Interchange April 2022
Roadkill reporting
Vol. 50, Iss. 4
WGFD, WYDOT partnership facilitates roadkill collection Wyoming 511 app updated to include a report roadkill tab By Jordan Achs and Sara DiRienzo, Public Information Officer, WGFD Users of the Wyoming 511 mobile app might’ve noticed a new option featured on the homepage last month. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Wyoming Department of Transportation recently launched new features to the Wyoming 511 mobile app to send authorization for those seeking to collect roadkill. Collecting roadkill from select Wyoming roadways became legal in January. People can now request authorization to salvage deer, elk, antelope, moose, wild bison or wild turkey from unintentional vehicle collisions with wildlife. There are some restrictions to collection. Anyone collecting roadkill must receive authorization from Game and Fish before collection. That can be done through the Wyoming 511 app, even without cellular service. “We’re grateful to be able to work with WYDOT to integrate the roadkill collection authorization into their already wellknown and highly-utilized 511 app that many are already familiar with and have installed on their devices,” said Brian Nesvik, Game and Fish director. Integrating roadkill authorization into WYDOT’s app seemed like a natural fit, given the road and location data infrastructure existing within the app already, as well as the close collaboration between the two state agencies on wildlife - roadway safety and developing the stipulations around roadkill collection with an emphasis on safety. “We continue to have a great partnership with Game and Fish,” said WYDOT Director Luke Reiner. “I think this tool will be a great asset to road users wanting to collect roadkill on our highways, allowing them to do so in a manner that is as safe and efficient as possible.” Safety considerations bar people from picking up carcasses from extremely busy roadways, such as Interstates 25, 80 and 90. It also disallows collection in active construction areas and within national parks in Wyoming. Other rules outline where to park for collection and the use of emergency flashers, as well as banning field dressing on the roadway. “Safety is our main priority with any roadkill collection,” said Rick King, chief of the wildlife division. “Anyone who picks up roadkill should operate with a safety mindset, remain cautious on the roadway and follow all guidelines.” Limiting the spread of disease is another concern. For wildlife managers, preventing the spread of chronic wasting disease is the foundation for requirements such as taking the whole animal — both edible and inedible portions – and following all carcass transport and disposal procedures – same as a hunter. To request authorization through Wyoming 511, look for the
“Report Roadkill” button on the app’s home screen. Following a question series about the carcass, if the species is available for collection in an approved location, the user can request authorization. The app immediately sends a certificate upon completing the questionnaire. Requestors must currently have or create a username and password with the Game and Fish to gain authorization. Game and Fish will be reviewing all the applications and can follow up with anyone to confirm the legitimacy of collection requests. As a reminder to anyone collecting roadkill, under the new roadkill collection laws the public is not authorized to euthanize an injured animal, and the meat cannot be donated to nonprofit organizations. Full collection guidelines and the regulation is available on the Game and Fish website, as well as a desktop authorization form for people without smartphones. If you decide to collect or report roadkill, please do not use your phone while actively driving. Pull over in a safe location before using this or any other feature on our mobile app. Don’t have the app yet? Download it today! The app is available for Android and Apple devices and also includes road condition information, information about the Wyoming Authorized Travel program and other features. Don’t see this feature on your app yet? You may need to update your app to the latest version. To do so, visit the Apple store or Google Play store. n
Contents Features
1 Roadkill reporting Wyoming 511 app updated to include Report Roadkill tab
8 Revisiting a historic event Looking back at a “Rally in the Rockies”
9 Excellence in Concrete Paving award I-80 project in Rock Springs garners accolades from ACPA
Interchange Vol. 50, Issue 4 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, Wyoming, 82009-3340 or send an email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.
Staff WYDOT Director: K. Luke Reiner
Programs & Partner Agencies Employee Safety...........................................................................................10
Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee
Game & Fish.................................................................................................. 12
Editor:
Training......................................................................................................... 11
Contributors:
Tourism......................................................................................................... 13 Wyoming A&I................................................................................................16
Also in this issue District Briefs..................................................................................................3 By the Numbers..............................................................................................7 District News................................................................................................ 14 Noteworthy................................................................................................... 17 Letters........................................................................................................... 19
Carlie Van Winkle Jordan Achs Matt Groth Mark Horan Carlie Van Winkle Andrea Staley Jeff Goetz Stephanie Harsha Laura Dalles Cody Beers Sgt. Jeremy Beck
Public Affairs Public Affairs Public Affairs Public Affairs District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 Patrol
Photography: Rick Carpenter
Public Affairs
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.
TechNotes..................................................................................................... 19 Passings........................................................................................................20 Outdoors.......................................................................................................21 WTDEA..........................................................................................................21 Break Time....................................................................................................23 Kindly recycle this publication after reading.
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A WYDOT PUBLICATION
District Briefs Headquarters
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funding strategy announced
CHEYENNE – Wyoming will soon receive National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funds to use to facilitate electric vehicle infrastructure development, especially charging stations, around the state. The funding is part of the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), signed by President Biden in November 2021. The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is allocated $3.9 million this year and expects $5 million each year for the next four years for a total of $23.96 million for EV infrastructure over five years. In preparation to execute NEVI funding and other program incentives, the state has developed a Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy and will circulate the strategy over the next month to allow the public and interested parties to provide comments and feedback. “These stations will not only be powered by Wyoming energy, but will help facilitate tourism around the state,” said Director Luke Reiner. “We want drivers who choose EVs to have safe and reliable ways to charge their vehicles as they drive in our state. This has been an inter-agency effort to maximize available resources for our residents and visitors.” Wyoming’s interstates have been designated as “Alternative Fuel Corridors” and under the NEVI program must have infrastructure installed first. Corridor infrastructure must adhere to guidelines set by the NEVI Program Joint Office for charger efficiency, location, and accessibility. Once the interstate corridors are complete, remaining funding can be spent along other key routes to popular destinations like Yellowstone National Park and Devil’s Tower National Monument. No state funds will be used to build, maintain or operate EV charging infrastructure through the NEVI program. Instead, the company who bids on the corridor will pay the required match
amount to the Federal funds. In addition to the NEVI funding, the BIL outlined $2.5 billion in discretionary grants available to eligible applicants, including state and local governments, special purpose districts, tribes and other groups or entities. The state also has VW settlement funds that will be used to provide additional funding for EV infrastructure development in areas not along the alternative fuel corridors. WYDOT and other state officials have scheduled public meetings around the state in early April to gather public input as well as feedback from potential bidders and other interested parties. Each meeting is expected to have a virtual component so viewers can attend any meeting and see the proposed plan and make comments. The schedule is as follows: • Cheyenne; April 4, 1-3 p.m.; WYDOT Auditorium, 5300 Bishop Blvd. • Casper; April 5, 9-11 a.m.; Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission Hearing Room, 2211 King Blvd. • Cody; April 5, 5-7 p.m.; Park County Public Library Grizzly Hall, 1500 Heart Mountain St. • Riverton; April 6, 1-3 p.m.; Riverton City Council Chambers, 816 N. Federal Blvd. • Jackson; April 7, 9-11 a.m.; Ordway Auditorium, Teton County Library, 125 Virginian Lane • Rock Springs; April 7, 5-7 p.m.; WYDOT District Office, 3200 Elk St. • Rawlins; April 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Rawlins Family Recreation Center, 1616 Harshman St. • Gillette; April 11, 2-4 p.m.; Campbell County Library, 2101 S 4-J Rd. • Sheridan; April 12, 10 a.m.-noon; Sheridan County Fulmer Library, 335 W Alger St. Those interested in making a public comment can also email dot-publicaffairs@wyo.gov.
Commission awards $55.9 million in contracts in March
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded $55.9 million in contracts for 11 Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects during its March 17 business meeting. Croell, Inc. out of Sundance was awarded a $26.94 million bid for a project involving paving, bridge rehabilitation, fencing, grading and other work on approximately 18.5 miles of both eastbound and westbound Interstate 90 in Crook County. The commission also awarded an almost $5.85 million bid to Lovell-based Mountain Construction Company for a project involving paving, chip sealing, grading, and other work on approximately 12 miles of US 26 in Fremont County. Mountain Construction Company was also awarded a $3.6 million bid for combined projects involving paving, electrical work, grading, milling, sidewalk work, curb and gutter and other work on approximately 1.4 miles of US 14A in Big Horn County. The commission awarded a $3.2 million bid to Gillette-based S&S Builders, LLC, for a project involving bridge rehabilitation, grading and other work at various locations within Laramie County. S&S Builders was also awarded a $718,660 bid for a project involving bridge rehabilitation, paving and other work in various locations within Carbon County. McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co. out of Worland was awarded a $1.28 million bid for a project involving paving, chip sealing, milling, signing and other work on just over 7 miles of WYO 34 in Platte County. All of the above projects have a contracted completion date of Oct. 31, 2022. The commission also awarded S&S Builders a bid for a combined project involving bridge rehabilitation, grading, paving, guardrail and other work in various locations within Converse County. Briefs continued on page 4
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Briefs continued from page 3 The contracted completion date is Dec. 31, 2023. DELTA WYE, Inc. out of Gillette was awarded a $2.35 million bid for a project involving electrical work, landscaping, sidewalk work, curb and gutter, irrigation work, drainage, paving and other work on nearly a half mile of WYO 336 in Sheridan County. The project has a contracted completion date of Nov. 30, 2022. The commission awarded a $502,914 bid to Afton-based Avail Valley Construction-WY for a project involving grading, erosion control and other work on a little over a mile of US 189/WYO 89 in Lincoln County. The contracted completion date is Aug. 31, 2022. All of the above projects are funded primarily using Federal dollars. Two projects awarded during the March meeting are funded primarily using state dollars: • Minnesota-based Bituminous Paving, Inc. was awarded a nearly $1.5 million bid for a project involving paving, chip seal and other work in various locations within Carbon, Goshen, Natrona and Sweetwater Counties. The contracted completion date is August 31, 2022. • S&S Builders was awarded a $426,378 bid for a project involving bridge repair, grading and other work on the Grand Avenue interchange on Interstate 80 in Albany County. The contracted completion date is May 31, 2022 Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bidder. March’s meeting saw an average of almost two and a half bids per project.
FMCSA waiver regarding DOT medical cards expired Feb. 28
CHEYENNE – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has ended a waiver put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding Department of Transportation medical cards for commercial driver license holders. First issued in March 2020, FMCSA waived the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 that CDL holders, commercial learners permit holders, and non-CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided they have proof
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of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate) issued for a period of 90 days or longer and met the expiry criteria outlined in each extension. The most recent extension that went into effect on Dec. 1, 2021 was not extended by FMCSA and expires at 11:59 p.m. Feb. 28. Drivers who do not have a current DOT medical card on file with WYDOT may have their CDL downgraded to a non-commercial license. DOT Medical Cards can be emailed to cdl@wyo.gov.
District 1
Delays likely during paving work on I-180/Warren Avenue CHEYENNE – Weather permitting, crews with S&S Builders and WYDOT will begin work on Interstate 180/Warren Avenue on April 4. Work is focused between Lincolnway and 24th and includes milling, paving, concrete work, curb and gutter repairs, ADA upgrades, traffic signal replacements, minor storm sewer improvements and other miscellaneous work. Heavy equipment producing loud noise is required to complete the work. Parking in front of businesses will be affected by the work, but sidewalk access to businesses will remain open. This work is scheduled to be complete in the fall.
Delays likely during pavement work on WYO 212/College Drive
CHEYENNE – Weather permitting, crews with Knife River Corp. and WYDOT will begin pavement patching work on WYO 212/College Drive on April 4. Work is focused between Pershing Boulevard and Lincolnway and includes concrete slab repairs and other miscellaneous work. Motorists should expect potential delays from lane closures, reduced speed limits, flaggers and other traffic control as the work is taking place. This work is scheduled to be complete in June.
Parsley Bridge replacement underway
CHEYENNE – Crews with Reiman, Corp. and the Wyoming Department of Transportation began the Parsley Boulevard bridge replacement project on March 18. Numerous hits in the past have caused several closures and frequent repairs to the bridge. The new bridge will have an increased clearance height above Interstate 80 which should mitigate future collisions and closures at this location. The bridge will remain closed throughout the bridge replacement. Travelers will be detoured to alternate routes. The work is scheduled to be completed by December 2022. All WYDOT project scheduling is subject to change, including due to adverse weather or material availability.
Grand Avenue/I-80 bridge repair design complete, let to contract LARAMIE – On March 10, the Wyoming Department of Transportation opened contractor bids for repair of damaged Grand Avenue/Interstate 80 Interchange bridge. WYDOT engineers expedited the design process to meet the March 10 bid letting deadline. Once the bid has been awarded to a bridge contractor, work will begin to repair the structure with the goal to open exit 316 off ramp as soon as possible. Work is focused on the bridge column underneath the bridge surface. Interior lanes adjacent to the damaged column will be closed during the project, so motorists should be prepared for potential delays, especially during peak travel hours like morning and evening commutes. The eastbound exit ramp from I-80 will remain closed for the duration of the repair. Continue to seek alternate routes. Weather and supply permitting, the bridge rehab should have a completion date of early summer.
Summit Rest Area on I-80 near Laramie closed for repairs
LARAMIE – The Summit Rest Area near mile marker 323 on I-80 west of Laramie was temporarily closed on March 2-3 due to plumbing repairs. The closure began at 8 a.m. on March 2 and remained closed through while plumbing repairs and maintenance took place. Facilities, including restrooms and tourist information areas, remained closed to the public. Parking remained available.
Concrete slab work underway in downtown Cheyenne
CHEYENNE – Crews with S&S Builders and the Wyoming Department of Transportation began concrete slab repair work on Lincolnway in Cheyenne on March 1. Crews performed concrete slab replacements at various locations along Lincolnway between Pioneer and Capitol Avenue, including the intersections. Work includes saw cutting, removing failing concrete slabs and crushed base, replacing and compacting the base, then pouring new concrete. Traffic was reduced to one-lane during slab repair operations. Parking spaces in front of businesses were affected. Sidewalk access to all businesses remained open throughout the project. This project has an expected completion date of late June 2022.
District 2
Pursuit ends north of Wheatland on I-25
WHEATLAND – Following a pursuit on March 15, two Wyoming residents are in custody. The pursuit started shortly after 4:30 p.m. after Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were notified of a vehicle headed south on Interstate 25 with an occupant who had an active warrant for kidnapping. A trooper located the car on US 26 west of Guernsey. The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to yield.
The driver of the vehicle fled east to the town of Guernsey before changing directions to head west on US 26. While troopers pursued the vehicle west on US 26, the driver attempted to drive into pursuing units and oncoming traffic. Near milepost 5 on US 26, a collision occurred between the suspect vehicle and a Wyoming Highway Patrol vehicle. The crash disabled the suspect’s vehicle. The occupants of the car fled on foot toward an adjacent farmhouse. Law enforcement chased the suspects towards the farmhouse but could not apprehend them before they gained access to a Ford F-250. The suspects eluded law enforcement by fleeing in the Ford south through adjacent fields, driving off-road and out of sight. A perimeter was established in the area to locate the truck. After 7:00 p.m., law enforcement located the Ford abandoned in a ravine. The occupants were observed fleeing on foot towards Gray Rocks Road. Due to adverse road conditions, local agencies provided off-road vehicles to help search the area for the suspects. Around 10:12 p.m., a suspect was located near the creek hiding under tumbleweeds and taken into custody. The second suspect was found the next morning near the Basin Electric Power Co-op north of Wheatland and was taken into custody without further incident. The occupants have been identified as 26-year-old Joshua Taylor and 25-yearold Jeromie B. Ballinger. Taylor was booked into the Platte County Detention Center on the active felony warrant. Charges are pending on Ballinger. The WHP would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance with this incident: Platte County Sheriff ’s Department, Goshen County Sheriff ’s Department, Guernsey Police Department, Wheatland Police Department, Wyoming State Parks, Wyoming Game and Fish, Torrington and local fire departments, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Wyoming Homeland Security, and all the residents who assisted with information on local terrain.
District 3
I-80 Baxter Interchange closure, crews to remove bridge
ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from IHC SCOTT Inc., closed the westbound on and off ramps and crossroad at the Baxter Interchange while they removed the eastbound bridge structure on March 28. The work took place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Those traveling from the airport back to Rock Springs were detoured to Baxter Road and then to the Rock Springs belt loop. Traffic traveling westbound to the airport or Middle Baxter Road detoured from exit 122 or needed to travel to Rock Springs and circle back. The project encompasses work on roughly 13 miles of Interstate 80 beginning at milepost 107 on the east side of Rock Springs. Work includes grading, milling existing asphalt, concrete paving and bridge replacement and rehabilitation. The completion date for this project is set for July 31, 2023.
Bridge rehabilitation on WYO 530 Uinta Drive in Green River
GREEN RIVER – WYDOT and contract crews from Reiman Corp will be working on the northbound bridge over the Green River on Uinta Drive in Green River beginning March 22. Traffic will be diverted to the southbound bridge, with one traveling lane in each direction. Travelers are advised to be aware of possible delays. The lane closures are tentatively scheduled to last until the end of June.
Bridge rehabilitation on WYO 374, Little America Service Road
ROCK SPRINGS – WYDOT and contract crews from Reiman Corp will be replacing the bridge deck on the bridge over the Black’s Fork River on WYO 374 at milepost 78 east of the Westvaco Interchange beginning April 1. The road will Briefs continued on page 6
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Briefs continued from page 5 be closed to through access for roughly 2 months while the work is underway. Those traveling to industrial sites on the west side of the project, like TATA and Lozier Ranch Road are advised to take the Westvaco Interchange at Exit 72. Those wishing to access areas on the east side of the bridge are advised to take the LaBarge Interchange at Exit 83.
and was deployed 327 times. K-9 May had an exceptional career with the Wyoming Highway Patrol and has most definitely earned her retirement.
Two years ago, K-9 Ally and her handler were struck by a passing motorist while working a crash. K-9 Ally suffered numerous injuries but showed her resilience to come back to work after healing. K-9 Ally had an exceptional career with the Wyoming Highway Patrol and will most definitely enjoy her retirement with the Undeberg family.
Interchange Bridge and Road over I-80 in Rock Springs
ROCK SPRINGS – WYDOT and contract crews from Reiman Corp and High Country Construction are currently working around the new Interchange Road bridge on the west side of Rock Springs over I-80. Travelers are advised to be aware of delays, and possible periodic daytime lane closures starting April 1 until the new interchange and bridge are completed during the summer.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol celebrates the retirement of K-9
JACKSON – WHP’s K-9 May is celebrating retirement from duty in the Teton County area. She was assigned to Trooper Andrew Jackson in 2015. Since 2015, May has been directly involved in the seizure of more than 1,308 pounds of marijuana, 38.7 grams of cocaine, 1.26 pounds of methamphetamine, 8.3 grams of heroin, 113.5 grams of other illegal narcotics and eight guns. K-9 May was also instrumental in confiscating illicit funds generated from the trafficking of drugs of over $866,723 of U.S. currency
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Trooper Jackson with K-9 partner, May.
District 4
Bridge repair with closure near Rozet
GILLETTE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation began work on repairs to the Svalina Road Bridge which crosses I-90 near Rozet at mile marker 139.3. Contractors began placing traffic control the week of March 21 notifying the traveling public of the road closure and alternate detours for those residing in the area. Scheduled repairs to the bridge include replacing the approach slabs, a portion of the bridge deck, curbs, bridge rail and asphalt paving on either side of the bridge. This project is scheduled for 90 days.
K-9 Ally retires from the Wyoming Highway Patrol
SUNDANCE – K-9 Ally retires after eight years of service. She was assigned to Trooper Joshua Undeberg in the Crook County area. Since 2014, Ally has been directly involved in the seizure of over 2,425 pounds of marijuana, 32.3 grams of cocaine, 34.25 pounds of methamphetamine, .5 grams of heroin, 9.7 grams of other illegal narcotics and one gun. K-9 Ally was also instrumental in confiscating illicit funds generated from the trafficking of drugs of over $644,901 of U.S. currency and was deployed 321 times.
Photo: WYDOT
ROCK SPRINGS – WYDOT and contract crews from IHC Scott, Inc., will be working on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 beginning at milepost 107, east of Rock Springs this spring. Beginning March 28, crews will be switching traffic to the westbound lanes. Travelers are advised to be aware of delays, and possible periodic daytime lane closures leading up to March 28, before traffic moves over the westbound lanes.
Photo: WYDOT
I-80 Rock Springs East Road Construction
K-9 Ally with a haul of contraband.
Traffic signal to be installed in Sheridan
SHERIDAN – The long awaited traffic signal at the intersection of East 5th Street and North Sheridan Avenue is scheduled to be installed beginning the week of March 14. The Wyoming Department of Transportation Commission awarded Casper Electric a $482,955 contract to install the signal. Casper Electric and its six Wyoming based subcontractors are scheduled to complete the install by May 19. The cost of this signal is being paid for from Highway Safety Improvement Program funds. This signal will aid travelers in making left hand turns during peak travel times they encounter daily. In addition to installing the traffic signal at this intersection, contractors will be removing the existing sidewalks and installing new American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks, removing and replacing trees and removing and replacing the concrete paving at the intersection. In order to expand the turning radius at the intersection, the large cottonwood trees will be removed to allow for the wider intersection. Removal of the trees will also increase the site distance for motorists. During construction, contractors are required to keep two lanes of travel open on 5th Street. Due to the nature and location of the project, once the concrete
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One month ago
1,846
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WHP Total number of highway fatalities: As of March 17, 2022
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Dynamic message signs installed on US 14, US 16 near Dayton, Buffalo
SHERIDAN – The Wyoming Department of Transportation recently installed two dynamic messaging signs (DMS) at two mountain route locations. These electronic signs were installed to inform travelers of conditions or closures on these two mountain passes. Dynamic message signs are one of many structures the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s traffic programs use to promote road safety and awareness. The goal of the DMS is to provide travelers with information about unique driving conditions, events and alerts – in this case, at mile marker 82.59 on US 14 west of Dayton and mile marker 88.56 on US 16 west of Buffalo. Contractors have spent the past few months installing these structures which includes bringing a power supply and communications system to the boards.
Construction of the DMS boards has been completed and a thirty-day testing period will begin on March 2. Travelers will see the message ‘TEST’ on these two boards for the next few weeks. This testing period allows WYDOT’s Traffic Management System to validate the system and make sure messages on the boards can be managed remotely. Once the testing period is over, the DMS boards will be used to inform travelers of road conditions, traffic alerts, closures and other relevant messages.
Photo: WYDOT
Total number of employees: As of March 7, 2022
paving of the intersection begins, there may be short periods of lane closures and detours put into place. This signal is the first step of the city of Sheridan’s Downtown Sheridan Association East 5th Street Corridor Project. The 5th Street corridor is one of three entryways into Sheridan and is a connector to the downtown area from Interstate 90. This project, which runs from Crook Street – just east of the railroad tracks, to Lincoln Drive – will provide an aesthetically pleasing, welcoming vibe into Sheridan. The project will be completed under the Surface Transportation Program – Urban Systems (STPU) funding program. The STPU is a federally funded road construction program to assist urban cities address road and street needs created by increased traffic generation, changes in land use patterns and other community development characteristics. This project is budgeted at $2 million and requires a local match ratio of 90% federal and 10% local. WYDOT oversees the project, but once completed turns over the project area to the city for future maintenance. Future plans for the corridor include installing sidewalks, adding decorative lighting and landscaping. This corridor project was let March 10 and work begins in the late spring of 2022.
New DMS boards installed on US 14 and US 16 in District 4.
District 5
Fremont County DUI Task Force arrests 10 drunk drivers during regional basketball tournaments
RIVERTON – As part of a Fremont County, multi-agency impaired driving enforcement operation during the 1A/2A regional basketball tournaments Feb. 24-26, the Fremont County DUI Task Force made 163 traffic stops, arrested 10 impaired drivers, and made 11 controlled substance arrests. While the focus was on impaired driving in the Lander and Riverton areas, the task force also issued six citations for no seatbelt, five child safety seat citations, 16 speeding tickets, 44 citations for other offenses, and made 13 other arrests. The task force issued 78 warnings during the 3-day operation. During 2021, there were 12 fatal crashes and 13 traffic-related fatalities in Fremont County. Eight of the 13 fatalities were alcohol related. During 2021, there were 56 alcohol-related crashes in Fremont County. In January 2022, there was one reported alcohol-related crash in Fremont County. n
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Photo: Jordan Achs
The US Air Force Reserve landed a C-130 on US 287 north of Rawlins in September 2021, the first time one has done so in history. The operation was conducted as part of a week long “Rally in the Rockies” training exercise that had events throughout the Mountain West.
Revisiting an historic event
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MSgt. Scott Klobucher (center) and Maj. Nick Hainsfurther (right) visited Rawlins, Laramie and Cheyenne in March to thank WYDOT for our help in the Rally in the Rockies military training exercise. They can be seen with Tim Morton, District 1 Maintenance Engineer.
Photo: Rick Carpenter
By Jordan Achs Despite the rain and cold, there was a sizable crowd on the pavement of US Highway 287 the morning of Sept. 13, 2021. There isn’t usually a crowd – or much of anything – on this section of highway, but a special event drew a number of spectators, including local officials, military dignitaries and even Gov. Mark Gordon. That morning, the U.S. Air Force Reserve landed a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft on the highway, an historic event as it was the first time a cargo aircraft had landed on a U.S. Highway. The event was one segment of a week long “Rally in the Rockies” training exercise that took place throughout the Mountain West. In an August press release about the event, Director Luke Reiner said was “happy to support the Air Force in this important training endeavor.” While it seems simple enough to land a plane on a highway, it took months of work behind the scenes by the Air Force, WYDOT and other stakeholders like the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, Carbon County and other agencies to make the historic event a reality. MSgt. Scott Klobucher, the principal organizer of the exercise, and Maj. Nick Hainsfurther, 913th Operations Support Squadron pilot and lead exercise planner, came back to Wyoming in March to say thanks to the department that was such an integral part of the successful operation. WYDOT worked through many different details, including removing signs and other obstacles from the highway to make room for the wings, closing the highway for a few hours, administrative work and more. “The Air Force was impressed with the strength of our highway, and the Governor was pleased with the successful exercise,” Reiner said in a September all-staff email. “More than just a cool event (and it was pretty cool), it’s important as an organization and as citizens to support our military and our nation’s defense.” Klobucher and Hainsfurther gave WYDOT a flag that was flown on the plane during the exercise as a token of their appreciation.
Photo: Rick Carpenter
Looking back at a “Rally in the Rockies”
Chief Engineer Mark Gillette, Director Luke Reiner, Public Relations Specialist Jordan Achs and Wyoming Office of Homeland Security Deputy Director George Nykun stand with MSgt. Scott Klobucher and Maj. Nick Hainsfurther in March to celebrate a successful training exercise in September.
The exercise was a great example of WYDOT’s strong partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, as well as our eagerness to support the armed forces. “With the help of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, we were able to successfully demonstrate our versatile combat airlift capabilities,” Hainsfurther said in a US Air Force news release after the event. n
The American Concrete Pavement Association awarded the Rock Springs East WBL best in the Divided Highways – Rural category.
By Jordan Achs It’s PMI season! The annual review period is a chance for supervisors and employees to have open and honest dialogue on performance from the 2021-2022 evaluation phase. All PMI evaluations should be treated as a fair and honest assessment of an employee’s performance and impact on their crew and the agency. Tips for supervisors during the review process: • Give a broad overview of the entire evaluation period. Follow up with observed behaviors, include examples of consistency whether it is good or bad, be constructive in your feedback. • Do not compare one employee’s work to another employee. Goals should be measurable, this will prevent comparison. • Review complete or incomplete assignments, as well as customer/coworker feedback from the entire evaluation period. • Utilize the rating tools within the PMI system to assist in building your comments on each competency. • Protected leave FMLA/Sick, military leave etc should not be documented.
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PMI reminders as 2021-22 evaluation season opens
The PCCP mix design consisted of Holicm Type IL cement which includes 10% portland-limestone. This is the first largescale paving project in Wyoming with this particular mix design, which proved to be successful in both performance and constructability. “The limestone helps to reduce emissions, and it’s slightly less permeable and more workable,” Wise said. “We’ll definitely be using it again in future projects.” The end result was a paving project that turned out great according to Wise. “I’ve driven across it and it’s nice. The pavement is super smooth and quiet, and it rides really well,” she said. ACPA will now consider the project for one of their national awards this summer. The project will also be featured in an upcoming edition of CO Public Works magazine. n
plann ing
Photo: Mark Horan
By Mark Horan A District 3 paving project garnered an award in the “Divided Highways – Rural” category from the Wyoming and Colorado Chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA). WYDOT received the award at ACPA’s annual concrete paving workshop on March 10 in Denver. Titled “Rock Springs East WBL,” the project consisted of replacing existing asphalt with concrete on a 13 mile segment of I-80 east of Rock Springs. The work was conducted on the west bound lane. Concrete pavement placement began May 3, 2021 and Whitney Wise and Wes Bybee were was completed July 14, 2021. part of the team that received a regional “Excellence in Concrete The Resident Engineer was Pavement” award from the ACPA. Brad McCullough and the District Construction Engineer was Pete Stinchcomb. Dee Bennet and the Laramie Design Squad were the lead designers, and Wes Bybee and Whitney Wise were part of the design process for Materials. The contractor was IHC Scott.
Photo: WYDOT
WYDOT receives Excellence in Concrete Paving award
rev ie w
performance management instrument
Tips for employees during the PMI meeting and review process: • Keep in mind, the PMI meeting is your opportunity to be open with your supervisor, openly receive feedback, ask questions and prepare for the next evaluation period. We all have skills we can improve on. • Constructive feedback should not be viewed as a negative. Ask yourself, how can I improve professionally. Ask your supervisor for tips and resources to assist you in your professional development. • Work with your supervisor to establish new goals and expectations for the next PMI session. Having open communication is a great way to start the new evaluation phase. • Step 5 is your opportunity to give your comments. Keep these comments professional and constructive. n
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Employee Safety
HAZMAT awareness course replaces HAZWOPER By Jordan Striff, Employee Safety OSHA requires hazardous materials training under 29 CFR 1910 Subpart H – Hazardous Materials. Historically, WYDOT Employee Safety has set up Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training each year. This training will be transitioning to the Hazardous Materials Awareness level beginning April 18. Why the Change? HAZWOPER training is a very specific training meant for employees who will assist in cleaning up spills at HAZMAT sites. This includes donning and doffing level A, B and C suits, decontamination of sites, neutralizing acids and alkalis, or setting up exclusion zones by building soil dams or using booms. In order to meet the OSHA requirements of maintaining a HAZWOPER technician or operations level certification, the organization and employee must meet very specific requirements. This includes WYDOT maintaining a HAZWOPER policy, procedure, and program and conducting an annual drill that all HAZWOPER techs and ops partake in. WYDOT would also need a respiratory program that includes yearly fit testing, a clean-shaven policy, and annually sending all tech and ops level to a licensed health care physician for medical clearance in order to wear a full face respirator (SCBA, SAR, or N/P/R 100 level), a half-face respirator (N/P/R 100 level), or an N95 particulate respirator. The Right Training is Important By transitioning to a HAZMAT Awareness level training, WYDOT will ensure our employees are protected when they encounter a HAZMAT scene. This training will give employees
the means to safely isolate by distance/road closures, identify the materials based on DOT placards, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), or Global Harmonization System pictograms and make notifications to emergency services, TMC and WYDOT’s contracted HAZMAT cleanup crews. A hands-off approach is the best method to protect employees from harm during a release. The new HAZMAT Awareness training will fulfill OSHA’s training requirements based on employee roles and responsibilities during a hazardous materials release. WYDOT Employee Safety will be delivering this new HAZMAT Awareness training twice a year in each district and at headquarters. Employee Safety recommends that all employees who may encounter a HAZMAT scene or those who work with hazardous materials attend this training annually. HAZMAT Awareness class description that will be listed on the WeLL: The 6-hour Hazardous Materials Awareness Course will provide personnel with the knowledge and skills to: understand what hazardous materials are and the risk associated with them in an incident; recognize the presence of hazardous materials or substances in an emergency; have an understanding of the U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Response Guidebook; have an understanding of SDS; realize the need for additional resources, call for appropriate assistance, identify the need for road closures and proper safe distances, and to make appropriate notifications to the community. This course covers OSHA’s General Industry standards 1910.120 and 1910.1200 and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 49 CFR 172.704 HAZMAT Training Requirements. This course replaces the HAZWOPER 40, 24, and 8-hour training formally offered by WYDOT. This course meets the 4-hour Hazmat Awareness requirement for the WYDOT Maintenance learning plan.
By Geoff McPherson, Employee Safety A crew was repairing potholes using material fill and a plate compactor. The compactor was attached to the side of the truck via a manual hoisting winch. • An employee must begin a visual inspection prior to each shift the equipment is used, which must be completed before or during that shift. The inspection must consist of observation of wire ropes (running and standing) and associated hardware that is likely to be in use during the shift for apparent deficiencies.
The plate compactor was removed during compactor operations and reinstalled to the winch when traveling short distances along the shoulder at the slowest speed, to the next area of repair. The clearance to the ground from the bottom of the Truck lifting boom is bent. compactor was 1-2 inches. A crew member needed to return to the shop approximately 10 miles away and forgot the plate compactor was hanging from the side of the truck. They made the round trip without any incident but if the compactor had fallen off at 70 mph the traveling public would have been in danger of impact. • Inspect truck hoisting equipment before using.
• Best practice is to use three wire rope clips for an eye splice. • Safety latches should be installed on all hooks used for hoisting purposes.
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Photo: WYDOT
1. The manual winch had four wraps of damaged wire; 2. The wire had an eye spliced using one-wire rope clip; and 3. The hook did not have a safety latch.
• Always stow equipment into the back of the truck and secure using nylon straps, etc., prior to traveling distances. n
Photo: WYDOT
Potential equipment damage, public injury
Training
Training opportunities and resources abound By Jim Boyd, Training Services Periodically, I’ll get an inquiry about access to a training opportunity and will be a bit surprised that people don’t know it’s available to them. It reminds me that it’s always a good idea to write about the resources we have available to our employees for both professional and leadership development. WYDOT employees have access to employee development opportunities both inside and outside of the WELL. The external content is still free for WYDOT employees, however they will need to create an account using their wyo.gov email address with the external provider. The following external opportunities can be found in the WELL by selecting ‘Find Training’, then ‘External Training Catalog’. TC3 stands for Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council. It is an AASHTO Technical Services program that focuses on developing training products for technical staff in the areas of construction, maintenance, and materials. These courses are computer based eLearning that can be taken from a computer or mobile device. Accessing a course from the WELL will take you to the AASHTO Store where you can register and complete the course for free. Registration instructions are also found with the course information in the WELL. TLN stands for the Transportation Learning Network. TLN is a division of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University and was developed to serve the transportation interests of the region and complements the efforts of its various members (Wyoming, North & South Dakota, and Montana). TLN courses are generally live webinars that can be taken from a computer, but they also have computer based eLearning like TC3. Registering for a TLN webinar through the WELL will take you to the TLN LearnFlex site where you can
register or complete a course for free. Registration instructions are also found with the course information in the WELL. In addition to our ‘External Catalog’, WYDOT employees also have access to other training resources where their content is not explorable in the WELL. However, links and registration instructions to these training resources can be found in the WELL by selecting ‘Find Training’, then ‘Additional Training Resources’. Like above, employees will also need to create accounts using their wyo.gov email address with these external providers. LinkedIn Learning is an outstanding resource for personal and leadership development. LinkedIn Learning contains computer based learning on many topics, from Leadership and Management to Software like Microsoft Excel or Google Workplace. Any State of Wyoming employee has access to LinkedIn Learning through their State Library account. Instructions on how to get a library account can be found next to the LinkedIn Learning link in the ‘Additional Training Resources’ section of the WELL. Readitfor.me is a book summary website that focuses on non-fiction leadership and personal development books. Employees can consume a book summary by listening, reading, or watching a short 13-15 summary of the ideas. Instructions on creating a readitfor.me account can be found next to the Readitfor.me link in the ‘Additional Training Resources’ section of the WELL. We’re already halfway through WYDOT’s fiscal year. Have you engaged in any of WYDOT-U’s employee development opportunities? There’s still time if not. WYDOT Training Services staff is always here if you have questions or need our help. Give us a call, send an email to dot-training@wyo.gov, or drop by to Check out these upcoming training say ‘Hi!’ n opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the WELL.
Training@aGlance Training@aGlance
Coming in April: Date Development Stage 4/5/2022 Leading Self 4/6/2022 Leading Others 4/11/2022 New Employee 4/28/2022 New Employee
Check out these upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the WELL.
Class Description Class Hours Franklin Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 8:30am-4:30pm Transition to Supervision 4/6: 11:30am-3:00pm 4/7: 8:00am-11:30am Google and WELL Basics: 8:30am-11:30am Part of Know WY* New Employee Program Know WY* New Employee Onboarding Workshop 8:30am-12:00pm
Location Cheyenne VILT
VILT VILT
*All new employees are assigned the Know WY Learning Plan and should register for one of these Know WY workshops in the WELL
4/26/2022 Leading Others Coming in May: Start Date Development Stage 5/9/22 New Employee 5/17/22 Leading Others
Think Outside the Building – Innovating Your Future
8:30am - 10:30am
VILT
Class Description Class Hours Google and WELL Basics: Part of Know WY New Employee Program8:30am-11:30am Creativity & Innovation 8:30am-4:30pm
Location VILT Cheyenne
Visit the Training Services intranet page for more information. April 2022
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Game & Fish
Roadway and Wildlife Mitigation Strategy complete for Dubois project
Image: Wyoming Game and Fish
By Wyoming Game & Fish The mitigation strategy is complete for a deadly portion of US 26, between mileposts 48-73, through Dubois. The strategy lays out a plan for reducing wildlife and vehicle collisions along this stretch. Highlighting the project is a video complete with visualizations of the designed overpass, underpasses and fencing. Each year, on average, there are 28 wildlife-vehicle crashes reported to law enforcement and an additional 131 recorded animal carcasses are removed from this section of roadway. The annual cost of these collisions is estimated at $791,400, including property damage, accident response, cleanup costs and the value of the wildlife killed in the crashes. The mitigation structures should have a lifespan of at least 75 years and the project should pay for itself within the first 25 years. “Game and Fish and WYDOT are excited about the mitigation strategy and are initially focusing on the construction of the comprehensive system of the over-and underpasses in that segment of the highway from milepost 58 to 64.5,” said Daryl Lutz, Lander Region wildlife management coordinator. “A huge thank
A rendering of a wildlife overpass.
you to the 10 Country Chapter of the Muley Fanatics Foundation, other donors, and the WYldlife Fund for their support of this important project. Of course, contributions and support get us a bit closer to the implementation of this multi-million dollar project and both agencies are grateful.”
Out-of-state watercraft must be inspected for AIS; Inspections mandatory before launching in Wyoming
Image: Wyoming Game and Fish
By Sara DiRienzo, Wyoming Game & Fish It might not feel fully like spring yet, but boating season is upon the Cowboy State. Beginning March 1, any watercraft transported into Wyoming must undergo a mandatory inspection to look for aquatic invasive species. Inspections must be done by a certified AIS inspector prior to launching on any Wyoming waters. “Wyoming is one of the few states left in the nation that hasn’t found the invasive zebra or quagga mussels in our waters,” said Josh Leonard, AIS coordinator. “Game and Fish is dedicated to keeping these destructive invasive species out of our state’s waters. That’s why it’s crucial that out-of-state boaters and residents
An inspector at an AIS inspection station to check for any mussels on the hull of the boat.
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who have taken their boats out of Wyoming get their watercraft inspected before launching on any Wyoming waters.” A listing of inspectors is available on the Game and Fish website. Boaters are encouraged to plan ahead for inspections. Beginning in early April, Game and Fish AIS check stations across Wyoming will resume seasonal operations. All boaters must stop when coming upon an AIS inspection station. “AIS check stations will be open and operational throughout Wyoming again this year at the borders, ports of entry and shorelines of popular boating locations,” Leonard said. The best defense against AIS is vigilance by the public. Watercraft owners can make their check station stop quick if their watercraft are clean, drained and dry. Additionally, before hitting the water the spring, boaters should remember that: • Any watercraft transported into Wyoming from March 1 through Nov. 30 must undergo a mandatory inspection by an authorized inspector prior to launching on any Wyoming waterway. If the watercraft was used on a water suspect or positive for invasive mussels in the last 30 days, it must be inspected prior to launching year round and may require decontamination. • If boaters entering Wyoming do not encounter an open AIS check station on their route of travel, it is the boater’s responsibility to seek out an inspection before launching on any Wyoming waterway. Inspection locations may be found on the AIS website. • Along with registration of watercraft, watercraft used on
Wyoming waters must have an AIS decal. A Wyoming AIS decal must be displayed on all watercraft (including rentals) using Wyoming waters with the exception of non-motorized inflatable watercraft 10-feet in length or less. While these watercraft are not required to have a decal, they still require an inspection when coming from out of state. • Boats must stop at established check stations each time a boater passes a check station to ensure watercraft are Clean, Drain, and Dry before launching. Inspections are also available at Game and Fish regional offices but you must call ahead. • A watercraft may launch without further inspection if the watercraft has a properly affixed seal applied by an authorized inspector and is accompanied by a valid seal receipt during transit. The person transporting the watercraft may remove
the seal immediately prior to launching on the destination water and must retain the seal and valid seal receipt while on the water. • Even if a watercraft has been previously inspected and has a valid seal and seal receipt, boaters are still required to stop at any open AIS check station. Having the properly affixed seal and valid seal receipt will expedite the inspection process. For the most recent and up to date information on Wyoming AIS visit the Game and Fish website. The 2022 AIS decal is also available online. There is also a combination watercraft registration and AIS decal that may be purchased for one or three years for boats registered in Wyoming. Watercraft users may also call the Game and Fish Office for more information at (307) 777-4600. n
Take road conditions with you. Get the WYOMING 511 app. www.wyoroad.info
Know before you go. Visit wyoroad.info.
WYDOT’s Travel Information System is the one and ONLY source for up-to-the-minute road and travel information.
Tourism Wyoming Office of Tourism releases 2021 preliminary travel economic impact data At the end of February, the Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT) released its 2021 Economic Impact preliminary findings, conducted by Dean Runyan Associates. According to the report, Wyoming’s tourism and hospitality industry experienced substantial growth in 2021, with $4 billion in direct travel spending while generating $243 million in tax revenue – a 50.5 percent increase from 2020. “It is exciting that more people continue to come to Wyoming and experience all the things we love about our state,” Governor Gordon said. “It is important that we continue our efforts to grow this valuable sector of our economy.” 2021 Economic Impact Highlights: These preliminary estimates for Wyoming are subject to revision as more complete source data becomes available in April 2022. • Wyoming welcomed 8.1 million overnight visitors; a 16.8 percent increase from 2020 • $4 billion in direct visitor spending; a 31.2 percent increase from 2020 • Visitor spending directly affected Wyoming’s economy by generating $243 million in local and state tax revenues; a 50.5 percent increase from 2020
• The leisure and hospitality sector gained an estimated 1,730 jobs • Accommodations experienced the largest spending growth; a 61.8 percent increase from 2020 • Wyoming travel industry GDP is estimated to be $1.6 billion in 2021 and represents 3.7% of the total state GDP “Despite the ongoing challenges still facing global tourism, the grit and fortitude of Wyoming’s hospitality and tourism industry shined through in 2021, making it a game-changing year for the state economy,” said Diane Shober, executive director for the Wyoming Office of Tourism. “Wyoming will continue to be a leading travel destination in the United States, and all indicators point to economic growth going into 2022.” The preliminary data was released ahead of the Governor’s Hospitality and Tourism Conference on Feb. 28-March 1; the only event dedicated to celebrating and educating Wyoming’s tourism and hospitality industry. Hosted by the Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association (WLRA) and the Wyoming Office of Tourism, the Governor’s Hospitality and Tourism Conference consists of a variety of keynote speakers, and industry breakout sessions. This year’s topics include: 2022 travel trends, celebrating 150 years of Yellowstone, data and insights going forward and much more. n
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District News Headquarters
Welcome
Teresa Baier, Highway Safety; Monica Blade, Financial Services-Revenue; Kelli Dome, Patrol-Support Services Manager; Groven Ragsdale, Port of EntryCheyenne I-25; and David Widmer, Port of Entry-Cheyenne I-25.
Promotions and Transfers Baylor Beers, Highway DevelopmentProject Development; Ethan Crockett, Materials–Pavement Management System; Tina Erickson, Highway Safety; Harley Kalb, Patrol-Safety and Training; Jason Klassen, Materials-Surfacing; Kahal Lattin, Materials-Design, Soil and Service; Sara Lei, Internal Review; and Eli McIrvin, Highway Development-Project Design-Support.
Service Awards
James Messer, Construction Staff – 40 years; Kelly Rounds, Highway DevelopmentProject Development – 30 years; Jerry Mullen, Planning-Counter Shop – 25 years; Stacey Gierisch, Highway Safety – 20 years; Daniel Wyrick, Patrol-Commerical Carrier – 20 years; Charles “Jeff ” Madden, PurchasingStoreroom – 15 years; Corey Vine, Port of Entry-Cheyenne – 10 years; John Bruso, IT-Financial Systems – 5 years; George Dale, Right of WayAdministration – 5 years; Sara Dickey, Planning-Statistics/ Inventory – 5 years; and Karen Shaw, Patrol Dispatch – 5 years.
Retirements
Carol Denny retired on Feb. 4 with seven years of service to the state. She retired from the Fuel Tax Program as a tax examiner.
Denny
Oops! Last month, we reported that Andrew Gardner promoted to supervisor with Patrol-Dispatch, however we printed the wrong photo. We are sorry for the mistake.
Gardner
Congratulations
Photo: WYDOT
Crockett
James Rawley (right) received his FOS certificate for Rigging from Rigging Shop Foreman Robert Roland. n Klassen
McIrvin
Messer
Rounds
District 1
Welcome
Michael Brown, Cheyenne TrafficStriping; Michael Hutt, Laramie Mechanics; Andrew Pearce, Driver Services-Rawlins/Baggs; and Issac Whitaker, Rawlins Mechanics.
Hutt
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Promotions and Transfers
Service Awards
Haller
Lonn
Craig Alburn, Highway DevelopmentProject Development-Laramie Design Squad; Nicholas Haller, Patrol-Elk Mountain; Taylor McCort, District 1 Traffic-Staff; and Benjamin Metcalf, Pine Bluffs Maintenance.
McCort
Kaylee Lonn, Rawlins Construction – 25 years; and Timothy Morton, District 1 Maintenance Staff – 25 years. n
Morton
District 2
Welcome
Service Awards
Diana Porter, Driver ServicesCasper; and William Whitson, Casper Construction.
Promotions and Transfers
Retirements
Joe McGuire, Traffic-Electrical – 10 years.
Joel Eldred retired on Feb. 4 from the Wyoming Highway Patrol as a Douglas Trooper with 18 years of service. n
Oops!
There was a mistake with Justin Clark’s photo in last month’s issue. It was a photo of another Justin Clark. Mark Ayen presented Justin Clark his service award and a correct photo was snapped.
Whitson
Jeffrey Mueller, Torrington Maintenance.
Eldred
District 3
Mueller
Photo: WYDOT
Welcome
McGuire Mark Ayen (left) and Justin Clark.
District 4
Welcome
Claude Leedom, Sheridan MaintenanceGuardrail; Vincent Phillips, Sheridan Construction; Leedom Timothy Reiffanaugh, Sundance Maintenance; and Dylan Schoenfelder, Sheridan Traffic-Striping.
Promotions and Transfers
Tom Anderson, Sheridan Maintenance; Luz Craig, Driver ServicesRegional 2; Robert Haugen, Port of Entry-North Region Manager; and Justin White, District 4 Support.
Dillon Curry, Evanston Maintenance; Jeremiah Starr, Jackson Maintenance; Juan Valencia, Afton Construction; and Jeremy Williams, Pinedale Mechanics.
Promotions and Transfers Kelly Bennion, Emergency Communications-District 3 Radio Shop; Kelly Randall Thomas, Driver ServicesJackson/Afton; and John Schmidt, Lyman Maintenance.
Service Awards Tucker Court, Rock Springs Maintenance – 5 years; and Monica Thompson, Rock Springs Construction – 5 years. n
Thompson Haugen
White, J.
Service Awards
Phillips
Schoenfelder
Tina Simpson, Sundance Construction – 20 years; Kevin McMaster, Sundance Patrol – 10 years; and Dale White, Gillette Maintenance – 5 years. n
District 5
Welcome
Tyler Lux, Lander Maintenance.
Service Awards
Cody Beers, District 5 Administration – 30 years. n Anderson
Craig
Simpson
Beers
McMaster
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District 4, cont.
Career Fair in Sheridan
Photo: Laura Dalles/Cristina Donovan
Photo: Laura Dalles/Cristina Donovan
Photo: Laura Dalles/Cristina Donovan
On Feb. 24, Sheridan staff and Human Resources representative, Jenny Sullivan, held a career fair. Maintenance staff had equipment set up, hiring managers were present for face-to-face conversations, as well as computers available so prospective applicants could apply that day. The event was a great success resulting in several qualified applications being submitted. n
Sheridan Career Fair was a great success. Applicants were able to speak with current employees and fill out applications while attending.
Goals
Wyoming A&I Compensation Package
From A&I Newsletter Volume 7, Issue 11
It Passed! The compensation package Governor Gordon presented to the 66th Wyoming Legislature passed. The Governor, his staff, and A&I HR personnel worked tirelessly to put together a package that improves compensation for Wyoming employees in the most fair manner possible. Now that the compensation package has been funded, a number of steps need to be completed before individual compensation can be accurately determined. What we do know for certain is that the governor brought a significant request to the legislature. The legislature approved that request and added additional funds, so state employees will be able to see any differences at the end of July. We would like to offer a huge thank you to the governor and his staff, the legislature, and to all the A&I people who worked so hard to bring this together. n
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Noteworthy Flat StanleyTM visits WYDOT
Photo: WYDOT
By Clifford Spoonemore and Cori Hastings, Maintenance Staff Hi Elliot, Cliff Spoonemore here in the Great State of Wyoming (WY) on another wonderful adventure. I’m out on the wilds of Interstate 80 with Flat Stanley, my new friend who wants to know about the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT). We are on a special assignment! We are inspecting a test section of the snow fence between Laramie and Cheyenne. I asked Stanley to keep the exact location a secret. That way people will leave it alone. We are going to see if we can get energy from the sun using this snow fence. This panel is a test created by LongBoard Power out of Colorado Springs, CO. They received a grant from the Transportation Research Board. See my photo with the panel. Snow fences have horizontal slats that are 6 inches wide and 12 feet in length. They are usually made of wood. For this test the slats are only 4 feet long and made of clear plastic. The solar collecting material is encased inside the plastic for protection. Snow fences have a spacing between each slat of 6 inches. The gaps allow wind and snow to pass between the slats, this actually slows the wind down! This lets snow drop out of the wind and collect in front and behind the snow fence. Our visit was on a day that I call a 40-40 day, the winds were blowing over 40 mph and the air temp was above 40ºF. No snow moving on our visit. There is a lot of science that is behind the design and layout of each snow fence. I think Stanley will stay in school to learn more about science and the way wind moves. Elliot, look way out on the horizon and you can almost see the curve of the earth. Snow that falls to the ground 2 miles away can travel to this snow fence. Wyoming has lots of wide open space for all the snow that falls to move in the very strong winds. I
Flat Stanley amazed by the enormous snow drift behind the snow fence.
Photo: WYDOT
know you also have strong winds where you live in Miller, South Dakota, but you don’t have over 400 miles of snow fences in your state. I told Stanley this snow drift is almost as tall as the 12 foot high snow fence that caught the snow. Snow fences can collect 1.2 times the height of the fence. The drift can go 35 times the height of the fence. That sounds great but I think all Stanley was looking at was the great sledding you both could do off the top. The drift behind the snow fence has another great environmental benefit. Water! At ground level is a layer of water that is slowly soaking into the earth. Did you know that even when the air temperature is below zero, inside the drift the temperature is only 32ºF? Small animals like rodents and rabbits burrow into the drift to make a temporary home for the winter. They also hide from predators. Grass grows better around snow fences because of this extra water. This was a very cool adventure to discover that snow fences provide a lot of benefits to the traveling public and environment. Now, if the solar panel can provide consistent power, we may have another benefit. Thank you to Flat Stanley for joining me on an adventure in the open spaces of Wyoming, and thank you, Elliot, for introducing me to Stanley. Your new friend, Cliff Spoonemore Note: Elliot Kindle, a third grader in Miller, South Dakota, is gifted with special challenges and has asked friends in Wyoming to share an adventure with him. This is part of a social studies assignment. Flat StanleyTM is a character from a children’s book series by Jeff Brown. n
Flat Stanley and the solar powered snow fence.
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Noteworthy
Inaugural WYDOT Highway Safety Day and Employee Toy Show to be held in Casper
ee safety. Let’s all talk with people about our cars, our jobs and WYDOT. n
Photo: WYDOT
A public meet and greet event hosted by District 2 in Casper on May 14 will be a chance for WYDOT to show off highway maintenance equipment and create dialogue with attendees about maintenance equipment’s safety features, lights and what WYDOT accomplishes as a state agency. The Casper maintenance shop will be using open bays on the east side for static displays and job postings, vehicle tours and demonstrations. The public will get up close to snow plows, tow plows, crash attenuators, WHP cruisers, and even a striping truck and rotary plow, if available. Demonstrations of the tow plow, the seat belt convincer and/or the rollover machine could prove to be popular at the event. The event hopes to have employees showcase their rolling hobbies – classic cars, trucks, tractors, etc. Having this extra “toy show” at the same time as the highway safety event is expected to attract many to the event. Organizers hope to give our employees an opportunity to really put a face on the district, and WYDOT as a whole, in a laid back setting. This is a Saturday event from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and participation is completely voluntary for employees if they are looking to showcase their vehicles. Employees present are encouraged to help WYDOT tell it’s story to the public who attend along with sharing information about lights, plow safety and employ-
Kids of all ages love to see maintenance equipment up close and personal. This plow was in attendance at the June 2021 Superday in Cheyenne.
U.S. Forest Service
Multiple days of prescribed burning planned on Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests this spring Operations to take place in the Pole Mountain, Divide Peak, Slack-Weiss, and Steamboat Springs areas
In the coming weeks, USDA Forest Service fire staff will look for windows of opportunity to conduct prescribed burns in four areas of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests. Daily decisions to burn will be dependent on fuel and weather condition alignment. If conditions are favorable, burning could take place at multiple locations this spring. Planned burn operation locations include the Pole Mountain and Divide Peak areas in Wyoming and Slack-Weiss and Steamboat Springs areas in Colorado. For the most up-to-date information pertaining to exact dates, times and locations, follow official social media pages: @FS_MBRTB on Twitter or @FSMBRTB on Facebook. In general, burn areas will vary in size consisting of anywhere from a couple acres to few hundred acres at a time. Cumulative
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acres planned to be burned this spring will total approximately 2,300 across the four operations. Dispersed recreation in the burn areas may be impacted. Staff will be making personal contact with recreationists regarding any temporary closures. Signs will be placed on adjacent roads notifying the public of the burns as necessary. Fire staff from the Forest Service will continue to monitor the burned areas following the operations. Staff will primarily use drip torches to carry out the burning. For safety and effectiveness, operations will not be initialized if weather conditions are unfavorable. Necessary smoke permits will be obtained through state entities and adhered to throughout the project. Prescribed burning is a versatile forest management tool that can mimic historically natural fire disturbances, reduce hazardous fuels buildup, and improve habitat for a variety of wildlife. Minimal and managed smoke from prescribed fires now helps prevent the potential for more unpredictable and hazardous wildfire smoke in the future. n
Rides!
Rides photo deadline:
May 15
carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov
Letters Thanks to WYDOT snow plow operator I’m not sure if this is the correct email but I would like to get in touch with someone who can properly give thanks to a snowplow driver. On March 9, I was traveling from Gillette to Rock Springs with my little sister and my nine-month-old daughter due to a family emergency. The road from Casper to Rawlins was closed, so we made the decision to travel from Casper to Riverton, and then down to Rock Springs so we could arrive sooner to be with our family. While traveling South Pass highway WYO 28, I realized my vehicle was shaking and the wheel felt stuck or hard to turn even slightly. I pulled over on a semi pull off at the top of the hill to check my car. Each of my four wheel wells were packed with ice all the way around, nearly touching my tires. We attempted kicking it to free the wheels, however it was rock solid. I had recently purchased a new vehicle, and we realized that I did not switch my ice scraper or any of my emergency items to my new car, so we had nothing to chip away at the ice. We ended up attempting to use the bottom of an umbrella, but after more
than 25 minutes, realized we were not making any progress. It was negative 2 degrees and although we were born in Wyoming, we were not prepared for the weather. We did not have heavy coats, hats or gloves of any kind so we were taking turns warming up in the car and attempting to keep the baby calm. Neither of us had any service to call for help, and we were starting to get really nervous. Thankfully, a snow plow driver pulled up behind us and brought a metal shovel to help dig us out. He insisted we stay in the warm car and dug out each of the four wheels, even using his hands to ensure all the ice was removed. He was kind, calm and extremely helpful. I am positive that we would not have been able to dig ourselves out with the plastic umbrella, and would have been waiting for someone to stop and help us. I am eternally grateful for the kindness he showed my family and would like to give him the recognition he deserves. His first name is Sam and he was driving snowplow with the license 467. WYDOT is lucky to have an employee like him! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Kelsey Lemley, via email
TechNotes
n
Image: Google Currents
Google Workspace has a new update to the browser interface. In addition to seeing when someone is out of office, you can now see additional Google Calendar statuses like “In a meeting” or “In focus time” in Google Chat. Why you’d use it: This will make it easier for colleagues to identify appropriate times to message.
Image: Google Currents
View additional calendar statuses in Google Chat
The new status pull-down is just to the right of the search bar. Just click on the drop-down arrow to choose from pre-set choices, or create your own status.
Create your own status by choosing the “Your status” option at the bottom of the pull-down menu.
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Passings Elois M. Belving
Elois Marie Belving, 44, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away at her home on Feb. 22, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. Belving was born March 3, 1977 in Douglas, Wyoming. She began her career with WYDOT in June 2012, and Belving was working at Headquarters as a Database Administrator in IT before her passing. A valued member of the IT Application Development team, her coworkers say she was always striving to improve her skills and make the database environment the best it could be. No task was too big, nor problem too hard for her to take on. She loved the challenges that working in IT brought, and she will be greatly missed by her WYDOT Family. Her daughter, Mia Belving, is a member of the WYDOT family as well, working in the WYDOT Mailroom in Cheyenne. Our deepest sympathies go to Mia and friends and family of Elois. Private family services will be held in Florida at a later date. Cremation is under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home.
Benson found love again with Mary Sims (nee Irene) and they were married on Nov. 6, 1987. Their marriage blended two adult families to which both Don and Mary became an integral part of each other’s family’s lives. In the late 1970’s, He and Joan had begun the construction of their cabin, Aspen Gold, at Boulder Ridge. The whole family helped build the beginnings of the cabin by hand, though most of the effort was Benson’s. He and Mary continued to work on the cabin through the years and spent much of their time there enjoying the serenity. The cabin is a treasured creation of craftsmanship and beauty. His legacy will live on in the cabin as a true reflection of the skilled, dedicated and hardworking man that he was. Benson proudly served in the U.S. Army National Guard and was the recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star during the Korean War. He went on to be a dedicated employee for 41 years as a foreman for the Wyoming Department of Transportation in District 1. He was a family man, a true gentleman, a good friend, meticulous, wise and had a kind heart with kind eyes to match. Memorial service was held March 26 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Military Honors by the Wyoming National Guard.
Donald D. Benson
Christof R. Deutsch
Donald Dean Benson, 91, passed away peacefully on March 18 surrounded by family in Laramie, Wyoming. Benson was born June 16, 1930 in Potter, Nebraska, to Jesse and Mabel Benson. The family moved to Laramie during his childhood Benson and Benson called Laramie home for the remainder of his life. He married Joan Otterson on Aug. 16, 1952 and the two later completed their family by welcoming Janet, Jay and Jane into the world. In 1986, they lost their beloved wife and mother to an untimely passing.
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Christof “Chris” Robert Deutsch, 86, of Sheridan, died on Jan. 8 at Mt. View Living Center of natural causes. He was born Dec. 3, 1935, to Christof and Amelia (Leis) Deutsch, in Ranchester, at his grandmother’s home. His family moved Deutsch to Sheridan when he was five years old, where he grew up and was schooled in the Lutheran and Sheridan Schools. He entered the U.S. Army-Airborne in 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1956. He continued his schooling at El Camino College, in Los Angeles, and Sheridan College.
He married Frances Lee “Pat” Ellis in 1959 and moved to the oilfields in Linch. In 1964, they relocated to Sheridan and raised their three children. Deutsch began employment with the old Wyoming Highway Department, as a construction engineer, in 1964. The interstate highway system through northeastern Wyoming was surveyed and constructed during his time with the agency. Deutsch retired in 1993 to care for his beloved wife who became ill with Alzheimer’s disease. He enjoyed being with his family, camping in the local mountains. Fall hunting, home cooking, gardening and preserving his bounties were an important part of his life. Trekking to high lakes, trailbikes, boating and ice fishing on Lake DeSmet were his favorite hobbies as was the love of his dogs, his late-life walking companions. In his later years, Deutsch was thankful for the support of his wonderful neighbors. He was a life-long member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Sheridan and desired that any memorials be directed to the Martin Luther Grammar School, the Sheridan Senior Center (Caregivers Section), Dog and Cat Shelter, all located in Sheridan, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Lester K. Schultz
Lester “Les” Kenneth Schultz, 88, passed away on March 24, at the Platte County Legacy Home in Wheatland. Schultz was born on Sept. 18, 1933, in Mitchell, Nebraska, to Kenneth F. and Faris Frankie (Martin) Schultz. He was raised and educated in Mitchell. Schultz participated in track and football. He lettered in track running the 100 and 200-yard dash and the 880-yard relay, and also lettered in football as a halfback and linebacker. After graduating high school in 1952, Schultz enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was aboard the minesweeper U.S.S. Surfbird AM383, stationed in Long Beach, California. He served in the Korean War, stationed at Wanson, Korea and then in Yokosuka, Japan, where he was a boiler operator. Upon his honorable discharge, in 1956, his rank was an E3-FN.
Outdoors
Retired Jackson employee Calvin Williams snapped this photo of two grizzly bears he had come across. He had actually seen more of the bears that day, but these two held still long enough for a photo. “It was epic,” he said.
WTDEA tax time Tickets on sale Mar 21-April 8 Drawing held April 15 $1 per ticket or $5 for 7
WTDEA
Headquarters Chapter announces scholarship application opening Applications for 2022-23 Headquarters Chapter scholarships are now open and can be downloaded from the WTDEA Headquarters page of the employee’s web site. Each year the chapter awards one or more scholarships to hardworking undergraduate students. Last year, one scholarship in the amount of $500 was awarded. The scholarships are for eligible
unmarried sons and daughters, spouses, or legal dependents of a Headquarters WTDEA member who has two years of consecutive membership. The scholarship committee requires a physical copy of the application, with the applicant’s signature, school transcripts and other related documents to be delivered to Scholarship Chairman Justin Mordahl no later than April 15. n
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Photo: Calvin Williams
On Oct. 18, 1953, he married Wanda Jean Kissack. They were married in the Presbyterian Church in Torrington, Wyoming. After discharge, he was an auto body man for a local business. He then moved to Lusk, Wyoming, where he also worked as an auto body man for his brother-inlaw, Harold Smith. Schultz then moved to Douglas and then to Casper, to detail cars. He worked for Al Rorabough at the Sinclair station in Casper, then moved to Torrington to work for Rorabough at the Conoco station as a mechanic. Schultz decided to venture out on his own and bought the Texaco station – Les’ Texaco – in Torrington, and then went on to buy the Phillips 66 station. In June of 1976, he and his wife, Wanda, moved to Wheatland and he went to work for the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOTs predecessor agency, as a mechanic. He retired in June of 1995 with 19 years of service to the state. Schultz enjoyed working in his yard and his rose beds. He always had a project to do. He loved listening to the old country music and watching old western television shows. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren. A celebration of life was held on March 31 at the First State Bank Conference Center. Military honors were accorded. n
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