R

E

P

A

I

L

E

L

I

L

C

A

T

E

E

P

A

T

E

G

A

A

P

P

O

R

T

I

O

N

E

D

P

E

L

A

M

T

T

E

W

N

N

T

R

M

E

K

E

S

S

B

N

U

M

C

K

I

I

H

N

N

G

E

H

G

O

E

R

B

S

O

E

U

L

I

I

C

R

A

S

H

C

L

E

I

N

K

S

S

I

E

E

P

C

L

A

O

T

L

E

O

S

R

F

A

O

D

R

P

W

O

Y

S

O

M

Retiring from WYDOT?

Name:

Or, just need to submit a new address so you don’t miss a single issue of Interchange?

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

Please fill in, cut out and return this slip to WYDOT Public Affairs Office, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009.

Or, e-mail Carlie Van Winkle at carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

May 2014

n

Interchange

27

Interchange

Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd.

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340

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

Address Service Requested

Buckle Up!

The life you save may be your own.