Interchange – December 2022

The sweet science of snow fence

A simple technology makes a big difference on Wyoming’s roads

Frequent, extended closures and intense snow drifting on I-80 have become more rare due to the installation of snow fence along the interstate back in 1971

By Jordan Achs

One question that is frequently asked by tourists: what are those fences to nowhere you see everywhere in Wyoming?

While some like to poke fun and say they’re used as bleachers for jackalope races, in reality they are something much simpler: the snow fence, an essential tool to winter travel in Wyoming.

The snow fence is not unique to Wyoming; the first written recorded use of snow fence technology was in 1852 in Norway. Farmers would use the collected melt water from the snow fence drifts to water their livestock. During the railroad’s westward expansion, snow fence usage started to increase in the states.

Soon after the longest stretch of Interstate 80 to be opened

at one time — the Laramie to Walcott Junction section —first opened to the public in October 1970, it was forced to close due to blowing snow. The snow was so drifted, WYDOT had to use rotary plows, typically reserved for mountain passes, to break through and reopen the highway. It wasn’t until snow fence was installed in 1971 that the frequent, extended closures and intense snow drifting started to become manageable.

WYDOT has been studying blowing snow and snow fencing ever since. Much of the initial research was initiated and champi oned by Dr. Ronald Tabler, the “Blizzard Wizard” of WYDOT.

Snow fences are designed to slow down the blowing snow long

Photos: WYDOT

Snow fence technology is remarkably simple, using mostly wood boards with rebar as an anchor. This view shows the middle of a section where the snow fence is facing both directions to account for multiple wind directions.

A section of snow fence in Elk Mountain shows drifting on the leeward side of the fence - imagine if all that snow was on the highway instead!

Interchange is published for em ployees of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspon dents.

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.

WYDOT Director: K. Luke Reiner

Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee

Editor: Carlie Van Winkle

Contributors:

Jordan Achs Public Affairs

Matt Groth Public Affairs

Mark Horan Public Affairs

Carlie Van Winkle Public Affairs

Andrea Staley District 1

Jeff Goetz District 2

Stephanie Harsha District 3

Laura Dalles District 4 Cody Beers District 5 Sgt. Jeremy Beck Patrol

Photography: Rick Carpenter Public Affairs

Be sure to check out the online ver sion of Interchange at http://issuu.com/ wydot.pao or click on the link found on the employee’s internal website home page.

Snowfence continued from cover enough for it to fall to the ground on the lee side of the fence. This allows for better control so that the snow drifts in a desig nated spot away from the highway.

“So rather than preventing drifting, the fences actually en courage it, but with more control over drift location,” said Tom DeHoff, WYDOT’s assistant chief engineer of operations.

Wyoming-style snow fence is typically a wooden structure that stands between 6-feet and 14-feet tall. To keep them sturdy, a rebar anchor is driven deep into the ground.

“While relatively simple, snow fence is such an invaluable tool in fighting Wyoming’s harsh winters,” DeHoff said. “Without it, travel in Wyoming would look drastically different.”

Snow fences have been proven to reduce the number of winter crashes. In Wyoming, snow fences not only help reduce drifting snow, but also reduce ice on the pavement surface and improve overall visibility.

“The fences also help greatly reduce maintenance costs and wear and tear on equipment,” DeHoff said.

In 2004, WYDOT’s Winter Research Services (WRS) team was created to carry on the work of Tabler. The WRS team uses a specially-equipped truck to collect weather data to study blowing snow, as well as helping to decide where to place new snow fence and other maintenance operation discussions.

Snow fence placement is key and a bit of a Goldilocks effect. If snow fencing is placed too close to the road, the drift will build on the pavement surface. Likewise, if the fencing is placed too far away, it fails to serve its purpose.

Despite the simple design, many farmers, ranchers and transportation agencies use some form of snow fence. Beyond highway maintenance, snow fence benefits include creating stock ponds, helping ski resorts strategize snow placement and provid ing shelter or shade for livestock and wildlife all year long. These benefits can help WYDOT partner with private land owners to place snow fence along their properties adjacent to a highway in a way that benefits both parties.

Snow fence continues to be a low-cost method of improving public safety on Wyoming’s highways each winter. However, WYDOT continues to research new innovations to the simple technology.

Last fall, WYDOT started testing the idea of having a so lar-paneled snow fence. While it looks like a typical snow fence design, the wood panels were replaced with solar panels. This allows the fencing to generate power over the summer, when the snow fence is no longer in use, or even during sunny winter days.

“So far the solar snow fence is behaving like it is supposed to,” said Cliff Spoonemore, field operations engineer with WYDOT. “It’s collecting both snow and the sun’s rays for power, which is encouraging.”

The solar snow fence is funded by the Transportation Re search Board, a federal group that provides research funding to help address transportation challenges. The project will wrap up in September 2023, after which WYDOT will determine if it’s a viable option going forward.

Other snow fence innovations include the living snow fence, which consists of lines of trees and shrubs to help block snow. Some places also use similar technology to capture blowing sand or even tumbleweeds.

Snow fencing shows that something simple can make a big difference to everyone on the roads. The next time you pass one with a big snowdrift next to it, consider what that stretch of high way would look like without the snow fence. n

District Briefs

Headquarters Commission awards more than $62 million in contracts during special meeting, $22.76 million in contracts at November business meeting

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Trans portation Commission awarded over $62 million in contracts for three Wyoming Department of Transportation construc

tion projects during its November 4 special business meeting.

Minnesota-based Ames Construction, Inc., was awarded a bid of nearly $59.8 million for combined projects in Teton County involving a bridge replacement, grading, paving, concrete work, fencing and other work on Wyoming Highway 22. The contracted completion date is June 30, 2025.

The commission awarded a nearly $1.6 million bid to Montana-based Z&Z Seal Coating, Inc., for a project involving crack sealing in various locations in Albany, Carbon and Laramie Counties.

Z&Z Seal Coating was also awarded an $859,312 bid for a crack sealing project in various locations within Lincoln, Sublette and Sweetwater Counties.

Both Z&Z Seal Coating projects have a contracted completion date of May 31, 2023.

The Transportation Commission awarded $22.76 million in contracts for seven Wyoming Department of Trans portation construction projects during its Nov. 17 business meeting.

The commission awarded an almost $12 million bid to Cheyenne-based Briefs continued

Crews work to install a section of solar paneled snow fence on I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie as part of a federally-funded research project to determine if the technology is feasible in Wyoming’s harsh winters. The project is expected to wrap up in Fall 2023.

Photo: WYDOT

Simon Contractors for a project that in volves paving, concrete work, milling and other work on more than seven miles of both eastbound and westbound Interstate 80 in Laramie County.

Lovell-based Mountain Construction Company was awarded a $4.17 million bid for a project involving paving, mill ing, chip seal and other work on about 7.5 miles of US Highway 310/Wyoming Highway 789 in Big Horn and Park Counties.

A nearly $2.8 million bid was awarded to Cowley-based S & L Industrial for a project that involves grading, guardrail and other work in various locations with in Albany, Carbon and Laramie Counties.

The contracted completion date for the above projects is Oct. 31, 2023.

S & L Industrial was also awarded a $648,397 bid for a project involving guardrail, grading and other work in var ious locations within Washakie County. The contracted completion date is Sept. 30, 2023.

The commission also awarded an almost $1.1 million bid to Buffalo-based Barnum, Inc. for a project that involves grading, drainage, paving and other work on more than 3.5 miles of US Highway 20/Wyoming Highway 789 in Hot Springs County. The contracted completion date is June 30, 2024.

An $833,424 bid was awarded to Cow ley-based Wilson Bros. Construction, Inc. for a project involving drainage, grading, paving, fencing, seeding, erosion con trol and other work in various locations within Big Horn and Washakie Counties. The contracted completion date is June 30, 2024.

Afton-based Avail Valley Construc tion was awarded a $1.27 million bid for a project involving stockpiling and other work at various locations within Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater and Uinta Counties. This project is funded primarily with state dollars, and the contracted completion date is April 30, 2023.

WYDOT warns against scam texts

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Depart ment of Transportation has been alerted to a potential phishing scam involving driver’s licenses.

Scammers are sending text messages

claiming they are from the “Department of Homeland Security” and demand driv er license validation using a suspicious link. The text even warns that “failure to validate will lead to the suspension of your license.”

This is a phishing scam aimed at ma nipulating people into revealing personal information. WYDOT is not and will not send text messages of this nature and does not seek personal information in this manner. If you receive a text message like this one, avoid opening the link and giving personal information.

If you have questions or concerns about your driver license, reach out to your local Driver Services office directly for accurate information. WYDOT’s only Driver Services website is: http://www.dot.state.wy.us/driverservices

WYDOT produces crosswalk safety video

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Depart ment of Transportation has produced a new safety video about the proper use of crosswalks.

The 3.5 minute video titled “Crosswalk Safety” can be found on WYDOT’s You Tube Channel WYDOT Videos. A link to the video was provided to all Wyoming schools through the Wyoming Depart ment of Education.

Though geared towards young people, the video contains helpful information for pedestrians of all ages.

According to Wyoming crash data, approximately 24% of pedestrianinvolved crashes from 2017-2020 involved a school-aged pedestrian. Of those pedestrians, 30% were walking to or from school at the time of the crash.

“It’s important for pedestrians and drivers to know how to navigate through crosswalk intersections as safely as possi ble,” said WYDOT Director Luke Reiner. “People on foot should remember that not all crosswalks are the same – some are unmarked, some are just paint on the road, and others have signals that need to be manually activated.”

Reiner added that it’s important for those on foot to look both ways before crossing, make eye contact with drivers, and never step out into the intersection until vehicles are stopped in all directions.

“For drivers, it’s really about slowing down when you’re in a crosswalk area, paying attention to the signs and flashing

lights, and putting away distractions such as cell phones,” Reiner said.

WYDOT is hopeful that all children in Wyoming will get the opportunity to watch the video, whether at school or at home with their families.

“Pedestrian safety should be an im portant topic for everyone,” Reiner said. “Hopefully this video will help people know how to safely get across the street no matter what type of crosswalk they’re using.”

Snowplow Priority Plan this

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Depart ment of Transportation wants to remind motorists about its Snowplow Priority Plan ahead of the upcoming winter season.

The Snowplow Priority Plan prioritizes plowing efforts on busiest highways, like interstates, before rural routes. The plan helps to strategize plowing to maximize community connectivity while maintain ing cost-effective operations. Road shoul ders may not get plowed immediately and crews may have to get to clean-up work the next day. The Snowplow Priority Plan can be found on WYDOT’s website.

Like many other industries, WYDOT has experienced challenges with recruit ing and retaining personnel, especially snowplow operators, mechanics and troopers. Fortunately, recent winters have been relatively mild and WYDOT was able to meet or exceed the Snowplow Priority Plan by moving crews to where the storm impacts were heaviest.

“WYDOT is dedicated to moving snow and keeping the state connected despite Wyoming’s challenging winters,” said WYDOT Director Luke Reiner. “The agency is certainly not immune to nation wide labor and supply chain challenges, but we will do everything in our power to continue to meet our mission despite these obstacles.”

Moving crews based in areas less im pacted by a storm to the routes seeing the heaviest weather conditions will continue to be WYDOT’s strategy for the upcom ing winter. Additionally, WYDOT has given its qualified employees the oppor tunity to volunteer to help plow snow

WYDOT aims to meet

winter despite staffing, supply chain challenges

during severe storms. However, WYDOT staffing levels are at the point now where widespread winter storms may impact plowing efforts to levels below what is indicated on the Snowplow Priority Plan.

Crews currently seeing the most severe staffing shortages include Rock Springs, Hulett, Shirley Rim, LaBarge, Reno Junction, Patrick Draw and Muddy Gap, among others. Motorists may experience increased winter hazards like ice and drifting snow in these areas this winter, especially during heavy, multi-day storms.

Additionally, Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers are experiencing staff ing shortages, which will likely also contribute to longer response times for nonemergency calls like VIN inspections, loose livestock or crashes with no injuries. In some cases, WHP may call for crash information rather than driving to the scene.

Parts for snowplows and trooper vehi cles are also becoming increasingly back ordered and delayed, which can prolong the time vehicles are in the shop rather than on the roads.

Regardless of an area’s potential staff ing or equipment challenges, WYDOT urges motorists to slow down and give snowplows and troopers ample room to work this winter. Keeping our employ ees safe and the equipment on the roads rather than in the shop is crucial to the agency’s efforts to meet the Snowplow Priority Plan and other agency missions and goals.

Like every winter season, WYDOT encourages motorists to keep a vehicle winter emergency kit and to check www.wyoroad.info or the Wyoming 511 app for latest road conditions prior to traveling.

WYDOT is hiring snowplow opera tors, dispatchers, troopers, mechanics and other positions statewide.

WyHy Credit Union, Sweetwater FCU merge; expanded commitment to local communities

CHEYENNE – WyHy Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Cheyenne, and Sweetwater Federal Credit Union, with headquarters in Rock Springs, announced the merger of their financially strong, healthy and growing credit unions. With this merger, WyHy’s combined assets

are now approximately $370 million with financial services and conveniences provided to more than 22,000 members in Wyoming. All locations of the merged credit unions have been designated as WyHy Credit Union offices with the corporate headquarters remaining in Cheyenne.

This merger is a collaboration between two credit unions seeking to combine fi nancial resources and expertise to provide members with expanded services and opportunities.

The Board of Directors, leadership, and staffs of both credit unions were excited about this opportunity to provide a full suite of financial products to its new membership through conveniently lo cated offices in Cheyenne, Casper, Green River, Lyman and Rock Springs. This merger also provides WyHy the opportu nity to further strengthen its commitment to the different communities it serves with this addition of the Rock Springs market.

For additional information regarding the merger go to www.wyhy.org

Automated VSL pilot program announced

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Depart ment of Transportation announced an in novative pilot program to semi-automate Variable Speed Limit signs this winter in an effort to increase safety and to accom modate for Wyoming’s quickly-changing weather conditions.

Typically, VSL changes are prompted by WYDOT and Wyoming Highway Patrol personnel driving on that section of highway based on specific criteria like weather conditions.

The new automated program uses data from WYDOT sensors to adjust the speed indicated on the VSLs when em ployees may not be in the area to initiate the changes themselves. This results in quicker speed adjustments, which can match how quickly conditions change on Wyoming highways.

“The automation still has a human component,” said Vince Garcia, WY DOT Intelligent Transportation Systems program manager. “Speed limit changes prompted by the program can be adjusted or even vetoed by a boots on the ground employee like a trooper or highway main tainer.”

For example, if sensors indicate traffic

can resume normal interstate speeds, but there is an active crash investigation and cleanup in the area, troopers can hold the lower speed to protect first responders and keep the traveling public safe.

The program will start with two sec tions of VSLs, one located along Interstate 80 between Laramie and Rawlins and another on Wyoming Highway 28 over South Pass. If the program is successful, it can be expanded to other VSLs around the state.

Drivers are reminded that the speed indicated on the VSLs is the legal speed limit.

District 1

WYO 70 over Battle Pass closed for winter season

LARAMIE – Highway 70 over Battle Pass in the Sierra Madres officially closed for the season on Nov. 29.

Crews in Baggs and Saratoga decided weather forecasts and current road condi tions warranted closing the section. The section, mileposts 27-50, was closed due to strong winds with drifting and blowing snow.

Last year, WYO 70 closed Dec. 10. In previous years, it closed Nov. 14 in 2020, Dec. 2 in 2019, Nov. 23 in 2018, Dec. 23 in 2017, Nov. 28 in 2016, and Dec. 14 in 2015.

WYO 70 will remain closed until crews can work to clear the accumulated snow in the spring.

Increase in sign theft seen

in southeast Wyoming

LARAMIE – The Wyoming Depart ment of Transportation has noticed an increase in sign theft over the last year.

More signs have been reported stolen each year, with common targets including the ‘Welcome to Wyoming’ or ‘Entering Wyoming’ signs. Other signs such as stop signs, traffic signs, and road signs have continued to be stolen as well. Stolen signs can lead to crashes and can pose dangerous conditions to travelers.

“Stolen stop signs cause a great risk to the traveling public. Travelers unfa miliar with an area can blow through an intersection and involve themselves and

Briefs continued on page 6

others in a crash they normally would have stopped or yielded to,” says Clyde Harnden, District 1 Traffic Supervisor.

The large ‘Welcome to Wyoming’ signs cost upwards of $2000-$3000 to man ufacture and replace, while the smaller ‘Welcome to Wyoming’ signs range from $1500-$2000.

Theft in the State of Wyoming, includ ing sign theft, is broken into two theft levels – felony and misdemeanor.

1. If the value of the stolen property or services is $1,000 or more, the person commits a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

2. Person commits misdemeanor theft by stealing property or services valued at less than $1,000. The maximum penalty for misdemeanor theft is six months’ imprisonment and a $750 fine.

Defacing signs with stickers or mark ings also damages state property and can carry a fine if caught.

The cost to replace signs and posts, as well as clean defaced and damaged signs comes out of the state highway mainte nance budget, which is also used to clear snow, repair potholes, and maintain the highways.

Please contact the Laramie District of fice to inform of a missing or stolen sign.

WYO 130 through the Snowy Range closed for winter season

LARAMIE – Wyoming Highway 130 through the high country of the Snowy Range officially closed for the season Nov. 10.

Due to drifting and blowing snow, 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 ft. 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 closed for the sea

son on Nov. 11. In previous years, WYO 130 closed Nov. 14 in 2020, Oct. 29 in 2019, Nov. 3 in 2018, Nov. 20 in 2017, and Nov. 28 in 2016. WYO 130 is one of two high-elevation highways in District 1 that close for the winter annually.

WYO 130 will remain closed until WYDOT crews can work to clear the accumulated snow in the spring.

Drug Arrest near Elk Mountain

LARAMIE – On Oct. 30, a trooper as signed to the Elk Mountain area stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction near milepost 263 on Interstate 80.

The driver gave inconsistent state ments, and the Trooper observed addi tional suspicious factors that led him to detain the driver. A Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper responded and deployed his K-9 partner, Bailey, who gave a posi tive alert indicating the odor of an illegal substance.

The resulting search yielded approxi mately 221 pounds of Marijuana.

The driver was arrested and booked into the Carbon County Detention Center on charges of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and failing to maintain a single lane of travel.

District-wide crack seal project

LARAMIE – Crews with Z and Z Seal Coating, Inc. and the Wyoming Depart ment of Transportation worked on a district-wide crack sealing project.

Crews began with Wyoming Highway 230 at mileposts 33-42 on Nov. 8. Various road sections were impacted in Albany, Laramie and Carbon counties; crews then moved to different locations based on weather conditions and equipment or material availability.

K-9 Bailey oversees the 221-pound pile of con fiscated marijuana.

Photo: WYDOT

Motorists encountered flaggers and short delays as crews worked.

Wyoming, Colorado law enforcement zero tolerance

LARAMIE – Nov. 12 marked the 114th meeting in the Border War rivalry. The football game between the University of Wyoming Cowboys and the Colorado State University Rams remains one of the oldest rivalries in college football. The game was held at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins. Game day Saturday was busy with fans traveling from Wyoming and all over Colorado to Fort Collins.

On Nov. 12, law enforcement from across Wyoming and Colorado were out in force, teaming up as part of a multistate, multi-agency impaired driving enforcement operation.

Coordinated enforcement efforts took place in Albany and Laramie Counties in Wyoming, as well as Larimer and Weld Counties in Colorado – before, during, and after the game.

“One-third of Wyoming’s fatalities last year and again this year are directly related to impaired driving,” said Interim Colonel Shannon Ratliff of the Wyoming Highway Patrol. “Make the right decision and don’t drive impaired. Law enforce ment will continue to enforce impaired driving with zero tolerance.”

Agencies involved in Wyoming includ ed the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Laramie Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office, University of Wyoming Police Department, Laramie County Sheriff’s Office and the Cheyenne Police Department.

Agencies involved in Colorado includ ed the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Weld County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Collins Police Department, Loveland Police De partment, CSU Police Department, Estes Park Police Department and the Colorado State Patrol.

Along with this enhanced enforcement effort, the Wyoming Highway Patrol urges drivers to help keep Wyoming’s roadways safe by calling the Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately (REDDI) hotline at 1-800-442-9090 to report sus pected drunk drivers. Callers should be prepared to provide the dispatcher with a description of the vehicle, its location and the direction of travel.

There have been 112 fatalities on

Wyoming roads in 2022 compared to 96 a year ago.

District 2

Private memorials within state rights-of-way prohibited

CASPER – As we approach the holi day season WYDOT reminds everyone not to erect private memorials of any kind within WYDOT right-of-way.

“This season brings us together as family and friends and the loss of a loved one in a crash can understandably compel people to put up memorials to remember and honor those lost in vehicle crashes,” said Mark Ayen, District 2 engineer.

“We certainly sympathize with all who are experiencing loss.”

That’s why in 2003 WYDOT created the Roadside Memorial Program where family members can apply for a state approved and issued memorial sign that’s installed free of charge at the crash location. These signs meet federal safety standards and are installed at the edge of the right-of-way, helping to eliminate dangers to friends or family members installing private memorials beside a highway, or the danger of having unregu lated obstructions within the clear zones.

Signs may only be installed outside urban limits and are only for crashes that have happened on state and federal highways and interstates. Locations must be verifiable through Highway Patrol records.

Wyoming law prohibits any encroach ment, such as advertising signs or private memorials, on highway right of way.

“WYDOT must meet its responsibility to maintain a safe highway system and having WYDOT personnel installing me morial signs is preferable to having family members put themselves in danger, or other drivers in danger, by allowing ob structions to remain in the highway clear zone,” Ayen said.

Those obstructions have included steel fence posts, steel pipe, stone and other objects that if hit could cause serious damage and injury to motorists.

Private memorials will be removed by our maintenance personnel and will be held at the nearest WYDOT office for pickup.

Roadside memorial applications are found at www.dot.state.wy.us then search

ing “roadside memorial” or by calling WYDOT’s Public Affairs Office.

Icy bridge decks led to crashes in Casper

CASPER – The Wyoming Highway Patrol would like to remind motorists to be alert when approaching and driving on icy bridge decks, overpasses and ramps with the temperatures getting colder.

Driving surfaces on bridges can freeze sooner than the rest of the roadway, due to elevated portions not being insulated. These conditions especially true in the early morning and late evening hours.

On Oct. 24, troopers responded to five motor vehicle crashes with injuries within an hour on the Interstate 25 corridor in Casper. Most of these crashes were due to icy bridge decks.

With the temperatures getting colder and winter approaching, please do not use cruise control and leave adequate stop ping distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.

District 3

Avalanche infrastructure work on Teton Pass and Hoback Canyon

JACKSON – The Wyoming De partment of Transportation worked on avalanche infrastructure on Teton Pass, WYO 22, Oct. 28 and in the Hoback Can yon, US 189/191, on Nov. 18. Crews used a helicopter to place O’Bellx infrastruc ture near major slide paths which could possibly endanger the highway in Hoback Canyon. On Teton Pass, the helicopter was flying up equipment for the Gazex

Briefs

An O’Bellx avalanche mitigation pod before placement on the mountainside in Hoback Canyon.

Photo: WYDOT

system there.

“We were flying up equipment for the Gazex system. When the helicopter crosses over the highway, we needed to flag it closed. The whole operation lasted less than an hour, but during that time, we had intermittent closures around the bottom of Glory Bowl,” said WYDOT Avalanche Specialist Don Lawless.

Drivers were advised to be aware of intermittent flagging operations and po tential delays of up to 15 minutes during the hour of work.

Seasonal trailer traffic restriction on Teton Pass

JACKSON – The Wyoming Depart ment of Transportation reminds drivers that WYO 22, Teton Pass, is currently closed due to the seasonal closure to trailer traffic from Nov. 15 to April 1. Any vehicles towing a trailer will be found in violation of running a road closure and subject to fines.

For alternative routes, contact any De partment of Transportation Port of Entry

or Permit Station. For more information on road closures and weather conditions, dial 511 or go to www.wyoroad.info.

Teton Pass drivers encountered delays for drilling investigation

JACKSON – Jorgensen Geotechnical performed drilling investigation opera tions in the eastbound lane of WYO 22 between the Idaho state line and Coal Creek trailhead beginning Nov. 1. Work took place intermittently throughout the month with a wrap-up date of Nov. 22.

There were potential lane closures on WYO 22 from mileposts 13.8 to 17.4, Coal Creek to Idaho State Line. While work was underway, a single lane of traf fic was controlled by flagging operations. Work took place between business hours throughout the week and some intermit tent work took place on the weekends. The subsurface investigations were being conducted for future BUILD project plan ning and were being performed on behalf of Teton County.

Winter closure of US 14A

Nov. 21 this year

BASIN – The annual fall closure of US 14A between Burgess Junction and Lovell occurred Nov. 21.

The annual winter closure of US 14A, west of Burgess Junction, is at milepost 76.04 on the Lovell side of the Bighorn Mountains. The seasonal road closure at Burgess Junction is just east of mile post 98.1. WYDOT annually closes this 22-mile stretch of scenic mountain road in the Bighorn Mountains of north-cen tral Wyoming in November. It usually opens for the summer by Memorial Day weekend. n

PSCC Quarterly Meeting Held in October

The Public Safety Communications Commission recently met on Oct. 26 for its final quarterly business meeting of 2022. The commission received updates from WYDOT’s Emergency Communications Program, approved WyoLink applications, and developed strategies regarding WYDOT’s and the State of Wyo ming’s mission critical and emergency communication systems.

Current Projects and system upgrades underway

Legislative Update: Post the 10/26 PSCC meeting, on 11/3 the Joint Transportation Committee passed 23LSO-210 & 23LSO-211 providing funding for the maintenance, operations, and system upgrades for WyoLink. WyoLink system upgrades include the replacement of outdat ed and end-of-life equipment:

• GTR Base Repeater replacement, 30 sites upgraded this year. WyoLink has 76 VHF radio sites; 41 of those are now using the new GTR repeaters and 35 still on the old Quantars.

• Site expansion, additional channels to be added to accommo date high usage. Four of the seven sites adding channels have been completed.

• Two new additional tower sites – Northern Sheridan County and Saratoga.

• Dynamic System Resilience; adding redundancy and reliabili

ty to the system. This is dependent on the replacement project and a system upgrade.

• Microwave system upgrades. Twenty sites are getting power ful microwave routers; 15 of those sites have been installed, the remaining 5 will be installed soon. We are planning to activate and optimize them.

• New mobile and portable radios for WYDOT. Districts 4 and 5 have started installing the new radios.

• WHP has a new radio with vehicular repeater installed for testing. Approval process proceeding with the plan to get the first 75 radios installed soon.

Inter-Subsystem interconnection – Critical Connect

This will allow for the WyoLink system to be inter-connected with other neighboring state radio systems, as well as cellular net works. It will be an agnostic connection to cellular providers and will allow for WyoLink users to communicate with cellular devic es; and visa-versa. Critical Connect will expand coverage, and us age for mission critical communication in the state of Wyoming. The initial functionality testing has taken place successfully. The WyoLink Office is currently working with cellular providers and the State of Montana to provide operational interoperability. The process of managing devices and the patching portal will take some time to provide a quality product for WyoLink users.

Smart Connect

This allows Motorola APX radios already on WyoLink to

connect and operate via LTE or WiFi when radios go out of range of a WyoLink site. Smart Connect will allow users an alternate communications path through WyoLink, helping ensure critical traffic gets to the user. This could be a more cost effective solu tion in many locations such as: Schools, Government buildings & basements. The Cheyenne Police Department recently started using this feature successfully in some schools that had challeng es with reliable radio coverage.

Critical and Smart connect provides an additional method for interoperable communications for multiple agencies. WyoLink is the platform that allows these technologies to converge.

System Statistics

Month PTTs Airtime (minutes)

July 2022 2,173,752 185,107.75

August 2022 2,085,124 176,753.37

September 2022 1,919,123 162,518.96

System usage shows the 4th fiscal quarter statistics. These are higher than the previous quarter due to seasonal changes and also higher than a year ago (possibly due to Covid 19).

• Apple released its iPhone 14. The model is capable of ac cessing satellite services when a 911 text or call is made in a location that does not have cellular signal.

• Apple has shared training data with PSAP’s which can be found on the PSCC webpage.

Federal Info and updates

WYDOT Emergency Communications Program has applied for Network Outage Reporting System and Disaster Information Reporting System from the FCC.

WYOLINK 16 Site Expansion Project Status

In 2018, WYDOT secured $16 million in Federal Highway Administration Funds for enhanced build-out expansion of 16 tower sites. All tower development and design will follow the FHWA construction requirements. WyoLink end user expe rience, coverage testing, and overall benefit to WyoLink were factors used to determine the site locations, and priorities for improved coverage.

The following represents a brief update on the status and noteworthy accomplishments for each site location into the month October 2022.

• Buffalo: Site active (3/24/20) with reported coverage improve ments in previous known trouble spots

• Orin Junction: Site active (4/20/20) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.

• Wright: Site active (6/26/20) with reported coverage improve ments in previous known trouble spots.

• Jackson: Site active (announced 1/11/21) with reported cover age improvements in previous known trouble spots.

• Greybull: Site active (announced 1/11/21) with reported cov erage improvements in previous known trouble spots.

• Lusk: Site active (announced 4/21/21) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots

• Alcova: Site active (announced 4/21/21) with reported cover age improvements in previous known trouble spots.

• Alva: Site active (announced 6/3/21) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.

The top 20 talkgroups were predominantly law enforcement spread across the state

Next Generation 911 Updates

State 911 Work Groups

• Next Generation 911 State Workgroups are meeting to discuss our planned initiatives of NG911 Projects from the State NG911 plan relevant to each topic.

• Gov. Gordon signed a Proclamation Nov. 2 for National GIS Day Recognition Nov. 16. GIS Workgroup members were invited to attend.

• Technology Workgroup is working to provide input on the NG911 2023 Equipment and Operations Survey Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) in Wyoming.

State 911 Meetings

• Wyoming Association of Public Safety Communications Of ficials National Emergency Number Association met Novem ber 13-16 in Casper.

• Technology and its access to 911 is changing.

• Nationally 85% of all calls coming into a PSAP are through Wireless Services (Cell Phones)

• Rock Springs (Blairtown-Tank Hill): Site active (announced 10/8/21) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.

• Rock Springs (14 Mile Hill): Site active (announced 10/8/21) with reported coverage improvements in previous known trouble spots.

• Ten Sleep (Meadowlark): Construction resumed 7/21/22 and is underway throughout summer. Shelter and generator delays will affect site turn-up. Generator on-site, shelter construction continues.

• Northern Goshen County: Construction underway. Estimat ed October/November site turn-up (temporary backhaul on order & waiting on commercial AC power).

• Newcastle: Lease between WYDOT and the city has been signed by both parties. Approving transfer of FHWA funds for construction start-up. Broke ground on Oct. 10.

• Evanston: Construction underway, estimated completion is October/November site turn-up (MW install underway).

• North Big Horn County (Little Sheep Mountain) Construc tion scheduled to start the week of 8/5/22. Site almost com pleted (Microwave and power installation underway).

• Bondurant: Lease has been agreed upon between WYDOT and Sublette County and is with the Attorney General’s office for signatures. Approving transfer of FHWA funds for con struction start-up. n

Noteworthy Cody mechanics supervisor recipient of first WYDOT Safety Innovation Award

By Cody Beers

The WYDOT Safety Innovation Award is given to employees who “help implement safety changes to processes, procedures, or designs that mitigate safety hazards and contribute toward a positive safety culture,” said WYDOT Employee Safety Program Manager Jordan Striff.

Hieb has worked over the past three years toward partnership visit corrections in the Cody mechanics shop, designed and built an elevator safety hazard mitigation system, and designed and built a safety step system for easier access on and off of transport trailers (see Safety Flash: Slips, Trips, and Falls from Trailers emailed DOT-all on Oct. 13, 2022)..

“After an employee injury, Chris designed a stair system, con structed it, and delivered it to the local maintenance crew. This stair system will allow employees to safely climb on and off of WYDOT’s transportation trailers,” Striff said. “Hieb’s design did not require an SO-38E and was cost neutral.

Hieb received the safety innovation award during the Direc tor’s Town Hall on Oct. 25 in Thermopolis. He received a winter jacket for his efforts.

The safety innovation award was implemented by WYDOT’s

Chris Hieb, center, is wearing his new winter safety jacket. The Safety In novation Award was given to Hieb by Employee Safety Program Manager Jordan

Safety Committee with Ed Tirado (Lusk Maintenance) working to ensure employees are recognized for their positive impact on safety. n

WYDOT employee’s child selected for Honor Performance at Carnegie Hall

By Andy Freeman, with editing for clarity by Jordan Achs

Aidan Freeman, a student at Hot Springs County High School in Thermopolis, has been selected for the High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Feb. 4, 2023.

Acceptance to the elite group is a direct result of the talent, dedication, and achievements demonstrated in Freeman’s appli cation and audition recording. The audition featured a perfor mance of “Sonata” by Paul Creston. The Honors Selection Board judged all the auditions before selecting the honorees.

“I am honored to participate in this program, to represent Wyoming, and to meet other high-level players,” Freeman said in response to their selection to the Honors Ensembles.

Having studied music for six years, Freeman prefers the alto saxophone as a primary instrument and has performed numer ous challenging pieces at school and through Northwest College in Powell. Additionally, Freeman has taken part in jazz camps at Colorado State University and Music Teachers National Associa tion Division competitions.

Participation in the Honors Ensembles is limited to the high est-rated young performers from across the world. Freeman will join performers from 48 US States, Canada, China and South Korea for a special performance at the world-famous Carnegie Hall, a venue that marks the pinnacle of musical achievement.

The finalists will come together in New York City where they will have the opportunity to learn from world-renowned conductors, work with other performers and get a taste of New York. The Honors Performance will take place Feb. 4 and is open

to the public. Tickets can be purchased beginning approximately 60 days prior to the performance through the Carnegie Hall box office.

“Being selected to the Honors Performance Se ries is something each Fi nalist should be extremely proud of accomplishing,” said Marion Gomez, Music Director for the Honors Performance Series. “We processed nearly 10,000 nominations this year and have selected the most talented student performers from around the world. Working with these conductors and per forming at these renowned music halls is an once-in-a-lifetime experience that these musicians will never forget.”

4, 2023.

The series is proudly presented by WorldStrides, the nation’s leading educational travel organization. Learn more by visiting www.honorsperformance.org and www.worldstrides.com

Aidan is the child of WYDOT project engineer Andy Free man, who is based in Basin.

Aidan’s future goals include attending college to study music performance and eventually pursuing a career as a college music professor. n

Aidan Freeman, child of WYDOT project engineer Andy Freeman, has been select ed for the High School Honors Perfor mance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Feb.

Photo: WYDOT

Striff and Director Luke Reiner.

Photo: WYDOT

Former District Engineer reprises role

Eddins starts as District 3 DE

By Jordan Achs

WYDOT leadership announced in late-October that John Ed dins would return to the agency as District 3’s District Engineer after nearly 10 years working in private industry.

The name might seem familiar; Eddins has a wealth of experi ence with WYDOT. He first started with the agency in 1988 and worked his way up to District Engineer for District 3. He held that position for 14 years before retiring in 2014. In total, Eddins has 30 years of experience in transportation infrastructure de sign, contract administration and operations management.

In late-November he returned to the helm of the District 3 team, which encompasses Sweetwater, Uinta, Sublette, Lincoln and Teton Counties.

“He brings a great deal of experience to the job,” said WYDOT Assistant Chief Engineer of Operations Tom DeHoff in an allstaff email. “John has a history of providing sound and consistent

leadership at WYDOT and I’m excited to have him back in the WYDOT family.”

Beyond his time with WYDOT, Eddins is very familiar with the district as an Lincoln County native. He graduated from the University of Wyoming and got his start with the WYDOT Laramie Design Squad. n

Wildlife-vehicle collisions are costly; motorists encouraged to safely avoid crashes

By Cody Beers

The Wyoming Department of Transportation cautions drivers about an increase in wildlife/vehicle collisions and other wildlife crossing highways.

An increase in Wyoming wildlife/ vehicle collisions normally occurs in the fall and winter months, partially due to migration and shorter daylight hours. This wet spring and sum mer’s hot weather and green grass in the state rightsof-way, however, seems to be encouraging deer and other wildlife to move toward and across highways, according to WYDOT District Engineer Pete Hallsten of Basin.

“Our maintenance personnel are seeing an increase in dead deer,” Hallsten said. “Hitting a deer can also be a very costly ex pense, and sometimes it can be a life-threatening incident.”

WYDOT offers tips for avoiding wildlife/vehicle crashes:

• Avoid swerving your vehicle; swerving may cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle, which may result in a more seri ous incident;

• Pay attention to changes in habitat types along roadways. Creek bottoms and where agricultural fields meet trees are prime areas for wildlife to cross roadways;

• Deer are herd animals; if you see one, watch for more;

• Deer crossing signs show where high levels of deer/vehicle

crashes have occurred in the past;

• Pay extra attention when driving at dawn and dusk when animals are most active;

• When you see deer, activate your vehicle’s horn several times and flick your headlights (if no oncoming traffic is present), and reduce your speed. The horn and flicking lights may spook the deer into running across the road, so remember to reduce your speed;

• Wear your seat belt, use appropriate child safety seats and drive at a safe speed; driving slower at dawn and dusk may help you avoid a collision;

• If possible, use your high-beam headlights as much as possi ble; watch for the shining eyes.

If you hit a deer or other species of wildlife:

• Slow down, pull to the highway shoulder and turn on the emergency flashers;

• Don’t worry about the animal. Law enforcement and WY DOT will arrange to have the animal removed from the road way or shoulder. Tell the dispatcher if the animal is still in the roadway when you’re calling for help;

• If possible, remain buckled up in your vehicle, protecting yourself and your passengers in the event there is a secondary crash involving another vehicle;

• If you and/or your passengers must exit your vehicle, stand as far off the roadway as possible;

• To report a crash, call the Wyoming Highway Patrol at 1-800442-9090.

“It doesn’t matter if you, the driver, are traveling on rural roads or busy highways, the threat of hitting a deer or other wild animal is very real,” Hallsten said. “All drivers should take extra precautions this time of the year to enhance safety while traveling on our highways.” n

Eddins

Use extra caution when driving in known wildlife crossing areas.

Photo: WYDOT

Fall Town Halls spur great discussions

By Jordan Achs

WYDOT Director Luke Reiner hosted a series of seven Town Hall meetings with the force throughout the month of October.

Town Halls are a way for leadership to communicate with employees, not only about important reminders, updates and changes but also to listen to concerns, ideas and other feedback.

“I appreciated all of the great discussions we had at each meet ing,” Reiner said in a November staff call email to all employees. “Thank you to everyone for participating; I think they are crucial for transparency and communication.”

Frequently discussed topics at the meet ings included:

• Employee retention strategies

• Employee recruitment

• Other Human Resources updates and reminders

• WYDOT success stories

• Legislative updates

• Training opportunities

Meetings also featured updates from the Wyoming Transportation Department Employee Association about membership benefits.

Town Halls were hosted in person with a virtual option for those who could not

travel to the meetings. Rough attendance numbers counted more than 700 total attendees in person and more than 300 on the online meetings.

“Thank you to the District Engineers and other program lead ers for prioritizing attendance despite busy schedules this time of year,” Reiner said in an October staff call email to all employees.

A recap video, a copy of the PowerPoint slide deck and other Town Hall information can be found on the WYDOT employee website. n

Employee Safety

Bump caps

By Jordan Striff, Employee Safety

Three significant injuries requiring advanced medical care or that resulted in lost days have taken place throughout WYDOT in the past year alone. These injuries were caused by employ ees striking objects that were above their heads in a controlled environment. These employees were working under vehicles and struck their heads on stationary objects when standing up or believing they were clear of the hazard. Two employees required stitches/staples to suture their wounds. All three of these injuries were OSHA recordables and lost time injury inci dents.

Due to these injuries, WYDOT Procurement now offers bump caps that can be placed under almost any style of ball cap. These bump caps are lightweight (2.6oz), breathable, and low-cost. The Procurement order number is ES0067.

Employee Safety encourages all employees that are exposed to hazards that can cause potential head injuries to discuss the use of bump caps in

their daily safety briefings and to include them as a hazard miti gation tool in their JSAs.

Bump caps do not protect against falling objects and they are not intended to replace hardhats in any way. Hard hats must still be worn according to SEMM Policy 19-07 and OSHA 1926.100(a). Bump caps should be considered in controlled envi ronments such as mechanics shops, POEs, and low-risk environ ments in the field. n

Images: Ergodyne

WYDOT Director Luke Reiner talks to a crowd from District 4 during the Town Hall in Gillette.

Photo: Laura Dalles

WY Lead launches leadership to the next level

By Christi Weinzierl, Training Services

Existing WYDOT supervisors and others with leadership experience have a unique opportunity to enhance and build upon their previous leadership knowledge and experiences in 2023.

WYDOT’s internal leadership academy, WY Lead, was developed with input from senior leadership, a leadership development program planning team, and a curriculum review team.

It addresses three agency needs:

• A fully-staffed and highly-skilled workforce,

• Strong external relationships and agency credibility, and

• The maintenance of adequate revenue.

It also focuses on six organizational and leadership topics:

• Organizational awareness,

• Leadership mindset,

• Performance and accountability,

• Empower and delegate,

• Innovate and initiate, and

• Agency advocacy.

WY Lead participants can look forward to taking a close look at transportation issues and their impact to gain a wider perspec tive of WYDOT.

Workplace positivity will be promoted through:

• Leadership mindsets,

• Mindfulness,

• Emotional intelligence, and

• Positive responses to leadership challenges.

Future leaders will learn to meet the demands from above while providing resources and meeting the needs of those who manage employees below by:

• Learning the differences between leadership and management practices,

• Describing how frontline supervisors and 2nd line manag ers handle employee performance and accountability issues differently, and

• Exploring the elements of effective leadership coaching and mentoring.

Strength assessment along with exploring the levels of dele gation and succession planning will empower future leaders to entrust the right tasks to the right people. Members of the cohort will develop their personal initiative and learn innovation strate gies and will collaborate to complete a project addressing agency strategy. A deep study of WYDOT’s guiding principles and Wyo ming’s Code of the West will enhance effective engagement with the public, as well as other agency members.

Experiential learning opportunities, self-directed learning via Google Classroom, and a mentorship experience with an execu tive staff member throughout the WY Lead program culminate in the participant’s completion of a Leadership Development Plan.

WY Lead participants will attend three in-person meetings at various locations and points in the program, as well as six virtual meetings over the course of six months. Homework assignments, including project work and meetings with champions/mentors will play an integral part in achieving WY Lead’s learning goals. The monthly time commitment is about twelve hours for WY Lead participants.

Do you desire to take your leadership knowledge and experi ence to the next level as part of our March-September 2023 WY Lead Cohort? Complete and submit your WY Lead application, including a recommendation, by Jan. 13, 2023. A syllabus, sched ule and application are available on the Training Services page under the WYDOT Leadership Academy tab. Applicants will be notified of their status by the WY Lead Selection Committee by March 1, 2023. Get ready to lead! n

Check out these upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the WELL.

from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the WELL.

12:00

Yellowstone northern entrance reopened

Northern entrance reopened after historic spring flooding

By: Cody Beers

The North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park reopened Sunday, Oct. 30.

The reopening came more than four months after flooding destroyed roads and bridges inside Yellowstone, as well as closing down the Northeast Entrance west of Cooke City, Montana and threatening three bridges over the Clark’s Fork River on Wyo ming Highway 296 in the Crandall area and Wyoming Highway 120 north of Cody.

The $60-plus million effort has involved many state and federal government agencies, as well as contractors HK Contrac tors LLC of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Oftedal Construction Co., of Casper and Miles City, Montana. These groups and contractors came together and worked around the clock to rebuild roads and reopen US 212 west of Cooke City to Mammoth and Gardiner, Montana, and US 89 from Gardiner, Montana, to Yellowstone National Park and Mammoth inside the borders of Wyoming.

On the morning of June 13, 2022, flooding and rock slides destroyed a main road near Yellowstone National Park’s North Entrance. Gardner, Montana, was impacted heavily, and thou sands of visitors inside Yellowstone were evacuated. The same flooding closed US 212 at the Northeast Entrance near Cooke

Photo: Cody Beers

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte gives a statement to a crowd gathered to celebrate the reopening of critical roadways within Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly and WYDOT Director Luke Reiner stand on a newly-opened section of roadway in YNP that was rebuilt after catastrophic flooding this spring

Photo: WYDOT

City, Montana. WYDOT responded, plowing snow and reassur ing the Cooke City community that they would have access to the outside world through WYO 296 and Cody, Wyoming.

A big effort by HK Contractors took place inside Yellowstone’s North Entrance where an old road originally built in 1879 was rebuilt to a two-lane paved highway. The new road has steep grades, sharp curves and speed limits between 15 and 25 mph. Inside the Northeast Entrance, Oftedal Construction worked tirelessly to repair sections of highway destroyed during the midJune floods to Tower Junction. The Northeast Entrance reopened in mid-October.

On Saturday, Oct. 29, WYDOT Director Luke Reiner joined Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly, and other federal and state officials, engineers and citizens to celebrate construction of the four miles of road from the North Entrance to Mammoth.

“... This road is going to reopen,” Montana Gov. Greg Gian forte said Saturday, Oct. 29, at a Mammoth news conference. “And I want all of America to know that Yellowstone is reopened, and we want you to come back and visit.”

“This was really all hands on deck,” Sholly said. “For this (flooding) to happen in mid-June, going into a busy summer, it’s just catastrophic for some of these local economies. For us to get these roads rebuilt and ready to go, not only for the winter season but going into next year, especially, is absolutely essential and something we couldn’t have done by ourselves.”

“From my perspective, life is really good in this part of the country, because of our partners, because of each of you,” said Reiner from the podium at the entrance of the new four-mile

road between Mammoth and Gardiner, Montana. “It brings us, the Wyoming crew, great joy to be part of a winning team, to have had the opportunity to play a small part in this incredible rebuilding effort we are celebrating today. … We could not be prouder to be standing here today, on this magnificent piece of blacktop, in this beautiful part of the world, in our nation’s first national park, with men and women who have demonstrated through their actions what right looks like, with men and women who have demonstrated through their actions, what happens when partners work together for the common good.” n

Photo: Cody Beers

A crowd gathers to hear remarks from WYDOT Director Luke Reiner (at podium) and other distinguished speakers as YNP celebrates the reopen ing of closed roads after devastating spring flooding.

Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly describes to a crowd the rebuilding process after catastrophic flooding damaged critical roads around the park. The crowd was gathered to celebrate the reopen ing of the roads damaged in the flood.

Photo: WYDOT

U nmanned A ircraft S ystems

Drone use takes off at WYDOT

By Mark Horan

Years ago, Unmanned Aircraft Systems – otherwise known as drones – were primarily used in a military context.

Today, drones are much more commonplace and serve a variety of functions beyond intelligence gathering and weapon platforms.

From casual outdoor enthusiasts to mega corporations deliv ering products to your home, an increasing number of groups –including WYDOT – are now using drones to take to the skies.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol started using drones in 2020, and in early 2022 other programs followed suit such as Aero nautics, Emergency Communications, Photogrammetry, Field Operations (Construction, Maintenance and Traffic) and Public Affairs.

There are currently 25 certified pilots within WYDOT who are using drones to conduct crash reconstructions, monitor inventory stockpiles, assess landslides/rock falls, mitigate natural disasters such as the Yellowstone flood, inspect Wyolink towers, and assist with damage repair and hazmat cleanup.

Employees must go through several steps to become drone pilots, according to UAS Program Manager Sheri Taylor in the Aeronautics Division.

First, they must obtain their Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 commercial drone pilot license, which involves a train ing course followed by a 60 question test that they must pass with a score higher than 70%.

“As far as the FAA is concerned, once you pass your license test you’re good to go for two years,” Taylor said.

“However,” she added, “WYDOT recognized that anyone can go pass the test and not even have ever flown a drone in their lives. So we put in place further training to make sure that em ployees are actually capable fliers who can fly safe missions.”

The additional training that Taylor is referring to requires pilots demonstrate the ability to maneuver a drone through a WYDOT designed flight obstacle course. Employees must also

WYDOT used a drone to get a bird’s eye view of last spring’s flood damage near Yellowstone.

Photo: WYDOT

WYDOT Report.

undergo a class outlining WYDOT standard operating proce dures and policy.

Some users require further specialized training, depending on the type of missions they’ll be flying, and so advanced courses are available that cover topics like confined space flying, autonomous flights, indoor flights, night-time flying, etc.

The goal is that by the time pilots are done with the training, they’ll be ready to go out and fly any kind of mission.

Once certified, pilots use a fleet management system to enter their mission details, check out the conditions, go through the checklists, and obtain a risk assessment score. The mission re quest then goes the UAS office for approval.

District 1 Project Engineer Andrew Klingenberg was one of

comes afterward in the post-production process.

“The drone is really just a fancy way to carry a camera around in the air, taking hundreds of photos from all different angles of the scene which can then be processed into a full color textured 3D map or model of that area,” Klingenberg said.

“Data from traditional surveys doesn’t give us as complete of a picture as what we can produce from the drone imagery. There’s so much more resolution and data that can be gathered, with a lot more context.”

WHP Lt. Erik Jorgensen, based out of Sheridan, was one of the first WYDOT employees to obtain drone certification and has flown around 50 missions. There are currently 11 troopers throughout the state who are licensed to pilot drones.

WHP primarily uses drones for crash reconstruction, where troopers can gather useful technical information relatively quick ly, thereby reducing the amount of time they have to be out on the side of the road.

Patrol also uses drones for tracking, be it for a fugitive on the run or for a search and rescue effort.

Jorgensen described a situation last summer in the Sundance area.

“We had a trooper that was involved in a shooting in the middle of the night and the guy took off. And so we were able to bring two drones over and fly around and kind of clear areas be fore they brought officers in. In terms of man-hunts, it’s a whole lot safer to put a camera up in the air and go look to see where someone is and what they’re doing,” Jorgensen said.

“That kind of intel helps us make a more educated plan on how to handle the situation moving forward.”

Taylor said her division is exploring other ways WYDOT might benefit from using drones, such as bridge inspections.

“It’s another tool in our toolbox,” Klingenberg said, acknowl edging that drones can’t be used everywhere at any time because of limitations such as weather and airspace restrictions.

the first individuals to obtain his pilot license. One of the ways he uses a drone is to take inventory of WYDOT stockpiles.

He estimates that flying a drone over an indoor or outdoor stockpile is potentially five times faster than measuring a pile with a boots on the ground survey. It’s also easier on the operator and significantly safer.

“Traditionally, we’ve used our existing GPS or other equip ment and we go climb around the piles and take shots on cars, which gets kind of dangerous in some areas,” said Klingenberg.

The drone he uses can fly safely in confined indoor spaces, thanks to what he describes as “unparalleled obstacle avoidance capability.”

“Last fall we actually did all of District 1’s maintenance stockpile inventory with the drones, which I think was about 20 indoor sheds and 13 outdoor locations. And so that kept people off the piles and a lot safer,” Klin genberg said.

Notably, WYDOT is one of the first DOTs to use drones for indoor volumetric measure ments, although other states are moving in that direction.

But flying the mission is only half the fun. The real magic, according to Klingenberg,

“It’s not necessarily going to replace anything that we’ve got, it’s just a good complement to some of the tools we already have in place,” he said.

To help ensure that sensitive data is protected, all drones used in the agency must be made in the U.S. or a foreign-friendly country, per WYDOT policy.

WYDOT’s drone fleet is manufactured by Skydio, Parrot and Acecore. n

Drone technology helps WHP with their crash investigations.

Photo: WYDOT

A 3D image of an indoor stockpile in Laramie.

Photo: WYDOT

Wyoming A&I

Wyoming cost of living index – Q2 of 2022

The second quarter of 2022 Wyoming Cost of Living Index is now available from the State of Wyoming, Economic Analy sis Division. The WCLI consists of two parts, Inflation, which measures year‐over‐year change (annual) and the Comparative Cost of Living Index which compares each county’s cost of living in one period (not over time) to the statewide average.

Inflation is reported for the State, by consumer category, and for five regions in the State. Inflation measures year‐over‐year price changes in six consumer categories. The inflation figures for the second quarter of 2022 represent the percent change in the price level of a standard basket of selected consumer items priced in the second quarter of 2022, compared with the price level of the same goods and services recorded one year ago (sec ond quarter of 2021).

All Items Statewide inflation 10.1%

(This is the highest inflation has been since the third quarter of 1981, 11.8%. The WCLI is currently only produced for the 2nd and 4th quarter).

Index Number by Category:

Statewide inflation by consumer category:

• Transportation 16.4%

• Food 15.6%

• Housing 8.6%

• Recreation & Personal Care 5.6%

• Medical 3.9%

• Apparel 3.2%

Regional inflation rates:

• Southwest 10.5%

• Southeast 10.5%

• Northeast 10.2%

• Central 10.0%

• Northwest 9.0%

Nationally, the inflation rate from June 2021 to June 2022 was 9.1% (CPI‐U), as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers. This was the largest annual increase since November 1981. n

County All items Food Housing Apparel Transportation Medical Recreation & Personal Care

Teton 165 111 226 123 104 105 107

Lincoln/Afton 107 96 113 108 102 103 101 Laramie 105 98 112 95 98 95 106

Sublette 101 107 98 115 103 100 96 Sheridan 100 105 98 102 101 100 100 Campbell 99 107 96 104 99 100 99 Albany 98 104 97 103 99 93 97

Converse 98 107 93 96 99 108 98

Lincoln/Kemmerer 97 107 88 102 102 117 103 Johnson 96 116 87 120 102 97 101 Park 96 101 91 117 102 97 95 Natrona 96 98 93 92 99 98 102 Fremont 95 92 90 100 100 113 95 Sweetwater 94 92 91 87 101 105 96

Carbon 94 94 91 94 99 110 91 Crook 93 102 83 100 102 108 106

Uinta 92 88 86 94 101 108 100

Weston 90 99 76 109 100 117 97

Hot Springs 88 105 74 109 101 99 99

Big Horn 88 109 73 105 102 95 93

Niobrara 87 102 73 95 99 98 99

Platte 87 91 77 102 101 85 101

Goshen 86 97 76 94 99 87 98

Washakie 85 98 71 113 101 83 96

(Statewide Average = 100. Starting with the 2Q03 Comparative Index, Lincoln/Afton was included.) Wyoming Comparative Cost of Living Index – 4Q21

Department of Health

Tis the season to get flu shots

While the two most recent flu seasons involved very low activity levels, a Wyoming Department of Health official says this influenza season may be different and flu shots can help protect Wyoming residents from serious illness.

“We know flu shots are safe and continue to be the most im portant strategy for influenza protection,” said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH. “Flu vac cines reduce illness, hospitalizations and deaths. We recommend flu shots for everyone six months of age and older.”

“Largely due to widespread personal precautions related to COVID-19, reported flu activity was unusually low over the past two flu seasons in Wyoming and across the country. There are indications that may not be the case again,” Harrist said. “Unfor tunately, we may be back to normal with flu.”

“We expect influenza will circulate in addition to COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses in the coming months,” Harrist said.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness. Symptoms, which come on suddenly, include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, extreme tiredness and muscle or body aches.

Although most healthy people recover from influenza, they still experience an unpleasant illness that can mean missing work, school or other activities. They may also pass along the virus to other people who may be at high risk for serious compli cations and illness.

Harrist noted it is considered safe for people who are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses to receive them as the same time they receive a flu shot.

“We recommend that people stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccine protection,” Harrist said. “While we continue to move along past the earlier, emergency stages of the pandemic, COVID-19 remains a concern, especially for our residents who are more vulnerable to its effects.”

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people ages 5 years and older receive one updated (bivalent) booster if it has been at least two months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose. People who have gotten more than one original booster are recommended to get an updated (biva lent) booster.

Flu vaccines are especially important for those vulnerable populations such as young children; pregnant women; people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease; and people 65 years and older. Healthcare workers and people who may live with, care for, or are in contact with high risk individuals or infants six months of age and under, should also get the flu vaccine.

Harrist explained that it takes about two weeks after receiving the vaccine for it to offer protection. “The best strategy is to get your flu shot before people around you are ill,” she said.

Influenza vaccines are available in many locations, including local public health nursing offices, workplaces, doctors’ offices, pharmacies and retail stores and are covered by most insurance plans. In addition, Wyoming’s public vaccine programs, which are available at participating providers, help protect some adults and children from vaccine-preventable diseases, such as influen za, at little to no cost for eligible patients. n

U.S. Forest Service

New Pole Mountain trail – cross-boundary recreation

By MaryGrace Bedwell, U.S. Forest Service Public Affairs

Laramie, Wyo. October 26, 2022 — A newly completed, single-track trail is now open for public use on the Pole Moun tain unit of Medicine Bow National Forest. This non-motorized, multi-use trail expands recreation access both on Forest and onto the neighboring Pilot Hill property.

Forest Trail 766 (Pilot Hill Connector Trail) is just over three miles long and is in the northwest corner of the Pole Mountain unit, north of Wyoming Highway 210. The trail connects to Pilot Hill Recreation Area Trail 12 at the Forest boundary, providing public access across land management lines. The new section of moderate trail winds through aspen groves, limber pine forest, as well as spruce and lodgepole pine stands, and has many areas to stop and enjoy scenic overlooks of the National Forest.

“The opening of this trail represents a continued commitment to landscape-level management for sustainable recreation in our area,” said Laramie District Ranger Frank Romero. “We have worked alongside partners and the public for years, and we’re listening. Creating a direct means of accessing National Forest

lands from Laramie will serve our local and visiting community long into the future.”

“This type of project would not have been possible without our incredible partnerships with Pilot Hill, Wyoming Path ways, Common Outdoor Ground, and WYDOT,” said Jonathan Brooks, Recreation Program Manager on the Laramie Ranger District. “We are looking forward to completing the layout and design of Phase II of this project soon, which will then connect to the Happy Jack/Tie City trails system.”

The Connector Trail does not yet link to other trails on Pole Mountain. In Phase II of construction, a continuation of the trail south and east will connect to other National Forest system trails. Currently, recreationists should not create new trails in the area and be aware that no designated trailhead or services are available.

Parking and trail access is recommended on Forest Road 703, just north of the junction with Forest Road 714. Parking is per mitted within 100 feet of roads on Pole Mountain. n

District News

Headquarters

Welcome

Cara Acevedo, Financial ServicesGeneral Ledger; Sara Buckley, GIS/ ITS; Jonah Ewaliko, GIS/ITS; William Hartnell, Port of Entry-Cheyenne I-80; Hannah Jankovsky, Right of WayNegotiations; Chelsea Kessler, Motor Vehicle Services-Registration/Title; Monica Rowan, Patrol-Support Services Operation; Amber Salazar, Port of Entry-Cheyenne I-80; Charles Trimble, Patrol-Support Services Manager; Daniel Wells, Facilities Management-Building Maintenance; and Jared Yarter, GIS/ITS.

Promotions and Transfers

Alton Garcia, Highway DevelopmentProject Development; Timothy Hunter, Port of Entry-Cheyenne I-25; Vicki Klein, Fuel TaxAdministration; Brandi Miller, Planning-Local Government Coordination; and Andrew Woodman, Traffic.

William Murphy, Highway Development-Photogrammetry/Survey –10 years;

Terri Curry, Motor Vehicle ServicesRegistration/Title – 5 years;

Tomas Perdomo, Highway Development-Photogrammetry/Survey –5 years;

William Roberts, Traffic – 5 years; Jeramiah Young, Patrol-Dispatch – 5 years.

Retirements

Michael Kurz retired on Oct. 4 from Emergency Communications-Telephone Technical Operations as a supervisor. He contributed 17 years of service to the state.

Congratulations

Mattie Bray has been selected as WYDOT’s Controller for Financial Services effective Nov. 14. Bray replaces Rhonda Holt.

Nicholas Gronski has been selected as WYDOT’s Procurement Services Program Manager effective Dec. 1. Gronski replaces Cori Schrinar.

Nathan Smolinski has been selected as WYDOT’s Chief Technology Officer. Executive Staff looks forward to having him on the team. He assumed his new role December 1. Smolinski replaces Troy Babbitt who retired July 2022. n

Service Awards

Melinda Harmon, Highway Safety-Data Analyst – 15 years; Deborah Bowring, Patrol-Commercial Carrier – 10 years; William Hensel, Highway DevelopmentPhotogrammetry/ Survey – 10 years;

Kevin Kaiser, Facilities ManagementCustodial – 10 years;

Susan Wilson retired Oct. 14 from Patrol with 24 years of service to the state. She was a trooper with the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s Capitol Services Protection.

Wilson began her career with WHP in May 1998. Prior to her service with Patrol, she worked at the Wyoming Boys School in Worland.

Wilson is a veteran of the U.S. Army where she was a member of the military police corp.

Bowring

Perdomo

Wilson

Smolinski

Hunter

Kaiser Miller

Curry

Garcia

Hensel

Welcome

Paul Beckett, Laramie Maintenance; David Castro, Cheyenne Mechanics; James Conant, Baggs Maintenance; Kyle Diffenbaugh, Cheyenne Construction; Marty Ferguson, Maintenance-Laramie Guardrail; Dustin Gray, Laramie Mechanics; Shanna Harris, Medicine Bow Maintenance; Linda Henry, Driver Services-Laramie; Alan Jarnagin, Laramie Maintenance; Tiffany Jaure, Driver Services-Rawlins/ Baggs; Harvey Kisner, Baggs Maintenance; Calvin Pisano, Laramie Mechanics; Dathan Schoolman, Laramie Mechanics; Cayden Schulz, Laramie Mechanics Karmen Shaw, Cheyenne Construction; and Dave Sidun, Rawlins Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Mark Papke, Cheyenne Maintenance; Kevin Reynolds, Rawlins Maintenance; and Bryce Sanchez, Cheyenne Construction.

Service Awards

Travis King, District 1 Maintenance Staff – 15 years; Kevin Erickson, Cheyenne Construction – 10 years; Kent Nelson, Cheyenne Maintenance – 10 years; and

Retirements

Lari Kay retired on Oct. 11 from Laramie Construction with 23 years of service to the state.

Kay began her career in September 1999 as a construction technician in Laramie.

Caleb Hobbs, Patrol-Elk Mountain

years.

Area Maintenance Supervisor Brett Baker (left) stands with Arlington Maintenance Heavy Equipment Operator Kord Newkirk (center) and D1 District Maintenance Engineer Tim Morton. Newkirk received his 5 year service award.

Photo: WYDOT

Lari Kay received well wishes from colleagues in Laramie at her retirement party. She was awarded a beautiful clock to tell the time, but will she know what day it is when she retires? It’ll be Friday every day!

Photo: WYDOT

Castro

Schoolman

Harris

Papke

Erickson

Ferguson

Shaw

Kisner

Sanchez

Kay

Beckett

Pisano

Gray

Sidun

King

Conant

Schulz

Jarnagin

Reynolds

Nelson

Graphic: Carlie Van Winkle

District 2

Welcome

Zachery Freouf, Torrington Mechanics; and Jacob Sterner, Casper Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Mark Bailey, Muddy Gap Maintenance; Kevin Hoff, Casper Construction; Robert Musfelt, Lusk Maintenance; Travis Sparks, Casper Maintenance. n

Welcome

Bradley Heins, Sheridan Maintenance.

Service Awards

District 4

the initial training and then attended Special Officer Training in September 2018.

District 3

Welcome

Brittney Barrera, Rock Springs Maintenance; David Bottemiller, Rock Springs Maintenance; and Tera Fackrell, Driver Services-Evanston.

Promotions and Transfers

Jeffery Holden, Patrick Draw Maintenance; Jared Waldien, Pinedale Construction; Anthony Warpness, Traffic-Electrical.

Service Awards

Tara Green, Pinedale Construction –15 years;

Andrew Jackson, Patrol-Jackson – 15 years;

Christina Kindler, Rock Springs Construction – 15 years;

Chad Ludwig, Patrol-Jackson – 15 years; Phillip Snow, Lyman Maintenance –15 years; and Brad Leavitt, Afton Maintenance – 10 years. n

Rebecca Kobielusz, Sheridan Construction – 40 years; Benjamin Schlosser, Patrol-Sheridan District Office – 15 years; Anthony Alcon, Patrol-Gillette – 10 years; and Leo Carr, Newcastle Maintenance – 5 years.

Through hard work and dedication to highway safety, Stouffer moved onto Level III training, attending and passing the course in November 2019. He continued to grow in his understanding of commercial vehicle rules and regulations and wanted to further his dedication to highway safety and attended Level I training in July 2021.

Stouffer is an avid outdoorsman who likes to hunt and work on his cars, trucks, motorcycles – pretty much anything with a motor. If he can be outside, that is best for him.

He also is very fond of his family. He said that he has a very loving and supportive family, and he spends as much time as he can with them.

Stouffer has accomplished a lot in his first five years with the Sundance Port of Entry – here’s to many more as lead officer. n

Congratulations

A promotional “pinning” ceremony was held on Nov. 16 in Sundance for Sean Stouffer, who was recently promoted to lead officer at the Sundance Port of Entry. Maj. Karl Germain was on hand for the ceremony.

Stouffer started his career with the Wyoming Highway Patrol/Port of Entry in December 2017. He worked through

Welcome

Mitchell Chuey, Cody Construction; and Aspen Thomas, District 5 Administration.

District 5

Service Awards

Maj. Karl Germain congratulating new Lead Officer Sean Stouffer on his recent promotion. Stouffer’s mom, Candy, had the honor of pin ning him with his new insignia.

Photo: WYDOT

Andrew Freeman, Basin Construction – 25 years. n

Heins

Schlosser

Carr

Kobielusz

Alcon

Freeman

Freouf

Sterner

Jackson

Leavitt

Awards

Brian Olsen receives award of excellence from Wyoming Airports Coalition

By Mark Horan Aeronautics

Administrator Brian Olsen received the Presi dential Award of Excellence at the Wyoming Airports Coalition annual conference in September.

As one of his last official duties, outgoing WAC President Todd Chatfield presented Olsen with the award.

Each coalition president has the opportunity to select an in dividual to receive the President’s award once during their term. While the qualifications and eligibility for the award are entirely up to the president, it is expected that this individual’s contribu tions to both the coalition and aviation in the State of Wyoming will exemplify the utmost commitment to the industry.

Chatfield provided the following remarks:

I selected Brian because he is a tremendous asset to aviation in Wyoming and the airport’s coalition. Whenever he is assigned a task, he goes above and beyond in leading the charge for us in Wyoming aviation.

Brian contributes to the coalition through his work with the group. We have a legislative committee he participates in, so we can directly work with WYDOT Aeronautics.

Letters

Median Mowing

Dear WYDOT Supervisor,

I sincerely wanted to express to you and your team my appreciation for the fantastic efforts on the Wyoming interstate medians this summer/fall. I am not sure how much time, energy, or dedication the mowing of the median strips entails, but I am sure it is a lot of collaboration.

On the Interstate section between Keyhole State Reservoir exit and Gillette, I wanted to compliment your team on how well they were maintained and how manicured they looked. I commute daily to Gillette for my employment. During the winter, the Wyoming highways can be treacherous and the grass coverage in the medians often can contribute in a positive or negative experience when the grass is left high.

The purpose of this letter was to extend my gratitude to the staff members that mowed the medians and side areas of this interstate in the above referenced areas. For incoming visitors to our great state, the efforts and precision that transpired demonstrated attention to detail and care from your workers that will represent our state with a job well done. I believe the efforts will contribute to safer roads with the weather that will be upon us soon as well.

Although I do not know the staff members directly, please pass this message along to share my sincere gratitude in the

He also has been instrumental in working with commercial airports and SkyWest airlines to maintain the CPA (Capacity Purchase Agreement) stays in tact and has funding that works for the airlines, state, and local communities.

Brian has also helped coordinate quarterly meetings between his staff and commercial airports in the state. He is always looking for ways to better air service throughout Wyoming. Brian works extremely hard for all general aviation and commercial airports in Wyo ming. n

efforts and to recognize the pride that had to be put into this task. As many of us know, there is often debris and hazards on our roads, and I am thankful for the continued efforts of keeping our highways safe for us who spend a lot of time on them daily so we can make it home safe to our families.

Again, I appreciate how nice the medians look, the efforts that transpired to get them to that appearance, and hope that this can be expressed to the workers that provided us with a betterlooking state. I wanted to share I do not take their efforts for granted and appreciate it greatly.

Have a wonderful day and thanks again.

Respectfully Submitted, Erica L. Wood

Cody Driver Services kudos

WYDOT Headquarters received a call from Lawrence and Lorna Kline who wanted to share their positive experience in the Cody Driver Services Office.

“The people there are so efficient, kind, professional and just stellar, and it’s like that every time we are in that office,” said Lorna Kline, when speaking with WYDOT Aeronautics Division Flight Coordinator Connie Golden.

Golden is one of many office assistants who fill in at the headquarters main desk for lunchtime coverage. n

Olsen with his Presidential Award of Excellence from the Wyoming Airports Coalition.

Photo: WYDOT

Passings

Dennis Chaffin

Dennis S. Chaffin, 67, passed away Nov. 4, in Cheyenne.

He was born June 14, 1955 in Cheyenne. He married LuAnn Gunton on Sept. 4, 1976 in Cheyenne.

Chaffin was hired in June 1992 and worked in WYDOT’s Counter Shop until August 2015 when he moved to the WYARNG as an electronics technician.

He was a member of First Christian Church and the Wyoming Harley Owners and Riding Enthusiasts in Cheyenne.

Visitation was Nov. 10, at Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home. A me morial service was held Nov. 16 at First Christian Church.

Eugene R. Legerski

Eugene “Gene” R. Legerski, 79, of Cheyenne, passed away at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Cheyenne, Nov. 27, 2022.

He was born July 27, 1943 in Sheri dan to Joseph C. and Helen (Michalek) Legerski. Legerski attended Sheridan schools and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1962. He received an engineering degree from the University of Wyoming in 1966.

Legerski served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969. Upon his return, he started working for the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency. He retired in 2008 after 39 years.

Legerski was a member of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cheyenne. He was involved in the mens’ groups Kiwanis and the Knights of Columbus, as well as a volun teer for Cheyenne Frontier Days ticket committee for many years. Legerski also enjoyed the local Corvette club.

He enjoyed playing golf, camping, reading and watching sporting events on television. He loved spending time with this family, especially watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He was recently blessed with a beautiful great-granddaughter.

His son, Chad Legerski, currently works in Project Development.

A rosary was held on Dec. 1 and a memorial service took place Dec. 2 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. n

Chaffin

Halloween coloring contest winners

Each season brings a new coloring contest to the young – and young at heart – artists in our life. The Halloween coloring con test was a big success with many entries. The winners of each age group won a treat bag and bragging rights about their coloring prowess. Take a look at the winners this season:

Category

Member/Department

3 and Under First Jadis Payne Tanya Hill, Mailroom

Second Gannon Sage Kristina Sage, Financial Services

Third Molly Sage Kristina Sage, Financial Services

4 to 6 First Sylvie Grant Christine Grant, Budget

Second Genevieve Thieken Mary Delap, Financial Services

Third Aven Spilker Pat Bennett, Materials

7 to 9 First Malani Spilker Pat Bennett, Materials

Second Layla Lowe Stephanie Lowe, Environmental Services

Third Henry Yearout Jeri Yearout, Bridge

10 to 12 First Gianna Mordahl Justin Mordahl, Geology

Second Landon Schei Laura Schei, Maintenance Staff

Third Leah Yearout Jeri Yearout, Bridge 13 and Over First Isla Walther Josh Walther, Patrol

Second Grace Yearout Jeri Yearout, Bridge

Third Vickie Calaway, Bridge

WTDEA District Contacts

Headquarters

Heidi Martin, President Justin Mordahl, Vice President Chelsey Lindsay, Treasurer Stephanie Lowe, Secretary

District 1

Rich Barber, President; Laramie Craig Mustard; Elk Mountain

District 2

David Cullison, President; Casper Zach Miller, Vice President; Douglas Debbie Herbold, Secretary/Treasurer; Casper

District

Paul Schurman, President; Rock Springs District

John Farr, President; Lander

A 0% APR* VISA® credit card rate that you get automatically - just in the nick of time for holiday shopping and traveling.

Simply pay using your WyHy VISA and all the charges you make between November 1 and February 28, 2023 will be set at 0% APR* till next August. Whether your dashing through the mall for a big purchase or it's beginning to look a lot like you'll finally going to take that big trip, save money with our 0% APR.

Oh What Fun It Is To Buy With A 0% APR That's Automatic

You're WyHy VISA will be set at 0% APR effective November 1. All you have to do is charge away with your card. Don't forget balance transfers from other cards to your WyHy VISA will also be set at 0% APR. Just make sure your balances are transferred before the February 28, 2023 deadline.

Don't have one of our VISA cards? Click, call or come by a branch to apply.

A N A E N C R O T R E R G I K A B S C N X S E C H T T O P S G G B I U O C O Y H H V I R U C H S N K S O I E Y P E X P S R N D N R G S O S U E T D L A R Z I N U N S M S R A R L U N O K A O N T I S S I C A R I J S O N G I O O P L I E N A L S C B L T C E Y E D U K N W O W T S N S E S E B E C T P R K E R O D P C S Y S D G L M S T X E R S T D B N H M H E G Q N D C O O A N D R I T H L R S N C I U E O S F O I D A U B D R N L F O R E T O E Q Y O M H S F L N L O N C N R I A Y E Y O B U T I E T U D E W E I T F C S E O T A O L Z T X A M R E D W D O I O L R H L L R E D N D D P E S A Z T S L E I G H I E E O P H I O F R O S T B I T E X E N I E S I L V E R L L R G W X T L S W I T H O N O S E D D C R W H I T E W D B I N J I E E C N F L Y W G E Y E L A A I J B F A X G E R I K W S D C H O S N O W F L A K E S L E I E L A E L L S E S S E R R N O M S I R S W C H I H S S N L A E L W C A R I B O U A I D C U S E I H H A C E N J G L S S B H B L U E S O W N T L E H L A L I R N E S O K L E A S R I S A T I N F L B Z L O D I T E T I U Z G W O T N C T I S A S H E S A E E E T F R T H N E S K C H R H D K O O G K O N M Y C K E R C L I U T L T Q T A X N A S D E P C H E M U A D F T S H G O R M E N X U M H A T L S O T P K T R L L E U R U O R P E D R I F T I A M F E T W M T E I P S G P T E B C Z I W I B G O P A S E L D A O J I L E N K O H R N X O A W E K O H C E I N N Y B R N O N R S R G I N O E E L C N P S Y T O Z E R T W E

O D Y I C T H E C T P S S A O A D J Y U L E T I D E L F E F D O N K E Y A T A T T K S T L Q U D H G P Z M L S R B A U B L E N S N E S E G L O V E S N O S E O O S K Y X U S A N T A E L D N S T S C A R V E S R W D N A

Interchange

Wyoming Department of Transportation

5300 Bishop Blvd.

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340 Address

Pre-sorted Standard

U.S. Postage Paid

Cheyenne, WY 82009 Permit No. 24