District Briefs Headquarters
Commission awards more than $24 million in contracts in September CHEYENNE – During its Sept. 16 business meeting, the Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded more than $24 million in contracts for seven Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects. The commission awarded a $10.7 million bid to Cheyenne contractor Knife River to complete milling and paving work on Interstate 25 in Platte County. In Park County, McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co. out of Worland will be grading, paving and chip sealing a six-mile section of Wyoming Highway 120. McGarvin-Moberly was awarded the project with a bid of over $2.6 million. An $890,000 bid for sign replacement and other miscellaneous work along I-25 in Converse and Natrona Counties was awarded to S&L Industrial, LLC out of Cowley. The commission awarded a bid of $680,000 to Casper-based Modern Electric Co. for a project involving upgrading electrical systems and other miscellaneous work in Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Niobrara, Sheridan and Weston Counties. Also in Sheridan County, a project involving grading, paving work, sidewalk replacement, curb and gutter replacement and electrical work on Wyoming Highway 336 in Sheridan was awarded during the meeting. Casper Electric, Inc. out of Casper had the low bid of $483,000 for the project. All of the above projects have a contracted completion date of Oct. 31, 2022. The commission also awarded an $8.5 million bid for milling, paving and bridge rehabilitation work on Interstate 80 in Albany County to Cheyenne contractor Simon Contractors. This project has a contracted completion date of June 30, 2023. All of the above projects are federally-funded projects. A project involving crushing and stockpiling surface material and other
miscellaneous work in Big Horn and Washakie Counties was awarded to Mountain Construction Company out of Lovell, who submitted a bid of about $690,000. The sole state-funded project awarded at the meeting, this work has a contracted completion date of April 30, 2022. Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bidder.
FMCSA Emergency Declaration from Hurricane Ida CHEYENNE – The President of the United States declared an emergency due to the destructive power of Hurricane Ida. The southern and western service center of FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Administration) issued Regional Declaration No. 2021-008 under 49 CFR § 390.23. By execution of this Emergency Declaration, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency related to Hurricane Ida in the affected states are granted emergency relief from 49 CFR § 395.3, maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles, and 49 CFR § 395.5, maximum driving time for passenger-carrying vehicles, subject to the restrictions and conditions set forth herein. To ensure continued safety on the nation’s roadways, the emergency declaration stipulates that once a driver has completed their delivery, the driver must receive a minimum of 10 hours off-duty if transporting property and 8 hours if transporting passengers. Upon termination of direct assistance to emergency relief efforts related to Hurricane Ida in the affected states, the motor carrier and driver are subject to all requirements of the FMCSRs, except that a driver may return empty to the motor carrier’s terminal or the driver’s normal work reporting location without complying with 49 CFR §§ 395.3 and 395.5. In accordance with 49 CFR § 390.23, this Emergency Declaration is effective immediately. It shall remain in effect until the end of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), Sept. 28, 2021, whichever is earlier.
FMCSA intends to review the status of this Emergency Declaration continually and may take action to modify or terminate the Emergency Declaration sooner if conditions warrant. “WYDOT understands the critical importance freight movement has on not just our state but our nation, especially after natural disasters such as Hurricane Ida,” said WYDOT Director Luke Reiner. “We hope this emergency order helps bring important supplies to those affected, but we also encourage freight haulers to not drive drowsy or distracted.” The state of Wyoming fully supports this declaration. It stands ready to help those in need of emergency relief while transporting goods to those affected by Hurricane Ida.
District 1
Epoxy striping work in Cheyenne CHEYENNE – Crews with Harvey Contractors, Inc. and the Wyoming Department of Transportation placed epoxy striping in various locations around Cheyenne starting Sept. 27. Epoxy striping is more durable than traditional striping, especially in high-traffic areas. Work included minor work in intermittent locations around Cheyenne. Crews focused on a portion of Lincolnway between Missile Drive and Morrie Avenue (mileposts 361.5-362.87.) This was a mobile work zone with slow-moving striping equipment. Motorists were encouraged to drive slowly, obey all traffic control and avoid passing the heavy equipment where epoxy is still wet. Cones were in place to help indicate where epoxy was still be wet.
Short I-80 closure in Laramie caused delays LARAMIE – Travelers on Interstate 80 experienced delays as utility work took place on Sept. 28. I-80 was closed in both directions at about milepost 313 (Third Street exit) to Briefs continued on page 4
October 2021
n
Interchange 3
