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Commission awards $33 million in contracts in November CHEYENNE – Crews will resurface several sections of Interstate 80 in central and southeastern Wyoming to improve the road surface. The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded three contracts that will resurface a total of 20 miles along different sections of I-80. The commission awarded those and three other contracts totaling $33 million at its recent meeting in November. The commission awarded H-K Contractors a $10 million contract for resurfacing work on 5 miles of Interstate 80 between Rock Springs and Rawlins. Crews will perform the work to improve the surface and extend the life of the pavement. Crews will also work on the ramps and crossroads at the interchanges at Bitter Creek. The contract completion date is Aug. 31, 2022. The commission awarded Simon Contractors, of Cheyenne, a $9.6 million contract for resurfacing almost 9 miles of I-80 between Rawlins and Laramie in Albany County. The Wyoming Department of Transportation is having the work completed to improve the road surface, which is showing signs of wear. Additionally, crews will perform bridge surfacing work in the area. The contract completion date is July 31, 2022. Knife River, of Cheyenne, was the low bidder on a $7 million resurfacing contract on 6 miles of I-80 between Rawlins and Laramie in Carbon County. Crews will resurface the pavement to improve the surface and extend the life of the road. Crews will also perform minor dirt work in the area to reduce snow drifts on the road. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2022. Also awarded by the commission were contracts for: • $4.3 million to Reiman Corp., of Cheyenne, for a rehabilitation contract on seven bridges in Converse, Lara-
mie, Natrona and Platte counties by Oct. 31, 2021; • $1.1 million to Asphalt Surface Technologies Corp., of St. Joseph, Minnesota, for microsurfacing work on 8 miles at various locations on US 20-26 and WYO 258 between Casper and Mills in Natrona County by Oct. 31, 2021; and • $808,707 to CC&G Inc., of Lander, for a bridge reconstruction project over Bates Creek in Natrona County by Nov. 30, 2021.
District 1
WYO 130 through the Snowy Range, WYO 70 over Battle Pass close for winter season LARAMIE – Both WYO 130 through the high country of the Snowy Range and WYO 70 over Battle Pass in the Sierra Madres have officially closed for the season. After first closing Nov. 10 due to drifting and blowing snow, WYDOT crews in Laramie and Saratoga decided upcoming weather forecasts and current road conditions warranted closing the section of WYO 130 for the season. Also known as the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, the 12-mile section of WYO 130 tops out at more than 10,800 feet in elevation and closes annually each fall when lack of travel and deep snow accumulations make plowing the highway impractical. The closure spans mile markers 36-48, from the Green Rock trailhead in the east to just above Ryan Park in the west. Last year, WYO 130 first closed Oct. 20 due to wintry conditions before officially closing for the season Oct. 29. In previous years, WYO 130 closed Nov. 3 in 2018, Nov. 20 in 2017, Nov. 28 in 2016, Nov. 11 in 2015, Nov. 4 in 2013 and Dec. 7 in 2012. WYO 130 is one of two high-elevation highways in District 1 that close for the winter annually, with the other being WYO 70, which crosses the Continental
Divide at the 9,955-foot Battle Pass between Savery and Encampment. The last time both highways closed on the same day was in 2016. WYO 70 through Battle Pass (mile markers 27-50) closed Friday due to strong winds as well as drifting and blowing snow. WYDOT crews in Saratoga and Baggs decided the added wintry weather the area received overnight, including heavy snow and strong winds, warranted the start of the seasonal closure. Last year, WYO 70 closed Dec. 2. In previous years, WYO 70 closed Nov. 23 in 2018, Dec. 23 in 2017, Nov. 28 in 2016, Dec. 14 in 2015, Nov. 24 in 2014, Dec. 4 in 2013 and Dec. 8 in 2012. Both highways will remain closed until WYDOT crews can work to clear the accumulated snow in the spring.
District-wide crack sealing project LARAMIE – Crews with Z and Z Seal Coating Inc. and the Wyoming Department of Transportation began a district-wide crack sealing project on Nov. 2. Crews began with mileposts 26.9-41 of WYO 70, near the road closure gates. Other project locations include: Carbon County: • WYO 230 between Riverside and the Colorado state line (mm 110.1-116.9) • WYO 130/230 south of its interchange with I-80 (mm 0-8) • WYO 76 west of Rawlins to Sinclair (mm 215.7-220.1) • WYO 71 south of Rawlins (mm 0-1.25) Albany County: • I-80 Business Loop/West Curtis Street in Laramie (mm 0-1.26) • US 287 south of Laramie toward Tie Siding (mm 404.3-415.8) Laramie County: • WYO 211/Horse Creek Road from the I-25 interchange west (mm 0-8.31) • WYO 213/Carpenter Road from the I-80 interchange north (0-10.8) • WYO 219/Yellowstone Road between WYO 212/E Four Mile Road and US 85/Torrington Road (mm 1.99-5.5) Note these locations are not in project Briefs continued on page 4 December 2020
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