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District Briefs
from Interchange – February 2023
by WYDOT
Headquarters Commission awards nearly $38.6 million in contracts in January
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded almost $38.6 million in contracts for seven Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects during its January 19 regular business meeting.
The commission awarded a $10.7 million bid to Simon Contractors based out of Cheyenne for a project involving paving, concrete surfacing, traffic control, bridge rehabilitation, milling and other work on about 4.3 miles of both eastbound and westbound Interstate 80 in Laramie County. The contracted completion date is August 31, 2024.
Mountain Construction Company, based out of Lovell, was awarded a $5.6 million bid for a project involving paving, traffic control, chip seal, milling, grading, drainage, guardrail work and other work on approximately 9.8 miles of Wyoming Highway 294 in Park County. The contracted completion date is June 30, 2024.
The commission awarded a nearly $128,000 bid to Casper-based Casper Electric, Inc. for a project involving electrical work, signing, traffic control and other work on US Highway 14A in Big Horn County. The contracted completion date is October 31, 2023.
Four of this month’s awarded projects went to out-of-state contractors:
• Montana-based Riverside Contracting, Inc. was awarded an $11.3 million bid for a project involving paving, traffic control, grading, milling, structure rehabilitation, drainage and other work on about 8 miles of both northbound and southbound Interstate 25 in Johnson County. The contracted completion date is June 30, 2024.
• North Dakota-based Northern Improvement Company was awarded a nearly $8.1 million bid for a project involving paving, grading, traffic control, milling and other work on about 16.7 miles of Wyoming Highway 50 in Campbell County. The contracted completion date is October 31, 2023.
• Idaho-based H-K Contractors, Inc. was awarded a $1.5 million contract for a project involving paving, chip seal, traffic control and other work at various locations within Sublette and Sweetwater Counties. The contracted completion date is August 31, 2023.
• Minnesota-based Bituminous Paving, Inc. was awarded a $1.1 million bid for a project involving paving, chip seal, traffic control and other work at various locations within Albany and Carbon Counties. The contracted completion date is August 31, 2023. All of this month’s awarded projects are primarily funded with federal dollars. Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bid.
WHP offers unprecedented incentives for new trooper applicants
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Highway Patrol is offering a shortened academy for pre-certified law enforcement and higher pay for applicants.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) is excited to offer an exceptional opportunity to become a Wyoming State Trooper. The patrol provides lateral officers with a shortened onboarding-style training as part of ongoing recruitment efforts. This shortened training is unprecedented for the WHP. It gives an applicant a chance to transfer to the patrol from another agency and return to the road in as little as four weeks. This training also provides an applicant with an easier transition without causing a significant strain on their family.
The WHP is also offering new applicants more pay. The new pay will be around $4 more per hour for new hires and an extra $2 more for officers professionally certified within Wyoming or the equivalent in another state. The patrol has openings throughout the state, so now is a great time to apply.
“We want to be able to attract the best people possible,” said Sgt. Jeremy Beck with the Wyoming Highway Patrol. “We’re looking for talented, dedicated in- dividuals who want to make a difference in their communities – and we’re offering them an unprecedented opportunity to do just that.”
The Wyoming Highway Patrol will also provide free housing for applicants at our live-in academy, paid-for equipment, uniform, and meals provided each day at no cost to the recruit. These new incentives make it an excellent opportunity for a potential applicant to become a part of a pristine agency and to be able to earn the title “Wyoming State Trooper.”
The application process will cover a written entry test, oral board evaluations, physical agility testing, psychological testing, and truth detection test. These individual tests give each applicant a chance to truly show their best qualities to the evaluators so they can become one of Wyoming State’s finest law enforcement officers.
“The greatest part of being a Wyoming State Trooper is the freedom we have each shift to decide what our role in public safety will look like,” said Capt. Dave Wagener, a 21-year veteran.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol’s mission is “To serve and protect the traveling public while earning their trust and respect through compassion and professionalism.”
District 2 WYDOT hosted I-25 Casper Marginal Bridge Reconstruction public open house
CASPER – The Wyoming Department of Transportation hosted a public open house Jan. 26 at the WYDOT Casper office to discuss an upcoming project to replaced four Interstate 25 bridges and the F Street bridge over the North Platte River.
The project is set to begin this construction season and will replace the aging structures; three over the North Platte River and two over Center Street. The project includes new road surface between the interstate structures along with landscaping, lighting and intersec- tion upgrades.
The project covers 0.97 miles and is expected to take two years to complete. WYDOT has programmed $50 million for the project, however a true cost won’t be known until the project has been let to contract.
This construction project is the third of four phases rehabilitating I-25 through Casper. Once this phase is completed, the final phase will tie all of the previous work together with new pavement between the Walsh Drive bridge and Center Street, and the addition of weave lanes between Bryan Stock Trail and Center Street.
The public was welcome to attend the open house. There was no formal presentation, instead project engineers and others involved were on-hand to discuss the project and answer questions.
The project will be let to bid in February.
Traffic flow details about the project: there will be traffic diversions, lane reductions, speed reductions, detours and delays associated with construction.
Construction on the interstate will affect one direction at a time. Ramps will function normally unless they are under construction then temporary ramps will be installed.
While southbound work is underway, there will a detour ramp to Center Street from southbound I-25 between Kimball and Park streets on the south side.
Work on the northbound lanes will necessitate the closure of the F Street bridge. Access to businesses will have signed detours.
District 5
Fremont County DUI Task Force arrests 16 during new year’s weekend operation
RIVERTON – Over the New Year’s holiday weekend, a Fremont County multi-agency impaired driving enforcement operation resulted in 170 traffic stops, 16 arrests of impaired drivers, and five controlled-substance arrests.
While the focus was on impaired driving, the Fremont County DUI Task Force issued 22 speeding citations, 53 citations for other offenses and made 22 other arrests. The task force issued 48 warnings during the 5-day operation. The task force also wrote “no seat belt” citations and child restraint citations.
SafeRide operated by the Wind River Transportation Authority provided rides home on New Year’s Eve to party goers. Social media was used to promote this new service, as well as newspaper articles and internet-based news sites. Event fliers were also distributed to local bars and establishments promoting SafeRide. On New Year’s Eve, 14 people in Lander and four people in Riverton were given safe rides home.
During 2022, 10 fatal crashes and 11 traffic-related fatalities occurred in Fremont County. Seven of the 11 fatalities were alcohol related. During 2022, 51 alcohol-related crashes occurred in Fremont County.
During the New Year’s weekend operation, one fatal crash occurred in Fremont County; it was weather related and did not involve an impaired driver.
The Fremont County DUI Task Force includes the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the Lander, Riverton, Shoshoni, and Wind River police departments.
The purpose of the Fremont County DUI Task Force is to reduce fatal crashes through the enforcement of impaired driving and seatbelt laws. These enforcement efforts are supported by a media campaign that stresses law enforcement’s zero-tolerance stance on impaired driving and commitment to seat belt enforcement.
The Fremont County DUI Task Force will be at work again over Super Bowl™ weekend in February.
The Fremont County DUI Task Force recommends safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use SafeRide;
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact Fremont County law enforcement or dial 911; and
• Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and plan to get your friend home safely.
Total number of employees: As of Jan. 11, 2023
1,759 One month ago
1,771 One year ago
1,845
Total number of highway fatalities: As of Jan. 19, 2023
4 One year ago 1