January 2020 Interchange by WYDOT

Interchange January 2020

Vol. 48, Issue 1

Letters

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Vol. 48, Issue 1

Thanks for road condition updates

Compliments to WYDOT road crews

Hi, I’m sure this last week – month? – has been busy. I just wanted to take a minute to say THANK YOU! We were among the many stuck in Cheyenne for two nights last Friday and Saturday. We slowly drove home yesterday (Dec. 1). I wanted you to know that the 511 app was helpful and the online resources – webcams – were reassuring. While my husband is a more confident driver in times like this, I am not. Your resources helped us to make decisions that felt right for both of us. We both appreciate your willingness to shut things down when it isn’t safe. Thank you for your hard work keeping the roads – DRIVERS – safe and communicating with the masses. Hoping this week provides some rest! If not, please rest a moment in our gratitude!

Gentlemen, just a short note to say thank you and to compliment the great job done by the WYDOT maintenance crew over the past weekend. The amount of snow that fell along with the wind that blew Friday and Saturday made travel in/out of the Douglas area non-existent. When the storm subsided late Saturday afternoon/evening the crews went to work full speed and began getting roads open and passable. By mid morning Sunday when I traveled to Casper it was amazing how travelable the interstate was. This is a true testament to those individuals that are tasked with that job. That along with the forward thinking of road closures early played into the process going so smoothly. Again, Thank You for your staff and your efforts to keep Wyoming a safe place to travel year round but most specifically during the lengthy winter season. Wishing you and Yours a Merry Christmas and an amazing 2020.

Keep up the good work, Michelle Rooks, weary traveler Jackson, Wyoming

Interchange is published for employees of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspondents. Interchange invites submissions from all employees. Please send them to either your district correspondents or to: Carlie Van Winkle, Interchange editor 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009-3340 or send an email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

Staff WYDOT Director: K. Luke Reiner

Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee

Editor:

Carlie Van Winkle

Contributors: Aimee Inama J.L. O’Brien Carlie Van Winkle Vacant Jeff Goetz Stephanie Harsha Laura Dalles Cody Beers Sgt. Jeremy Beck

Ron Casalenda – Chief of Police Douglas Police Department

Heartwarming

Photography:

Grade-school student donates to WHP

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January 2020

Public Affairs

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

Recently, Zoey, a second grader from Kemmerer, decided she would donate her personal stuffed animals to the Wyoming Highway Patrol to give to people in unfortunate circumstances. She said she did not need the toys and would instead pass them along to someone else who does. Troopers often carry stuffed animals in their patrol vehicles for the sole purpose of comforting children who have been involved in a crash or traumatic incident. Zoey’s action embodies the word humility. She was willing to give up something that meant a lot to her at some point to help someone else in a time of need. Humility is one of eight WHP core values, and Zoey embodies it. Zoey’s kindness is sure to bring comfort to someone. n

Rick Carpenter

Public Affairs Public Affairs Public Affairs District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 Patrol

A WHP Trooper poses with Kemmerer second grader, Zoey. She donated her stuffed animals to the WHP with this heartfelt letter: “I’m doing this because I was going through my stuffed animals and realized there were ones that I didn’t need. At first, I did not know what to do with them but then I thought I could give them to Highway Patrol so if someone got in a car accident they might feel a little better. I really do hope that you like my idea!”

A WYDOT PUBLICATION

Contents

Features 12 Successful Shop-with-a-Cop events Many counties around Wyoming participated in 2019

14 Motorists rely on 511 system Storms prompt travelers to view web, mobile app

15 Fremont County-based group awarded Injury Prevention Resources lauded for efforts

16 Winter driving reminders Driving near plows requires care, patience

Also in this issue Letters.........................................................................................2 Heartwarming...........................................................................2 District briefs.............................................................................5 By the Numbers.......................................................................9 Aeronautics..............................................................................11 Training.....................................................................................17 District news...........................................................................18 Awards......................................................................................21 Extra Mile Awards................................................................. 22 WTDEA..................................................................................... 23 Outdoors................................................................................. 24 Break Time.............................................................................. 27

On the cover:

A distant and very cold view of US 287 north of I-80. Photo: Rick Carpenter

Kindly recycle this publication after reading. January 2020

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Letters, cont.

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January 2020

District Briefs Commission awards $22 million in contracts in December CHEYENNE – Construction crews will make improvements on 7 miles of WYO 120 between Meeteetse and Cody to improve the road surface. The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded a $5.5 million contract to Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell, for the work starting at milepost 74 in Park County. The commission awarded that and five other projects totaling $22 million at its recent meeting. For the WYO 120 work, crews will reconstruct about 2,000 feet of the road. For the other sections, crews will perform a mill and overlay and a level and overlay. They will also do slope flattening and drainage work in the area. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2020. Besides the WYO 120 work, the other contracts the commission awarded included bridge rehabilitation, patching and American with Disabilities Act (ADA) work. Reiman Corp., of Cheyenne, was the low bidder on a $4.7 million bridge rehabilitation contract. Crews will make repairs to nine bridges in Converse, Laramie and Platte counties. The contract completion date is July 31, 2021. The commission awarded S & S Builders, of Gillette, a $3.2 million contract for ADA work on Main Street (US 26) in Riverton in Fremont County. Crews will install ADA ramps at all intersections and make the sidewalk portion of the driveway less steep and more ADA accessible. They will also install a new traffic signal at Main Street and Major Avenue, upgrade the other signals along Main Street and upgrade the pedestrian crosswalk for rails to trails. The contract completion date is Nov. 30, 2020. Also awarded by the commission were contracts for: • $3.1 million to McGarvin-Moberly

Construction Co., of Worland, for patching work at various locations in Hot Springs and Washakie counties by Oct. 31, 2020; • $3 million to Kilgore Co. LLC (Lewis & Lewis Inc.), of Rock Springs, for patching work at various locations in Lincoln, Sweetwater and Teton counties by Oct. 31, 2020; and • $2.6 million to Cannon Builders Inc., of Blackfoot, Idaho, for bridge rehabilitation work with two projects on US 30 near Cokeville, one on US 191 across the Hoback River and one on US 191 across Flat Creek in downtown Jackson Hole by Dec. 31, 2020.

WYDOT temporarily closes Meriden rest area on US 85 CHEYENNE – WYDOT has temporarily closed the Meriden rest area off US 85 near Cheyenne because of an issue with the well water. WYDOT will likely need to drill a new well and is in the process of obtaining cost estimates and permits for the work. WYDOT anticipates the Meriden rest area closure will last at least a month. The rest area is 40 miles northeast of Cheyenne. For a complete list of all the rest areas in Wyoming, visit WYDOT’s rest area page at http://www.dot.state.wy.us/restareas.

Crews began work on signal system in Cheyenne CHEYENNE – Construction crews will start work on signal system improvements at College Drive and Southwest Drive in Cheyenne on Monday. The Wyoming Department of Transportation is installing a signal system at College Drive and Southwest Drive that will only be used during Frontier Days in July. WYDOT will put up signal heads during Frontier Days to accommodate traffic

using the new park and ride location, which is north of the Sinclair truck stop. The signal heads will only be in use during Frontier Days. WYDOT will remove them after Frontier Days is over and that area will not have the signal heads up throughout the rest of the year. Casper Electric Inc., of Casper, will complete the work, which includes boring, drilling, conduit installation and pole installation. WYDOT anticipates there will be lane/shoulder closures, but there will be minor impacts to traffic. Crews are expected to do the conduit work and the signal pole foundations work during the week of Dec. 16. Casper Electric Inc. crews will then return in January to set up the poles. After the poles are set, crews will then string the span wire across the road and perform tests on the signals. Once that is complete, the signal heads will be removed. The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded the $121,084.84 contract to Casper Electric Inc. at its November meeting.

Aeronautics Commission attended workshop, business meeting in Cheyenne CHEYENNE – The workshop began on Dec. 16 and the business meeting was held on Dec. 17. Both meetings were held at WYDOT Headquarters in the I-80 room of the Training building. During the workshop, commissioners heard an end of year overview for the Wyoming Aviation Capital Improvement Program (WACIP), federal eligibility and Priority Rating Model information. The workshop also included two airport sponsor presentations for Pinedale and Torrington with a short training on the newly implemented BlackCat Database system. At the business meeting, the commission voted on WACIP budget modifications for fiscal year 2020, the proposed budget for fiscal year 2021 and the proposed plan for fiscal years 2022-2025. Additionally, commissioners heard program updates. Following the meeting, the commissioners drove to the Loveland Airport in northern Colorado to tour the facility’s Briefs continued on page 6 January 2020

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Briefs continued from page 5 remote tower. Commission meetings are open to the public. The commission’s next meeting will be Jan. 23 in Cheyenne. For more information about the meeting agenda or the commission, please contact the commission secretary at (307) 777-4015 or visit the commission page on WYDOT’s website at www.dot.state. wy.us.

WYDOT receives $100,000 for Dry Piney wildlife crossing project CHEYENNE – The Greater Yellowstone Coalition donated $100,000 to the Wyoming Department of Transportation for a wildlife crossing project north of La Barge in southwest Wyoming. The money the Greater Yellowstone Coalition donated will be used for the Dry Piney wildlife crossing project. The project calls for installing underpasses, fencing and related improvements along a 28-mile stretch of US 189 between La Barge and Big Piney. “We want to thank the Greater Yellowstone Coalition for their generous donation,” said WYDOT Director K. Luke Reiner. “Dry Piney is one of our top priority projects. This project and others like it will help us with our vital mission of reducing crashes and improving highway safety for all.” Greater Yellowstone Coalition officials said they’re pleased they can provide additional funding for the project. The Coalition, which has offices in Jackson, Cody and Lander, Wyoming along with Montana and Idaho, works to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem through highway crossing projects like Dry Piney that allow animals to move across our roadways safely. “Not only will this project save thousands of deer over its lifetime in the struggling Wyoming Range herd, it’s also going to keep families safe on this stretch of road by reducing collisions,” said Chris Colligan, Greater Yellowstone Coalition wildlife program coordinator. “The Greater Yellowstone Coalition is pleased to support this project by helping secure local match dollars that leverage state and federal funds.” The Dry Piney project will help the

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January 2020

Wyoming Range mule deer herd as well as pronghorn, elk and moose movement. Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) estimates that this section of highway would be used by about 3,000 mule deer, 300 to 500 pronghorn, 100 to 150 elk and 50 to 100 moose, annually. Dry Piney is one area that WYDOT, WGFD and other stakeholders have identified as needing mitigation work to reduce crashes. “Projects like Dry Piney help us reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes in Wyoming,” said WYDOT Chief Engineer Shelby Carlson. “We’ve seen major improvements with the work done so far with other wildlife-vehicle collision mitigation projects. The Dry Piney project will provide safe passage for wildlife to cross under US 189 while traversing their historic migratory routes.” Besides Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a Casper-area family recently donated $25,000 to the fund. Additionally, WYDOT received a $14.5 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant for the Dry Piney wildlife crossing project. The Wyoming Transportation Commission and the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission also both contributed $1.25 million for a total of $2.5 million for Dry Piney. People interested in making a donation for wildlife-vehicle crash mitigation can send their donation to WYDOT at the following address: WYDOT Financial Services ATTN: Wildlife Crossing Donation 5300 Bishop Blvd. Cheyenne, WY 82009

Commission awards $54.7 million in contracts in November CHEYENNE – Motorists will soon see improvements to a 10-mile section of Interstate 80 between Cheyenne and Pine Bluffs. The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded a $18 million contract to Simon Contractors, of Cheyenne, for pavement and bridge work on I-80 near the Hillsdale interchange in Laramie County. The commission awarded that and 10 other contracts during its recent meeting. For the work on I-80, crews will pave the eastbound and westbound lanes and

install two new bridges. Crews will work on one direction of travel at a time. While that is occurring, traffic will be diverted into the other travel lane. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2021. Besides the I-80 work, the other contracts the commission awarded included paving work, bridge work, sidewalk repairs and signal installation. Croell Inc., of Sundance, was the low bidder on an $11 million contract for a paving and widening project on WYO 59 between Douglas and Gillette in Converse County. Crews will be resurfacing about 11 miles of road and will be installing a turning lane. The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is having the work completed to improve the driving surface and to make it safer for motorists by installing the turning lane. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2021. S & S Builders, of Gillette, won a $4.9 million contract for road and sidewalk work in Cody in Park County. Crews will grind and reseal the entire street to improve surface conditions and will upgrade the sidewalks to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The contract completion date is Sept. 30, 2021. The commission also awarded S & S Builders a $4.2 million contract to replace two bridges on US 14-16 between Buffalo and Gillette in Campbell County. WYDOT is having the work completed because the bridges are in need of replacement. The new bridges will be installed in the same locations as the old ones. While crews are doing the work, traffic will be detoured. The contact completion date is June 30, 2021. Reiman Corp., of Cheyenne, was the low bidder on a $3.6 million bridge rehabilitation project along I-80 in Uinta County. Crews will fix seven bridges that are in need of repairs by doing pavement work, bridge deck repairs and other work. The contract completion date is July 31, 2021. McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co., of Worland, won a $3.3 million contract for pavement and sidewalk work on US 20/WYO 789 in Thermopolis in Hot Springs County. Crews are doing the work to improve the road surface and to bring the sidewalks up to current ADA standards. The contract completion date is June 30, 2021.

Also awarded by the commission were contracts for:

Cheyenne Police Department assisted the patrol with this event.

• $2.9 million to McGarvin-Moberly Construction for a pavement project on 10 miles of WYO 789 between Creston Junction and Baggs in Carbon County by Oct. 31, 2020;

Law enforcement arrest six impaired drivers during the Border War Operation 2019

• $2.8 million to Reiman Corp. for bridge work on the I-180 viaduct in Cheyenne in Laramie County by June 30, 2021; • $1.6 million to Reiman Corp. for a bridge replacement project on County Road 18-261 over the Belle Fourche River in Crook County by Oct. 31, 2020; • $1.1 million to Reiman Corp. for bridge work at several locations in Laramie County by Oct. 31, 2020; and • $121,084 for signal work at College Drive and Southwest Drive in Cheyenne in Laramie County by June 30, 2020.

Pursuit ends safely east of Cheyenne CHEYENNE – A Colorado resident was taken into custody following a pursuit that took place Dec. 2. Nathaniel J. Garcia, a 19-year-old resident of Aurora, Colorado, was arrested after troopers were able to get the vehicle stopped safely east of Cheyenne. Around 10:23 a.m. WHP troopers were notified of a pursuit in Nebraska headed west on Interstate 80. The pursuit was approaching the Wyoming/Nebraska state line. The Nebraska State Patrol turned the pursuit over to the Wyoming Highway Patrol once they encountered the responding WHP units. The suspect vehicle reached speeds of more than 100 mph. WHP troopers were able to successfully deploy spike strips to deflate the tires on the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle stopped around milepost 367 on I-80 and the driver was taken into custody. The vehicle Garcia was driving was reported stolen out of Fort Collins, Colorado. Garcia faced charges of eluding, driving under suspension, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and reckless driving. He was booked into the Laramie County Detention Center.

LARAMIE – Law enforcement agencies in Laramie and Albany counties made 240 traffic stops, arrested six impaired drivers and made six arrests for controlled substances during the Border War Impaired Driving Enforcement Operation on Nov. 22. This was the fifth year that law enforcement in Wyoming and Colorado teamed up as part of a multi-state impaired driving enforcement operation, focused on the 111th meeting of the Border War football game. Traffic enforcement was concentrated on US 287, I-25 and I-80 since the game was played in Laramie this year. On the Wyoming side of the border, law enforcement issued 30 speeding citations, four seat-belt citations, 112 other citations, 112 warnings and arrested four people on other violations. Weather, in particular, the fog became a factor throughout southeastern Wyoming during the operation. There were no fatality crashes reported during the 14-hour operation. Agencies involved in Wyoming included the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Laramie Police Department, Albany County Sheriff ’s Office, University of Wyoming Police Department, Laramie County Sheriff ’s Office, Cheyenne Police Department and Wyoming State Parks. Agencies involved in Colorado including the Larimer County Sheriff ’s Office, Fort Collins Police Department, Loveland Police Department and the Colorado State Patrol.

WYDOT closes WYO 70 for the season SARATOGA – Wyoming Highway 70 over Battle Pass closed Dec. 2 for the season because of snowy conditions.

The exact closure is between mile marker 27 in the west and mile marker 50 in the east. Recent conditions have made it necessary to close the road for the season. WYO 70, along with WYO 130 in the Snowy Range, is closed annually in late autumn when relatively low traffic and deep snow accumulations render plowing operations impractical. In recent years, WYO 70 has closed on Nov. 13 in 2011, Dec. 8 in 2012, Dec. 4 in 2013, Nov. 24 in 2014, Dec. 14 in 2015, Nov. 28 in 2016, Dec. 23 in 2017 and Nov. 23 in 2018. WYO 130 closed this year on Oct. 20, and the decision to close the road for the season was made on Oct. 29. WYDOT crews will start working to reopen WYO 70 and 130 in the spring. WYO 70 and WYO 130 are two of several high-elevation mountain roads in Wyoming with seasonal closures. WYO 130 tops out at more than 10,800 feet, and WYO 70 crosses the Continental Divide at the 9,955-foot Battle Pass.

WYDOT, WHP and school district warn drivers to obey stop signs for school buses ROCK SPRINGS – WYDOT and the Wyoming Highway Patrol, along with the Teton County School District No. 1 reminds drivers to stop for school buses. Drivers can now be fined for violations that have been caught on camera. Currently, drivers who do not stop for flashing red lights on a stopped school bus can be fined $435. Recently, the Wyoming State Legislature added a subsection to the statute allowing law enforcement to ticket the registered owner of a vehicle identified by video and fine them $195 regardless of the driver of the vehicle. Currently, school busses are equipped with cameras to help identify violators. “So even if there is not a law enforcement presence there to witness the act, drivers can still be penalized for this unsafe behavior,” said Lt. Matthew Brackin

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WYDOT works with USFS to get bridge work done ROCK SPRINGS – WYDOT is currently working with the United States Forest Service (USFS) to schedule some bridge repair work in the Hoback Canyon. The bridge is experiencing what engineer’s call “scouring” or a change or removal of channel material around bridge abutments or piers. It’s usually caused by swiftly moving water and can scoop out holes around the base of the structure, compromising its integrity. WYDOT has determined that maintenance on the bridge is needed, which will include some slope protection work and installing rip-

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deteriorating and high-density polyurethane liners were applied to the culverts to prevent rusting ultimately prolonging the life of the culvert. Each culvert should last 50-plus years and the liner will also help prevent a deteriorating culvert from collapsing. Lining the culvert is a rather quick process – contractors piece the pipe sections together and then push/pull the pipe through the existing culvert and secure it in place. Approximately 4,800 feet of liner is to be installed in 21 culverts along I-90 at the cost of roughly $1.4 million.

Photo: WYDOT

from the Wyoming Highway Patrol. The Wyoming Highway Patrol recognizes that many of the rural bus stops in the state occur on state highways. If you’re driving on a two lane road, regardless of which direction you’re heading, when the school bus activates its red flashing lights, you are required to stop. You must stop before reaching the school bus and remain stopped until the red lights are turned off or the bus continues driving down the road. If you’re driving on a four lane road the same rules apply and you are still required to stop. Again, you must stop prior to where the school bus is stopped, and you remain stopped until the red lights turn off. In addition, drivers are required to stop in both directions on a five-lane roadway with a center turn lane. The only circumstance where you are not required to stop for a school bus is if you’re traveling on a divided highway or frontage road, you’re traveling in the opposite direction, and there’s an actual physical barrier separating your lanes from the lanes the school bus is in. This barrier can be a concrete divider or a grassy median. But even though you’re not required by law to stop in this situation, you should still use extreme caution as you drive by. Slow down and expect to see children. Also, the Wyoming Highway Patrol and Teton County School District No. 1 would like to urge drivers to slow down and pay attention in school zones. Drivers cited speeding in a school zone could pay fines of $110 to $360.

rap on the foundations of the structure, to alleviate the “scouring.” The bridge, located at Stinking Springs, right at the western mouth of the Hoback Canyon at Bryan Flats, is a crucial connection to the Teton Valley, as one of the three main routes in and out of Jackson. In addition, this bridge is located over the Hoback River, which is a protected wild and scenic river. The Wild and Scenic River Act strives to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values in a freeflowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. “The Wild and Scenic River Act requires us to be conscientious of the water flows and the surrounding landscape. We do not want to drastically affect the aesthetics or the physical characteristics of the river,” WYDOT District Engineer Keith Compton said. WYDOT has relied on the USFS to provide timely feedback and guidance on how to best meet those requirements. “We appreciate the forest service’s expertise on a project like this and rely on their knowledge to help guide the process,” Compton said. Work on the bridge will take place the summer of 2020 as part of a district-wide bridge rehabilitation project.

Contractors line culvert pipes with a highdensity polyurethane plastic to prolong the life of the culvert piping.

I-25/I-90 Buffalo marginal slab, bridge deck repairs completed

Photo: WYDOT

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Maintenance on the bridge at Stinking Springs is needed to alleviate scouring.

District-wide culvert lining project SHERIDAN – Motorists traveling on I-90 near Sheridan encountered lane closures along the interstate due to contract work along the right of way and the installation of culvert liners. The existing culverts began

BUFFALO – Temporary ramp and lane closures this past summer allowed contractors to complete a preservation project to replace deteriorating concrete pavement and perform bridge rehabilitation on the I-90/I-25 Interchange in Buffalo. Contractors repaired deteriorating bridge decks and expansion joints, installed friction surface and upgraded bridge rail to current standards. They replaced 275 slabs throughout the interchange. More than 6,300 square yards of concrete were used to pour these slabs. Due to the extent of the work, contractors closed each of the four ramps individually throughout the project and detoured traffic.

Garner Lake Phase II on track for 2020 completion GILLETTE – A majority of dirt work and placement of base courses is complete on approximately five miles of new roadway replacing the existing Garner Lake Road north of Gillette. Paving was completed on the north end tying into the Phase I project as well as a substantial part of the newly constructed alignment. There has been limited activity on the project through the winter with work resuming as soon as weather permits in the spring. Significant work scheduled for the 2020 season consists of the reconstruction and realignment of the Northern Drive-Garner Lake Road intersection and completion of the paving on the new alignment. Reclamation work will also be completed next year as well as the place-

Photo: WYDOT

GILLETTE – Contractors have shut down operations for the winter on WYO 50 between West Lakeway Road and Southern Drive. WYO 50 was widened to five lanes which required some extensive dirt work. Due to an unusually wet construction season, contractors had to employ some pretty creative project management to get the job as close as possible to completion by the end of the season. The majority of the dirt work, storm drainage and curb was completed in time to get the lower and intermediate lifts of asphalt paving laid down before temperatures dropped below minimum temperature requirements for paving. In addition to new curb and gutter and paving, permanent traffic signals were replaced and are functioning at the intersections of West Lakeway and West 4-J and Force Road. Work will resume as soon as weather permits next spring with completion of the sidewalks in this section as well as activity continuing south to widen the existing roadway from Force Road to Southern Drive. Work will continue through the spring with an anticipated completion of midsummer.

ment of a chip seal which will encompass both the Phase I and Phase II projects.

New alignment intersection of N Garner Lake Road and WYODAK.

New traffic signals installed in Gillette

New traffic signals at the intersection of Boxelder and Garner Lake Road in Gillette.

WYO 335 near Big Horn closed to traffic SHERIDAN – The Wyoming Highway Patrol assisted with the relocation of Briefs continued on page 10

Total number of employees: As of Dec. 2, 2019

1,962

GILLETTE – A new traffic signal was installed at the intersection of Boxelder and Garner Lake Road. The location of this intersection is near the entrance to the Cam-Plex, a multi-use complex flanking the eastern edge of Gillette. This was an Urban Systems project funded by the Commission. Urban systems funds are available to incorporated areas with a population of 5,000 or more and applied for by local urban systems committees within eligible communities. Although the award goes to the community, WYDOT oversees the construction of the project. The city of Gillette requested funds for this signal due to the significant amount of traffic carried by both Garner Lake Road and Boxelder. It was also necessary to aid in handling large traffic generating events held at the Cam-plex Multi-Event Facilities.

One month ago

1,937

One year ago

1,914

WHP

Photo: WYDOT

WYO 50 in Gillette on winter hiatus

Total number of highway fatalities: As of Dec. 10, 2019

142

One year ago

108

January 2020

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Briefs continued from page 9 a house near Big Horn on Dec. 18. In order to move the house, the WHP needed to close access to a five-mile stretch of WYO 335 in order for MDU and other utility companies to drop or raise power lines along the route. Local residents were notified by MDU of the temporary power outages which didn’t last more than two hours. The temporary closure began in the morning and lasted about eight hours. The closure was between mileposts 2 and 7 on WYO 335. Local traffic was directed to use Brinton Road or Bird Farm Road as a detour route during this closure.

WYDOT closes US 14A for season SHERIDAN – Due to strong winds, poor visibility and a projected five to eight inches of snowfall with blizzardlike conditions in the forecast, WYDOT implemented its seasonal closure of US 14A in the Big Horns on Nov. 27. WYDOT seasonally closes this 22-mile stretch of scenic mountain road in the Big Horn Mountains of north-central Wyoming at the end of the fall hunting season. According to WYDOT highway maintenance supervisor Dustin Hockett of Sheridan, heavy snows and relatively light traffic during the winter months makes snow removal of the mountain portion of US 14A impractical. WYDOT crews from both Lovell and Burgess Junction made one final sweep of the route to ensure all motorists were off the mountain and then closed the gates. The seasonal road closure gates are located at Burgess Junction (just east of milepost 98.1) and on the Lovell side of the mountain near milepost 76.04. WYDOT closes US 14A seasonally as a safety precaution rather than as a reaction to storms. This seasonal closure ties in with WYDOT’s mission of providing a safe, high quality, and efficient transportation system for the citizens of Wyoming. During this seasonal closure, motorists can use US 14 via Granite Pass and Greybull to travel to and from Sheridan or Lovell. WYDOT will open US 14A on or before Memorial Day weekend in May 2020.

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Avoid pushing snow into state highways RIVERTON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation issued a reminder that it is a violation of state law to place snow on state roads. WYDOT received many reports in December, across central and northwest Wyoming, of people pushing snow into the traffic lanes of state highways. “Shoveling or plowing snow into the roadway where it will obstruct traffic and make it dangerous to pass is illegal in Wyoming,” according to Riverton Maintenance Foreman Shane Pugh. State statute 36-10-401 stipulates anyone who obstructs a public road or highway, common street or alley, public bridge or navigable river in a way that makes it inconvenient or dangerous to pass is breaking the law. Each violation is punishable by a fine of up to $100 and a jail sentence of up to three months. “One way to take care of snow is to pile it on your property,” Pugh said. Other concerns: – Piling snow at the ends of driveways along highway shoulders and pushing snow across roads can create hazardous conditions;

– Piling or depositing snow that obstructs vision is a safety issue; and – Keeping sidewalks clear is important to help people walk safely out of the road. Another concern is when residents and businesses pile snow at the ends of driveways along the highway shoulder, Pugh said. This “banked snow” can reduce visibility for vehicles trying to enter the roadway. “When the snow banks get higher than your average car, it makes it very difficult for motorists to see other vehicles,” said Pugh. “Our crews work to keep the shoulders clear for motorists’ safety, and we need residents and business owners to do the same.” Leaving a trail of snow on the pavement while plowing across the road also can cause problems. The snow may become packed and create ridges on the road, or, as temperatures change, the area

may become icy. “Careless plowing creates an added hazard to unsuspecting motorists and to road maintenance personnel,” Pugh said. “Winter can be a difficult time to get around for those on foot, so please take the extra effort to clear your sidewalks and help everyone stay mobile and safe.”

Bid awarded on Cody’s Sheridan Avenue; project begins in March CODY – A Gillette contractor has been awarded a $4.93 million project to improve Sheridan Avenue in Cody beginning in March 2020. The Wyoming Department of Transportation and S&S Builders LLC, will hold a joint public meeting in February or early March for citizens and businesses, prior to the start of construction activities. S&S Builders LLC, of Gillette, was awarded the Sheridan Avenue concrete rehabilitation project on Nov. 21 by the Wyoming Transportation Commission. The Sheridan Avenue (US 14/16/20) project – between 10th Street and Stampede Avenue in Cody – was originally bid in September and all the bids were rejected by the Wyoming Transportation Commission. “A few items were changed on the project, and it was rebid in November and awarded,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Todd Frost of Cody. “This maintenance/repair project can’t be delayed, or the roadway will continue to deteriorate to the point where it will require full reconstruction. To date, no maintenance has been done on the street in 33-plus years.” The Sheridan Avenue project includes removing and replacing existing damaged concrete slabs, resealing existing concrete joints, grinding and texturing existing roadway, upgrading ADA at every corner between 10th Street and Stampede Avenue, and replacing broken curb and gutter and sidewalk. Changes to the Sheridan Avenue project include: – Phase I was changed (from complete all work from 10th Street to 15th Street by June 15) to complete all work from 10th Street to 14th Street by June 15; – Phase II was changed (from complete all work from 15th Street to Alger

Avenue after Aug. 24 prior to winter shut down) to complete all work from 14th Street to Alger Avenue through concrete grinding and texturing prior to 2020 winter shut down; – Phase III was changed (from complete all remaining work prior to June 15) to complete all remaining work except resealing joints and pavement markings on Phase II and Phase III prior to June 15, 2021; – Phase IV was added from Aug. 24, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2021, to complete all remaining sealing of joints and pavement markings. “WYDOT did add a $200,000 incentive to the project contract to complete all work on the project prior to June 15, 2021,” Frost said. “Changing these few items allowed WYDOT to receive lower bids on the project and should have minimal additional impact to the project.” As part of its contract with WYDOT, S&S Builders LLC, won’t be allowed to work on the project between June 15 and Aug. 24, and all construction equipment/ traffic cones will be removed from the project during this time. n

Aeronautics Pinedale airport to receive $5 million for improvements A Pinedale public-use airport will receive $5 million in supplemental federal funding to make improvements to the aircraft parking apron and fuel farm. The Ralph Wenz Field in Pinedale will receive the funding as part of a $485 million nationwide award announced by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao recently. The work includes expanding the apron and relocating and replacing the existing fuel farm with two, 15,000 gallon above ground tanks. Airports like the Ralph Wenz Field in Pinedale and others throughout the United States will receive the funding as part of the supplemental amount of $500 million for discretionary grants under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) statute.

“The robust economy is enabling more passengers to travel by air so this Administration is investing billions of dollars in America’s airports which will address safer airport operations, fewer airport delays and greater ease of travel for air travelers,” Chao said in a release on Nov. 22. In this recent round of awards, Pinedale was one of 108 airports to receive the supplemental funding. “Projects like these help the state provide a safe, efficient transportation system for the traveling public,” said Brian Olsen, WYDOT Aeronautics administrator. “We are pleased the Ralph Wenz Field will get this supplemental funding to make those improvements, which will only enhance aviation in that part of Wyoming.” According to WYDOT’s most recent economic analysis, 35 public use airports in the Wyoming Aviation System account for $1.4 billion in total economic activity and support more than 12,000 jobs annually. n

with Craig Blumenshine One on One with Governor Gordon: A Capitol Outlook Special Friday, February 7 at 7:30pm

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Fridays at 7:30pm beginning February 14 Repeats Saturdays at 6pm and Sundays at noon

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January 2020

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The Laramie County Shop-with-a-Cop event.

‘Shop-with-a-Cop’ events The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Laramie County Sheriff ’s office, Wyoming State Parks and Cheyenne Police Department teamed up once again this year for the Cheyenne area Shop-witha-Cop event on Dec. 20. The Shop-with-a-Cop (SWAC) program started in Laramie County by the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association (WHPA) in 2015 and involved the Cheyenne Police Department, Laramie County Sheriff ’s Office, Wyoming State Parks and the Wyoming Highway Patrol. The idea was to have the child shop with a law enforcement officer to build trust with our young people while assisting a family in need. Each child is given $100 to shop for themselves, with the officer, deputy or trooper. The staff selects the children in each school because they know the needs and stories of the young people in their respective buildings. In 2018, more than $9,400 was raised for this cause. Thirty-seven students were taken shopping and countless students were assisted with free lunches. School counselors, social workers and faculty are joining officers in donating to this cause. It is obvious they truly do care for the students and want to help those in need. Other businesses and individuals also expressed a desire to contribute to this program as well. To make this financial giving possible, the WHPA, a registered non-profit organization, established an account for the event making the donations tax-deductible. Any additional funds that come in will go to the school district to pay for school lunches for students who cannot afford to do so on their own. It is the hope of the Wyoming Highway Patrol that a child will never have to miss lunch again for the rest of the school year. It also helps fund the “Breakfast After the Bell” program at McCormick Junior High. These programs will keep on going through the remainder of the school year as long as funds exist. Each child is also provided with a complete Christmas meal to

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January 2020

take home to their families for a holiday, including a turkey and all the trimmings. The large food bags are coordinated by spouses of the officers who had raised additional funds, purchased the food and donated turkeys from the Laramie County Turkey Trot.

Goshen County The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Torrington Police, Lingle Police, Wyoming Game and Fish and Goshen County Sheriff were able to take 32 kids shopping at the Torrington Bomgaar’s for this year’s Shop-with-a-Cop. When the kids finished their shopping, they climbed aboard the Torrington Volunteer Fire Department trucks and rode across town to the Torrington Elks Lodge. Dominos and private donors provided dinner for the kids, including pizza, enchiladas, cookies and drinks. While the kids ate, volunteers wrapped the presents the kids had thoughtfully picked out. Families collected their kids from the Elks Lodge after dinner.

Photo: WHP

Laramie County

The Goshen County Shop-with-a-Cop was held at the Torrington Bomgaar’s. Dinner and gift wrapping was held at the local Elks Lodge.

Natrona County

On Dec. 7, WHP Troopers Carris, Hanssen, Russell, Vandenberg, Weitzel, Lt. Schlosser and Capt. Thomas participated in the Shop-with-a-Cop event at the Rock Springs Walmart. The Kiwanis Club organized this year’s event and agencies from Sweetwater County all joined in on the fun. Green River Police, Rock Springs Police, Sweetwater County Sheriff and Patrol shopped with 35 children from Green River and Rock Springs.

(From left) Capt. James R. Thomas; Tpr. Marc Russell; Tpr. Joshua Carris; Tpr. William Vandenberg; Tpr. Jon Weitzel and Tpr. Taylor Hanssen with a handful of Rock Springs children during the Shop-with-a-Cop event in Sweetwater County.

Park County Law Enforcement partnered to take 23 kids from Cody, Powell, Lovell, Cowley, Burlington and Meeteetse to Shop-witha-Cop for Christmas. Officers helped the kids wrap the gifts and then enjoyed pizzas which were provided by Papa Murphy’s. Big thank yous to local businesses and the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association for making this event happen.

Washakie County

Park County Shop-with-a-Cop helped 23 children find gifts for family members at the local Walmart.

The second annual Shopwith-a-Cop event in Weston County was held on Dec. 14 partnering the Wyoming Highway Patrol with Newcastle Police, Weston County Sheriff, Upton Police, Wyoming Game and Fish and the Wyoming Department of Corrections. The shopping happened at the Bomgaar’s in Newcastle. There were 43 children Kids with a shopping cart full of gifts from the 5th-grade classes and Lt. Tim Boumeester with a sled. from Upton and Newcastle that took part. The event began at 6 a.m. with breakfast for the kids at Grazer’s, followed by a law enforcement escort to Bomgaar’s where each child was given $50 to buy Christmas presents. n

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Photo: WHP

Members of the Wyoming Highway Patrol joined officers from Sheridan Police, Sheridan County Sheriff, Sheridan VA and Sheridan College Police at Walmart for Shop-with-a-Cop Dec. 14. In total, there were more than 90 children who attended and were given $50 each to purchase Christmas gifts for whomever they desired. The event ran from 8-10:30 a.m. A great time was had by not only the kids but every officer involved.

Sweetwater County

In Washakie County, Lt. Jeramy Pittsley (left) with a young lady after wrapping gifts and Tpr. John Hoffman with a young man out shopping.

Weston County

Sheridan County

Sheridan law enforcement joined forces with Santa and Mrs. Claus to help children find gifts at the Sheridan Shop-with-a-Cop.

Photo: WHP

Lt. Jeramy Pittsley and Trooper Hoffman along with Washakie County Sheriff and Worland Police, took eight kids shopping for Christmas throughout different stores in Worland.

Photo: WHP

Tpr. Adam Bruning in the toy department and Tpr. Sam Taylor amid Christmas trees both with happy children in Natrona County.

Photo: WHP

On Dec. 7, Troopers Taylor and Bruning participated in Natrona County’s Shop-with-a-Cop event. It took place at the west side Walmart in Casper from 9 a.m. until noon. Taylor and Bruning partnered with members of other local law enforcement agencies in bringing joy and happiness to some of Casper’s youth.

By Aimee Inama Motorists traveling in Wyoming during two recent winter storms relied heavily upon the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s (WYDOT’s) 511 travel information service. Motorists either called WYDOT’s 511 system or visited the wyoroad.info website to learn more about road closures and travel conditions during the storms on Nov. 25 through 26 and on Nov. 29 through Dec. 2. During both storms, interstates 25 and 80 and other primary roads were closed, with some closures occurring over a 24-hour period due to the severity of the conditions. Over an eight-day period from Nov. 25 through Dec. 2, the phone system received 60,074 calls for an average of about 6,675 calls per day. That number is higher than a typically winter day call volume. On Dec. 4, which had some road impacts like slick conditions, black ice and crashes, the 511 phone system received 1,136 calls. During that same storm time frame, the text-based web pages of the 511 system had about 67 million hits. On Dec. 4, there were 2.9 million hits. Motorists also relied on the map-based information. During Nov. 25 through Dec. 2, there were about 44.6 million hits. On Dec. 4, there were 925,265 hits. Additionally, there was a peak of 94 simultaneous calls coming into the 511 system during those storms from Nov. 25 through Dec. 2. That means that when call volumes were at their highest, there were 94 people calling into the system at the same time.

Photo: WYDOT

Motorists rely heavily on WYDOT’s 511 system during recent storms

When looking at data from a typical winter day, on Dec. 4, there was a peak of nine simultaneous calls. Average call length was about the same during the storms when compared to a typical winter day. The storm data time frame showed an average call length of 2 minutes and 27 seconds while the typical winter day (Dec. 4) showed an average call length of 2 minutes and 24 seconds. Wyoming Highway Patrol Dispatch also stayed busy during the recent storms. On Nov. 25, dispatch received 1,897 calls and responded to 111 motorist assists, 154 crashes and 37 hazards. When conditions deteriorated on Nov. 26, dispatch received 1,912 calls and responded to 122 motorist assists, 41 crashes and 31 hazards. During the next storm on Nov. 30, calls and incidents decreased. Dispatch received 1,775 calls and responded to 87 motorist assists, 15 crashes and 28 hazards. The next day on Dec. 1, calls and incidents then increased. Dispatch received 2,395 calls and responded to 183 motor assists, 90 crashes and 32 hazards. n

WYDOT’s Travel Information System is the one and ONLY source for up-to-the-minute road and travel information. Take road conditions with you. Get the WYOMING 511 app. www.wyoroad.info

Know before you go. Visit wyoroad.info. 14

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    

Know traffic hazards & road conditions before you go View highway webcams "Where am I?" function Hands-free, eyes-free function Easy to use

Available for free download at the Apple App Store.

Available for free download at the Google Play Store.

By Cody Beers A Fremont County-based organization was recognized by The Governor’s Council on Impaired Driving for its efforts to prevent impaired driving and impaired-driving related injuries and deaths. Injury Prevention Resources received the Governor’s Council on Impaired Driving’s Saving Lives Award on Dec. 4 in Casper. The Wyoming Department of Transportation’s workers at the Sundance Port of Entry and former Wyoming Attorney General Peter Michael also received awards during the GCID meeting. “Injury Prevention Resources (IPR) has been helping to save lives on Wyoming roadways for more than 20 years,” states IPR’s award nomination. “In the past 10 years, Injury Prevention Resources has used GCID media during events, DUI probation, and DUI Monitoring Programs to save lives. Injury Prevention Resources, combined with GCID efforts, is educating Wyoming citizens on DUI prevention in a comprehensive way.” IPR’s main program areas include DUI supervised probation, DUI monitoring, adult alcohol education events, child car seat educational events, Life R U Ready events and #RoadWarrior events. Between 2004-17, IPR has served 1,635 clients on DUI supervised probation, with a 67 percent successful completion rate. IPR’s DUI supervised probation work has had a 7 percent recidivism rate. Between 2011 and 2018, IPR’s DUI monitoring program has served 258 clients, with a 92 percent completion rate. Only 3 percent (7 of 258) have returned to the IPR DUI monitoring program. IPR’s adult alcohol education includes events where courtordered attendees are presented with local fatality data, with data focusing on impaired driving and lack of seat belt use, and guest speakers presenting stories of how DUIs have impacted their lives. Between 1991 and 2018, IPR has hosted 324 of these education events, with 11,612 attendees and 1,817 guests. IPR has served as the main child car seat inspection and distribution center for Fremont County since 2008. IPR statistics show 1,142 car seats inspected and 914 new car seats distributed since 2008. A noteworthy statistic provided by IPR shows that 86 percent of car seats are misused. IPR has helped coordinate Life R U Ready events in Sweetwater and Fremont counties since 2012. The events have served 3,529 students in Sweetwater County and 2,490 students in Fremont County. More than 1,560 volunteers have participated in the day-long safety events. Other IPR work includes: Prime For Life – early intervention classes; Gift of a Mothers Love car seat program; TV news

Photo: WYDOT

Fremont County-based Injury Prevention Resources receives ‘Saving Lives Award’

Injury Prevention Resources staff members include, back row from left: IPR Executive Director Noel Cooper; DSP Agent Nichole Kilgore; Work Learning Program Assistant Brianna Vastine; and DSP Agent Christl Bushkohl. Front row from left: Traffic Safety Events Coordinator Pamela Johnson; DUI Monitoring Coordinator Dawn Lymburner; and Executive Assistant Michaela Stark.

interviews, and social media and website presence for the sake of community safety; participant in annual highway safety/ pedestrian safety jamboree on the Wind River Reservation; operator/keeper of distracted driving simulators; coordinator with the Wyoming Department of Transportation on seat belt survivor awards, public safety rodeos, bicycle helmet distribution, and crash car displays; and #RoadWarrior events where highvisibility enforcement operations are highlighted. “Noel Cooper is a driving force/team builder behind these efforts to save lives in western Wyoming,” said WYDOT public relations specialist and GCID member Cody Beers of Riverton, who wrote the GCID award nomination. “Without his efforts and his organization’s involvement as a partner in highway safety, there would be a huge hole in Fremont County’s efforts to save lives. Beers has served as an appointee on The Governor’s Council on Impaired Driving since 2010. “The statistics speak for themselves. Injury Prevention Resources, under Noel Cooper’s leadership and his staff, help to augment the efforts of the Governor’s Council on Impaired Driving, WYDOT and other local organizations,” Beers continued. “We appreciate Noel’s work, his group’s passion for highway safety and DUI prevention and rehabilitation, and his organization’s can-do attitude.” “I personally offer a special thanks to Noel Cooper and Injury Prevention Resources for partnering to save lives in Wyoming. Together, we can continue to help people make good choices before they climb behind the wheel. Together, we are saving lives,” Beers said. n

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Winter driving, especially near snow plows, requires care, patience Are you prepared for winter driving? Some of the basic ways to be prepared include installing winter windshield wiper blades, checking headlights and tire pressure. When driving on ice, accelerate slowly – pretend that an egg is sitting under your gas pedal. To stop on the ice, remove your foot slowly from the gas pedal. If your vehicle is equipped with ABS brakes, step on your brakes when slowing. The braking system will help you stop on icy roads.

WYDOT maintenance professionals share their winter driving tips: – Make sure your vehicles are in top operating condition. – Bring along safety supplies and be prepared. Carry a sleeping bag, blankets, flashlights, non-perishable food, water, matches and fire starter, cell phone, a good shovel, flares and even sand or cat litter for traction. – Let someone know when you leave and when you’ll arrive at your destination. – Keep your gas tank full of fuel. – Drivers of some vehicles may want to carry tire chains. – If you’re stranded during the winter on the open road, stay with your vehicle. Your vehicle is your protection against winter weather, and staying with it offers your best refuge and protection of surviving a blizzard. If running your vehicle’s engine while stranded, make sure exhaust pipe doesn’t become plugged with snow. – And, know before you go. For Wyoming road conditions this winter, call 511, or log on to the web at www.wyoroad.info.

Winter driving requires a light touch and a cautious approach Winter conditions sometimes dictate that roads are closed to travel. Reasons may include snow depth, limited visibility, high winds and drifted snows. “We realize these closures may be frustrating if you’re traveling or late for an appointment, but the road has been closed for a reason. In winter, give yourself extra time to reach your destination without having to drive faster than the conditions allow,” said WYDOT District Maintenance Engineer Lyle Lamb of Basin. “Winter driving requires a light touch and a cautious approach.” Lamb said drivers should remember that it takes extra time to slow down or stop on slick roads. “Don’t use your cruise control, and drive at appropriate speeds. If you encounter poor visibility, slow down. Always slow down for safety. If you don’t have to go, don’t,” said Lamb.

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January 2020

Snow plows are huge machines, capable of moving tons of snow every minute. Operators of these snow plows are highly trained professionals. These snow plow professionals need cooperation from drivers so they can do their jobs and keep the road safe for drivers. Give them room to operate. “Stay well back from operating snow plows,” said Lamb. “They are spreading sand, anti-icing and de-icing chemicals on the roadway. It’s always a good idea to stay back from snow plows while their operators are doing their jobs.” With limited visibility, snow plow drivers can’t see vehicles behind them if the vehicles are too close to the plows. “Remember, the safest driving surface is behind the plow. If you must pass, don’t pass on the right into the plume of snow being moved,” Lamb said. “Be sure on two-lane highways that you have plenty of time to pass. Keep a close watch, as these huge plows often stir up their own whiteout conditions while doing their work.”

Snow plan helps WYDOT set priorities WYDOT maintenance crews have a plan of attack during winter storms. Limited resources, including a lack of manpower in some areas, require priorities to be made. A snow removal plan goes into action during storms, creating a prioritized list of routes based on traffic counts and school bus routes. This plan is divided into four levels: high volume, medium volume, low volume and closed. The snow plan is available at www.wyoroad.info. This website can also be used to access road and travel information, including web cameras and road closure information. High volume roads are plowed up to 24 hours a day, and usually consist of interstate highways and urban routes, such as I-80 in southern Wyoming. Medium routes are plowed to keep them passable and reasonably safe, and are a secondary priority to high volume routes. Low volume routes are only serviced after high volume and

Photo: Rick Carpenter

By Cody Beers

Training

WYDOT-U’s new computer lab Training Services is excited to announce the opening of our new computer lab. Actually, it’s YOUR new computer lab. With 16 student desks and an instructor station – all with recessed monitors that can be closed when they’re not needed – two large interactive viewing screens and a system designed for both video and audio conferences, it’s the perfect space to host any computer training you need. It can also be used for those TLN webinars where you want an entire group to participate – no more setting up a conference room and a projector. Just let us know and we’ll be happy to set you up in the computer lab. We’ve already hosted several events in the lab, including Driver Services training, Know WY Google and WELL training, CADD training and a couple of TLN webinars. Plus, it can be used as a regular meeting room, even if you don’t need the computers.

Beet juice works by basically stopping the ice and snow from bonding to the pavement during the storm, which allows WYDOT maintenance workers to plow off excess moisture easier and quicker, which clears roads faster. Pre-wetting roads helps WYDOT to provide safer conditions for drivers during the storm as well. This helps maintenance crews from spending excessive amounts of time chipping ice off highways throughout Northwest Wyoming. Supplementing beet juice mixtures in WYDOT’s battle against icy road conditions allows ice and snow to melt at lower temperatures, and also provides a preventative coating on the highways which lasts longer, giving crews a chance to get more snow and ice of the roads in a timely manner. “We try to prevent the snowpack from forming, but we can’t always do that,” Lamb said. While research verifies fewer accidents occur on treated highways, these de-icers and anti-icers can be sprayed up on vehicles from tires and wind. “After storms, we’d suggest washing your vehicle to minimize the effects of these chemicals,” Lamb said. n Information links may help plan your winter outings: – National Weather Service; https://www.weather.gov/ – WYDOT road conditions; www.wyoroad.info – WYDOT road conditions; 1-888-WYO-ROAD – 511 Notify; Dial 511 on your cell phone to obtain road information. This system can also be enabled to deliver road alerts as text messages to your phone or e-mails to your computer or phone on routes that the user identifies. Go to www.wyoroad.info and choose the 511 notify icon to set-up your account. In case of emergency, please contact for assistance: – Wyoming Highway Patrol (24 hours per day); (800) 442-9090.

Need to book the space? Just complete our Room Reservation Form – found on the WYDOT Training Services Intranet page – or by contacting a member of Training Services (Amy Bale, 256-3339; Rebecca McGee, 777-4790; Kurt Borgaard, 7774792; or Jim Boyd, 777-4791). n

Photo: WYDOT

medium volume roads have been cleared, and are only plowed during daylight hours. Closed refers to seasonally closed roads, where the cost of keeping them clear outweighs their use. Exceptions to the plan include school bus routes, which are plowed twice a day regardless of their priority. WYDOT uses liquid de-icers and anti-icers to battle ice on roads In the course of winter maintenance, WYDOT treats roads with liquid de-icers and anti-icers to keep ice bonding to our roadways, or to remove the ice if it has already formed. These mixtures include salt/sand, liquid salt brine, magnesium chloride and beet juice. When snowfall can be predicted, some of these chemicals are applied to roads before storms to help keep snowpack from accumulating, and to assist with the removal of snow after the storm. “We try to prevent the snowpack from forming, but we can’t always do that. Chemicals do help with the removal of the snowpack after the storm,” Lamb said. Other chemicals are used continuously to help battle snowpack and icy conditions. “We do what is called ‘pre-wetting.’ This is where we use a salt/ sand mixture that has been pre-wet with a chemical, usually salt brine (7 percent salt mixed with water). This helps the sand stick to the road,” Lamb said. Salt, or sodium chloride, is the most common and cheapest tool for fighting ice. Salt has an important role in ice removal. Using salt on roads lowers the temperature at which ice will melt, and helps to prevent the formation of ice at lower temperatures. But when temperatures drop below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, salt becomes ineffective. Another compound, GeoMelt, is another WYDOT tool for battling ice on our highways. Also known as beet juice, the sticky, red solution is composed of 60 percent salt brine and 40 percent beet juice, which gives it the red color. GeoMelt is often used as a preventative action when roadways are pre-wetted prior to storms.

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District News

Anne Pettrey retired on Nov. 30 from Port of Entry-Cheyenne office with 28 years of service to the state. Pettrey is a Cheyenne native who attended the University of Northern Colorado, earning a bachelor’s degree in medical technology with a chemistry minor in 1977. Pettrey worked for the Wyoming Department of Health for 17 years in the chemical testing program. She moved her career focus to the Cheyenne Police Department for Pettrey 13 years before moving to the Wyoming Highway Patrol Dispatch center in Cheyenne. Later, she found an opportunity as a Port of Entry assistant in Cheyenne. From 2011 until retirement, she was a Port of Entry compliance review auditor. n

Headquarters

Welcome

Materials-Concrete-IA.

Kyle Becker, Financial Services-Disbursements; Chad Bracken, Patrol-Safety and Training; Amanda Creathbaum, Driver Services-Policy and Records; Kimberly Hinker, Financial ServicesDisbursements; Alan Julian, AeronauticsFlight Operations; Erin Martin, Financial Services-General Ledger; Robert McConnell, Patrol-Safety and Training; Austin McDaniel, Patrol-Safety and Training; Janelle Melinda, Bridge-Engineering Design; Jason Robinson, Patrol-Safety and Training; Lindsay Steffen, Environmental Services; Jerrod Williams, Fuel Tax-Uniformity; Katherine Woods, Management Services; and Emily Worthan, Right of Way-Appraisals.

Promotions and Transfers Jenny Parsons, Patrol-Support Services Operation; and Whitney Wise,

Service Awards Laurie Morris, Financial ServicesPayroll – 15 years.

Retirements

Parsons

Cathi Lutz retired Nov. 3 from the Materials program with 33 years of service to WYDOT. Lutz, a Cheyenne native, attended Laramie County Community College and garnered an associate of applied science degree in computer science. Lutz began her career as a records and communications assistant with the Material program in November 1986. She remained in the Materials program until her retirement.

District 1

Welcome

Congratulations

Retirements

Sarah Guyott, Cheyenne Construction; Angela Kennedy, Rawlins Construction; Trenton Lytle, Rawlins Mechanics; Gerard Rakoczy, Rawlins Maintenance; Jeremiah Rogers, Rawlins Maintenance; and Michael Whisenhunt, Cheyenne Maintenance.

Jon Power, Cheyenne Mechanics shop, recently completed his last two Fundamentals of Service tests and received his Master Technician hat.

TyeKipp Fix retired Nov. 9 from Laramie Maintenance with 38 years of service to the state. n

Service Awards

Fix

Photo: WYDOT

Robert Robidoux, Rawlins Mechanics – 35 years; Craig Barthelmes, Laramie Mechanics – 25 years; and Joshua Blanchard, Port of Entry-Laramie – 15 years.

Power with his last two FOS test certificates.

Robidoux

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Blanchard

January 2020

Don’t be a flake. Buckle up.

District 2 Zachary Armstrong, Casper Mechanics; Serina Petty, Driver Services-Casper; and Paul Rosburg, Port of Entry-Casper.

Trooper Jason Sawdon earned an award from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for his investigation work that led to a vehicular homicide conviction in the death of a pedestrian in Fremont County. Multiple people were in the vehicle which struck the pedestrian, with no one admitting to driving. It was through Sawdon’s investigation the prosecution was able to determine the driver and ultimately lead to a conviction. He also received his 10year service award from Col. Kebin Haller at the same ceremony. Trooper Adam Bruning was awarded the Life-Saving Award from the American Red Cross. The Life-Saving Award is the highest honor recognized by the organization, and it was for Bruning’s quick and

Armstrong

Petty

Promotions and Transfers Pennie Bliss, Douglas Construction; and Martin Howard, Casper Maintenance.

Col. Kebin Haller congratulates Trooper Adam Bruning at the presentation of the American Red Cross award for “Extraordinary Personal Action.” Red Cross representative Jan Daugaard (right) was also present.

Photo: Jeff Goetz

ading! Re

Howard

Calvin Goddard, District 2 Maintenance Staff – 35 years; Patrick Maez, Douglas Patrol – 10 years; and Cody Smith, Douglas Patrol – 5 years.

le Afte yc

Service Awards

heroic actions at the Casper Recreation Center in June 2018. A member of the community had a heart attack, and Bruning and another citizen, Brad Reinhart, came to the victim’s rescue and administered life-saving CPR. n

Photo: Jeff Goetz

Congratulations

ease Re l c P

Welcome

Trooper Jason Sawdon received his 10-year service award from Col. Kebin Haller.

District 3

Welcome Goddard

Smith

Retirements James Barnes retired on Nov. 1 with 33 years of service to WYDOT. Barnes, a Wyoming native, attended Casper College and the University of Wyoming, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Barnes He began his career with WYDOT in August 1990 as a project engineer in Wheatland. He retires as the Douglas resident engineer.

Brian Beckermann, Rock Springs Mechanics; Lizabeth Porter, Pinedale Construction; Skeeter Sowders, Driver Services-CDL.

Promotions and Transfers James Brash, Wamsutter Maintenance.

Brash

Service Awards Dennis Hinton, Evanston Maintenance – 25 years.

Congratulations

Hinton

Ted Wells has accepted an interim appointment as the District Engineer for District 3. Wells will fulfill the role of DE until a permanent appointment is determined through the recruitment process. n

Wells

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District 4

Welcome

Service Awards

Retirements

Chester Christensen, Sheridan Maintenance; Harrison Farnes, TrafficElectrical; Marvin Fitzner, Gillette Mechanics; and Zachary Martini, Port of Entry-Gillette.

Roger Heaton, Sundance Maintenance – 15 years; Nocona Toth, Newcastle Construction – 10 years; and Jared Williams, Sundance Patrol – 5 years.

Mary While retired on Nov. 29 from the Sundance Port of Entry with 14 years of service to the state. She began her career as a clerk at the Sheridan/Dietz Port of Entry. Prior to her Port of Entry work, While had also worked in senior centers in her While hometown of Hanna and in Sheridan for more than a decade. She loves spending time with family and friends, and being in the mountains. Hopefully, she will have more time for all of that now that she’s retired. n

Promotions and Transfers Joseph Stetson, Gillette Construction District 4.

Christensen

Farnes

Stetson

Heaton

District 5

Promotions and Transfers Lew Fausett, Basin Traffic-Striping. Fitzner

Martini

Toth

Williams

WINTER TRAVEL TIP #5 ALWAYS CARRY A SHOVEL, ICE SCRAPER AND ABRASIVE MATERIAL SUCH AS KITTY LITTER. 20

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January 2020

Service Awards

Fausett

Shane Wilson, Thermopolis Maintenance – 20 years; Rebecca Hernandez, Driver ServicesThermopolis/Worland/Basin – 15 years; Chase Mead, Thermopolis Mechanics – 5 years; and Bret Moore, Basin Construction – 5 years. n Wilson

Mead

Moore

Awards By Aimee Inama Sarah Rickgauer, principal engineer – Pavement Management System at WYDOT, received the third place AgileAssets Excellence in Infrastructure Asset Management (AXIAM) award recently. Rickgauer worked with AgileAssets employees Kadi Bradfield, Sara Lei, Tanveer Hayat and Arif Beg in the development of this process. The award recognizes organizations that “demonstrate an innovative or effective use of AgileAssets software to solve an asset management challenge,” the AXIAM website indicated. WYDOT has been working with AgileAssets to expand on the current optimization of the department’s system to develop a way of looking at the entire network of managed miles in the State on 0.1 mile increments. These increments coincide with the 0.1 mile increments that are submitted to the Federal Highways Administration for the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS). “A table was developed to produce the information in a direct export that will be used for importing all of the data into HPMS,” Rickgauer indicated. “This table will also be used for historic record purposes for potentially analyzing individual sections in future years.”

Photo: WYDOT

WYDOT’s Sarah Rickgauer receives AXIAM award

WYDOT Materials Pavement Engineer Sarah Rickgauer receiving the Axiam Award from Agile Assets President and CEO Stuart Hudson.

In producing the system to run on 0.1 mile increments, WYDOT is able to project what each of its systems will look like in upcoming years based on decision trees that incorporate the ratings submitted for HPMS. WYDOT will be able to use these optimization results to produce possible shortfalls in the system. As per federal guidelines, states are required to submit and adhere to targets set for each system based on the full distress data. The optimization analysis on 0.1 mile increments allows for producing projections based on current funding which are used in setting the target values. n

Sundance Port of Entry officers lauded The officers at the WHP Port of Entry in Sundance were recognized on Dec. 4th by the Governor’s Council on Impaired Driving for their efforts in encouraging and promoting sustainable programs to prevent impaired driving and impaired driving related injuries and deaths. In 2018, the Sundance Port identified 33 commercial vehicle operators with detectable amounts of alcohol coming from them. Of those 33 drivers, 12 were turned over to troopers for further investigation for possible impaired driving with the majority of the remaining 21 drivers being placed out of service for having a detectable amount of alcohol in their system. The Port of Entry officers’ efforts were a major accomplishment in increasing highway safety by removing these drivers from Wyoming highways. n

Photo: WHP

IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE DO THIS

From left: Port of Entry officer Teresa Sutton, Port of Entry supervisor Barb Pierson, Col. Kebin Haller and Lt. Col. Shannon Ratliff were on hand at the Governor’s Council on Impaired Driving awards ceremony.

MOVE OVER. IT’S THE LAW January 2020

Interchange

Ski trip? Beach vacation? Hunt lately? Get those photos in!

WTDEA Headquarters Christmas Party and Member of the Year thanks Many thanks to everyone who attended the Headquarters Christmas Party at the new Cheyenne Frontier Days Events Center on Dec. 6. The chapter sold 144 tickets and a great time was had by all. DJ Damion Aldana provided the soundtrack and amazing food from G-Licious BBQ was served.

The party would not have been a success without the hard work by Antonia Torres, Yoli Pacheco and their support committees. Many thanks to WyHy and WYDOT programs and individuals for donating great raffle prizes and gift baskets. Each year, an outstanding chapter member is nominated and voted on by other members. The 2019-2020 WTDEA Member of the Year is Chelsey Lindsay of the Budget office. Congratulations to her and thanks for all of her tireless volunteerism. n

Outdoors photos deadline:

03/15/20

The Financial Services Program went all out – decorating their offices as Whoville and dressing as the whimsical characters from the beloved children’s story.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

WYDOT salutes the following Director’s Extra Mile Award recipients. The award is presented to individuals who have traveled the “extra mile” in service to WYDOT.

The Gillette office shared photos of their Christmas potluck complete with Santa. From left: Cassandra Kaul, Bill Torrence, Doug McLean and Nicki Wilson.

Photo: WYDOT

Congratulations to our December recipient!

Photo: Rick Carpenter

carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

Vince Cavanaugh

Photo: WYDOT

For more information about the Extra Mile Award or to nominate someone, contact Katherine.Castaneda@wyo.gov. The Gillette Construction office’s decorated lobby. Nicki Wilson at the front desk.

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January 2020

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Compliance and Investigation and their Olaf theme took Best Door.

Cassandra Kaul, Bill Torrence and Nicki Wilson in front of a snow plow ready for the Gillette Parade of Lights.

The Maintenance Program garnered honorable mention for Best Theme – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

The Materials Lab lobby dressed up as a cozy family room earning them Most Creative honorable mention.

Photo: WYDOT

Driver Services took Best WYDOT Theme.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Right of Way with their Candyland theme took Best Program Decoration.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

The Headquarters WTDEA chapter once again held its Christmas Decorating Contest. The 2019 winners were: Best Program Decoration – Right of Way, Candyland theme; Best Door – Compliance and Investigation, Olaf; and Best WYDOT Theme – Driver Services front counter. Two honorable mentions were also given. Best Theme honorable mention – Maintenance, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation; and Most Creative honorable mention – Materials Lab, cozy foyer. Thank you to all of the programs who participated in the decorating contest at headquarters, and thanks to the districts for sending in their photos of holiday cheer as well. n

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Holiday cheer

The Mailroom cleverly dressed up their door with “Letters to Santa.”

January 2020 n

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Photo: Sandy Scott

This great horned owl was spotted in Cheyenne in one of Sandy Scott’s cottonwood trees back in October. Scott is WYDOT’s Transportation Commission secretary and Legislative liaison.

Photo: Shannon Ferree

Rock Springs Engineer Chase Cimburek harvested this 7 x 7 elk with a broken left tine this past elk hunting season.

Photo: Chuck Engbretson/Brandon Patton

Photo: Chase Cimburek

Outdoors

Compliance and Investigation employee Shannon Ferree harvested her 2019 antelope, scoring a 75. Her husband, Cliff, helped her put a stock on him and got the job in one shot. She also had the best little hunting buddies along: her sons Waylon, 4; and Cannon, 2 months. She loves making memories with her family and putting food on the table.

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n January 2020

WHP Equipment Coordinator Chuck Engbretson and his son-in-law, IT Application Support employee Brandon Patton, posing next to Patton’s first bull elk, a 5 x 5. The duo found the elk near the Wyoming/Colorado border in Albany County.

Photo: Laura Steege

Right of Way Project Manager Amy Lambert submitted this photo of her son, Caleb, with his first pheasant. Caleb is 12-years old and very proud of his accomplishment.

Photo: Gary Krause

Photo: Amy Lambert

In October 2019, Cheyenne Driver Services employee Laura Steege visited the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. The trees are completely cloaked in their fall splendor at Blue Mountain Lake.

Photogrammetry and Surveys Imagery Supervisor Gary Krause won the Wyoming Cares Grand Award at the Rocky Mountain Art Show and Auction last May. “Moose Haven” is an 11” x 14” acrylic painting.

January 2020 n

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January 2020

Break Time See if you can find the following 25 words hidden in the grid to the right: Blizzard

Mittens

Cowley

Moose

Elk Basin

New Year

Firewood

Reno Junction

Freezing

Resolution

Frozen

Scarf

Glenrock

Skiing

Hartville

Slippery

Hot Chocolate

Snowy

Icicle

Turnerville

Jacket

Walcott

Jeffrey City

Winter

Kemmerer Answer to the December 2019 Break Time word search:

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

B I Z U O L L N L H N S E O L C O C O P E M H L I N N O E R S O M O Y J T

P Y S O D O A S A S A V Q S T I H C I T E R O T I W R G N O E E E U S E E

P E N N S D N M H O T C H O C O L A T E Y R E L K B A S I N L A V H A F P

M L P E O O Y D A S A O N I T S O L P O G C I S E E P A P N K O S A G F Y

W U O O W W N S O S O W G E T I H L D P L L R N O S O T O F E Y G L N R T

L A F Y T Y B F E C T L A H E E M A B E Y A A A G L K L A N O R E W O E R

N I D F E T E O L A K E S S O D Z E R O W N T S M B U I S A Y S A R Y Y E

S I O E L E E A A A S Y N T P S T E S T X A E E T N R T N O T L T H I C N

C T C N R E B R R R K F W O K A T O N S V E L W S O I E I E C I A S N I N

F O R E S S R E S E D E A I O I S O R I Q I S T Y O N N A O N P D Y G T A

A L L A I T F G I V L I I L N S C N F E N U L A B A G B T K N P T Y A Y L

T V U D T C I I L N I N N M L T E Y O C L T A L R R R T U S I E I E R S P

Q I A S N E I G S O G L D G I P E S S W H A O R E E A O O R S R E R I E A

U S M C E O G C E H V B L A R S L R E N O J U N C T I O N N Y Y R N W N V

E C T E C A S I L R I E O E N O S A A D R S A X Y E R I N B E E O A I O E

S A I A S I S E C E S N S O F G B O C T I F T C A O B E L D L R N T S C T

T R M N K S N O S M S B G L T I E I U K L R I R K L U A D D I I F G E K E

S F N I S E Q A N A E J E B O S R R N R E A O D A E I R L A K S Z O L B O

A K R E N N Y U T Y F S A A R S W E W S I T S N A N T T L E N I Y Z R A O

L V I O W U E O A I E E M C R I T O W I O S E L M Y G R M I L D C E A T N

P L A S Z Y T U R N E R V I L L E I R O L N L A D A N M O O S E B O L R O

L E I L S E O E V V R O N E T K S D N K O L L Z Y O E G G I T F D L T L D

O L O K A U N R R E I E N E R T F O G S F D T I F R E E Z I N G E R A T O

E V A P S N I S K O N T C T E I E R H E P L W U E V H I I N G S L N O C S

R G L E N R O C K X M I A R W D S N O M Y A O R R R A C A N E S T E O P K

T H E L E H C E S S E E C M O D N H S S Y S C E E N C A N D Y G O M S W P

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January 2020

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Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd. Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340 Address Service Requested

Pre-sorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Cheyenne, WY 82009 Permit No. 24