March 2017 Interchange by WYDOT

Interchange March 2017

Letters

Jackson area maintenance employees appreciated Citizens in heavily snow-packed areas of this state are extremely pleased with the hard work put in by WYDOT maintenance staff to keep the roads clear and safe. Thank you notes were plentiful after bad weather and avalanches plagued the northwest corner of the state.

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Vol. 45, Issue 3

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. The Public Affairs Office may also be contacted by phoning (307) 777-4165, or sending email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

Staff WYDOT Director: William T. Panos

Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee

Editor: Carlie Van Winkle

Contributors: Aimee Inama J.L. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien Carlie Van Winkle Matt Murphy Jeff Goetz Stephanie Harsha Ronda Holwell Cody Beers Sgt. David Wagener

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

Photography: Rick Carpenter

Public Affairs

Be sure to check out the online version of Interchange at http://issuu.com/wydot.pao or click on the link found on the employeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internal website home page.

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a n

March 2017

DOT publication

Contents

Features 7 2016 WYDOT customer satisfaction Survey returns favorable results

10 Blood Runs Patrol provides life-saving service with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;blood runsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

12 Avalanches hamper driving Snowslides in western Wyoming close highways

Also in this issue Letters.........................................................................................2 District briefs.............................................................................4 By the Numbers.......................................................................6 Noteworthy................................................................................8 District news...........................................................................16 Awards......................................................................................19 Extra Mile Awards................................................................. 20 Training at a Glance............................................................. 20 WTDEA......................................................................................21 Break Time.............................................................................. 23 On the cover:

A snowslide covers US 26-89 in Snake River Canyon. Photo: Stephanie Harsha

Kindly recycle this publication after reading. March 2017

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District Briefs Commission awards $12 million in highway contracts in February

CHEYENNE – Motorists driving on a section of US 16 between Ten Sleep and Buffalo will soon experience a smoother pavement surface. The Wyoming Department of Transportation will smooth the pavement by removing the ruts on 9 miles of US 16 in Big Horn and Washakie counties. The work on US 16 will also include guardrail upgrades. WYDOT will pay for the project using 10-cent fuel-tax revenue. The contract completion date is Oct. 31. The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co., of Worland, the $3.3 million contract during its meeting on Feb. 16. The commission awarded that contract and seven others totaling $12 million. The commission also rejected all bids for the reconstruction of almost 4 miles of road between Hoback Junction and Jackson in Teton County. Project plans and specifications will be revised and the project re-advertised. The rest of the contracts the commission awarded include road surfacing work, guardrail improvements and variable speed limit sign work. The road surfacing work is part of WYDOT’s strategy designed to preserve the state’s investment in its infrastructure. The work consists of making repairs to the top section of the road without having to reconstruct it completely. The commission awarded Streamline Markings Inc., of Billings, Montana, a $2 million contract for an epoxy-striping project along several high-traffic roads such as Interstate 80. Epoxy striping paint is more durable and lasts longer, which is why WYDOT crews use it in high-traffic areas. The contract completion date is Oct. 31. Cache Valley Electric Co., of Salt Lake City, won a $1.6 million contract to install several variable speed limit signs on I-80

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March 2017

between the Utah state line and Evanston. The work will also include a road closure system on the onramps to I-80 from US 189 and a side-mounted dynamic message sign near the junction of US 30 and US 189 south of Kemmerer. The contract completion date is Nov. 30. Simon Contractors of Cheyenne was the low bidder on a $1.5 million pavement overlay project on 6 miles of WYO 335 between Big Horn and Red Grade in Sheridan County. The work will also include bridge repairs where crews will chip out bad concrete and overlay the driving surface with an epoxy and rock mixture. The epoxy will hold the rock together and seal the bridge deck. WYDOT will pay for the project using 10-cent fuel-tax revenue. The contract completion date is Sept. 30. The commission awarded McGarvinMoberly Construction a $1.1 million contract for a 6-mile pavement improvement project on US 20-26 between Moneta and Shoshoni in Fremont County. Crews will smooth the surface to address the ruts. WYDOT will pay for the project using 10-cent fuel-tax revenue. The contract completion date is Aug. 31. The commission also awarded: n $994,284 to Knife River, of Cheyenne, for a 6-mile pavement improvement project on WYO 434 and County Road 82 between Worland and Ten Sleep in Washakie County by Aug. 31; n $901,110 to Advanced Electrical Con-

tracting Inc., of Sheridan, to install several variable speed limit signs and road weather information systems on Interstate 90 between Buffalo and Sheridan by Oct. 31; and

n $778,040 to S & L Industrial, of

Cowley, for guardrail removal and upgrades in several areas in Carbon and Sweetwater counties by Oct. 31.

Panos testified before U.S. Senate committee CHEYENNE – WYDOT Director William T. Panos testified before a U.S. Senate committee on Feb. 8 about challenges and opportunities regarding surface transportation from a rural perspective. Panos testified before the Senate

Committee on Environment and Public Works. U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., chairs the committee. Panos’ testimony highlighted the unique funding issues rural states face, especially related to public-private partnerships (P3s), debt and other innovative financing techniques, as well as national implications linked to the investment in rural transportation infrastructure and rural connectivity. His remarks stressed the national importance of continued rural state formula funding, the need for increased flexibility, the advantages of decreased regulations and opportunities to better serve both state and nationally significant priorities. Panos submitted written testimony to the committee, which provided greater details about his oral presentation, and shared concerns and priorities from Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Melting snow closed US 287, increased stream flows in Fremont, Hot Springs, Park counties RIVERTON – Melting snow closed US 287 Feb. 9 from increased stream flows in Fremont County, Hot Springs, Park counties and other areas. Rapidly rising temperatures began melting winter snow quickly leading to localized flooding, increased streamflows, and causing a short closure of US 287 on the north edge of Lander. The Lander highway closure was caused by swelling flows in Squaw Creek; water left the banks of Squaw Creek and flowed through the Museum of the American West and Pioneer Museum parking lots, across US 287 and through the parking lot of KOVE-KDLY radio station. Northbound and southbound traffic was rerouted to North Second Street and Milford, and the highway was reopened to traffic by 8 a.m. Feb. 10. School was canceled in Lander as the Lander area near Lander Valley High School was seeing localized flooding in homes from the melting snow.

Avoid pushing snow into state highways

“The jam pushed out Feb. 20, and water levels are dropping,” said WYDOT District Engineer Pete Hallsten of Basin. “The town never got wet, but the water came up into the US 16-20 highway rightof-way. The water was still two to three feet below the roadway.” The ice jam, which flooded parts of the Worland area last week, continues to move down the Big Horn River toward Manderson and Greybull. On Feb. 21, it remained a couple miles above Manderson. Big Horn River flows through Worland, Manderson and Greybull are high but are currently within the river channel. “Frost is leaving the ground, so runoff water is being absorbed into the ground,” Hallsten said. “So even as the melting picks up, the runoff is subsiding. Most of the low-lying snow is melted throughout the Big Horn Basin.” WYDOT will continue to provide support to local and state agencies by providing sand for sandbags and concrete barrier if the water continues to rise in the Big Horn River. “Our main concern remains the ice jams on the Big Horn, and how the ice might impact the towns and our river crossings associated with bridges,” Hallsten said. “We are in a waiting game to see what happens,” said WYDOT District Maintenance Engineer Lyle Lamb of Basin. “We all appreciate S & L Industrial’s aid. We will continue to support communities along the Big Horn River.” In other areas of central and northwest Wyoming, snow-melt water also impacted the Little Popo Agie River near WYO 789, the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (WYO 296) and Owl Creek near WYO 170 northeast of Thermopolis. Water from the Big Horn River was also flowing over the top of river ice near Worland.

RIVERTON – WYDOT issued a reminder that it is a violation of state law to place snow in state roadways. WYDOT had received many reports in February across 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,” said Riverton Maintenance Foreman Robin Clapp. 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,” Clapp said. Other concerns: n Piling snow at the ends of driveways along highway shoulders and pushing snow across roads can create hazardous conditions; n Piling or depositing snow that ob-

structs vision is a safety issue;

n And keeping sidewalks clear is impor-

tant to help people walk safely out of the roadway.

Photo: WYDOT

WYDOT provided sand-bagging support for flooding caused by ice jams along the Big Horn River in Worland, near Manderson and Greybull. The flood prevention efforts included transporting and placing concrete barriers, providing sand for sandbagging operations, transporting and placing filled sandbags, closing roads when necessary for safety, inspecting bridges, and advising officials on flood control efforts. WYDOT hauled concrete barriers to Worland from Ten Sleep, Shoshoni and Basin. Three WYDOT trucks and their drivers resupplied sand to sand-bagging locations near the Big Horn River, and concrete barrier was hauled to Worland. In all, 56 sections of concrete barrier have been hauled to Worland in the sandbagging effort. The morning of Feb. 13, two WYDOT trucks with trailers helped move pallets of sand bags to the different areas in Worland, and near Manderson and Greybull. As of Feb. 13, the Big Horn River had dropped about 1.5 feet as the weather cooled over the weekend and limited snow melt. A river ice dam remains just north of Worland in the Big Horn River. More than 700 volunteers filled 52,000 sand bags for use in the effort to prevent additional flooding. “We still have ice stuck against some bridges,” said WYDOT District Engineer Pete Hallsten of Basin. “WYDOT will be inspecting all bridges where flooding occurred. Workers are continuing to check bridges and culverts to make sure they are functioning properly and are safe.” On Feb. 17, WYDOT maintenance workers mobilized and hauled 90 pieces of concrete barrier from a Greybull lot owned by traffic control company S & L Industrial of Cowley. Combined with 119 pieces of concrete barrier owned by WYDOT, there are currently 206 pieces of barrier prepared for use in potential flooding in Greybull. One truckload of the WYDOT concrete barrier (15 pieces) was hauled to Greybull from Rock Springs. Wyoming National Guard troops were demobilized from the area Feb. 18. Runoff water reached high levels in the Manderson community at the confluence of the Nowood and Big Horn rivers. Ice from the Nowood River jammed just above Manderson before it flows into the Big Horn River.

Ice dams formed along the Big Horn River.

Another concern is when residents and businesses pile snow at the ends of driveways along the highway shoulder, Clapp said. This “banked snow” can reduce visibility for vehicles trying to enter the roadway. “When the snowbanks get higher than your average car, it makes it very difficult for motorists to see other vehicles,” said Clapp. “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 Briefs continued on page 6 March 2017

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Briefs continued from page 5

to road maintenance personnel,” Clapp 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.”

2017 Super Bowl weekend nets four drunken driving arrests; no fatalities reported RIVERTON – As part of a countywide, multi-agency seat belt and DWUI enforcement operation “Zero Deaths, Zero DUIs” during the 2017 Super Bowl weekend, Fremont County law enforcement arrested four drunken drivers Feb. 3-5. During the three-day operation, area law enforcement made 314 traffic stops, and issued 50 speeding citations, including four seat-belt citations, three child restraint citations, 71 other citations and 232 warnings. No traffic fatalities were reported. Pete Abrams with WYDOT Highway Safety said, “There were no traffic fatalities during this county-wide, operation and only four drunken driving arrests out of over 300 stops. That’s a small percentage on such a celebrated weekend, and it tells us that people are responding to the messaging and increased traffic enforcement.” Fremont County law enforcement agencies will work together again on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, starting March 17. The purpose of the enhanced enforcement operation is to educate drivers and passengers about DWUI laws and the importance of buckling up. Law enforcement looks to enforce the state’s zerotolerance stance toward impaired driving and to remind people it’s never safe to drive impaired. Agencies staffing the Fremont County operation include the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Lander Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff ’s Office, Riverton Police Department, Shoshoni Police Department and Wind River Police Department. Partners in the Zero Deaths, Zero

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DUIs campaign include Injury Prevention Resources and Wyoming Department of Transportation. According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, there have been 10 traffic deaths in Wyoming during 2017, compared to eight at this time in 2016. Along with the ongoing enhanced enforcement effort, the Patrol is urging drivers to help keep Wyoming’s roadways safe by calling the Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately (REDDI) hotline number at 1-800-442-9090 to report suspected drunk drivers. Callers should be prepared to provide the dispatcher with a description of the vehicle, its location and direction of travel. Funding for the impaired driving, seat belt campaign is possible through a federal grant secured by the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office. n

s S tate E mployee

SERG

up Retirement Gro Gather with other state retirees monthly.

SERG meets at noon the second Monday of each month at the Cheyenne Radisson. The gatherings include a brief business meeting, social luncheon and an educational program. Contacts for further information:

Roger Nelson – 634-1881 Ron Labreque – 632-8240 Donella Marrs – 635-5858

WHP Total number of employees: as of Feb. 2, 2017

1,926

One month ago

1,917

One year ago

1,971

Total number of highway fatalities: as of Feb. 23, 2017

one year ago

2016 WYDOT customer satisfaction survey results in; public pleased More residents than ever indicated they feel satisfied with the way the Wyoming Department of Transportation takes care of the state’s transportation system. WYDOT’s 2016 customer satisfaction survey results showed the agency received an all-time-high mark of 84 percent satisfaction for its stewardship of the transportation system, which is a significant increase from the 2014 survey result of 80 percent. The results are part of a comprehensive survey the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center (WYSAC) at the University of Wyoming conducted for WYDOT between Nov. 10 and 30. WYDOT has contracted with WYSAC to conduct the customer satisfaction surveys every two years since 2002 to help the department assess how well it’s fulfilling its mission of providing a safe, high-quality, efficient transportation system for Wyoming residents. “We do a survey every two years because it’s important to find out what our customers think of us,” said Janet Farrar, WYDOT’s Strategic Performance Improvement Program manager. “It’s vital that we check in to see how we’re doing, so we can make needed changes.” WYDOT’s overall satisfaction rate and other rankings have been on the rise since 2012. “The high marks WYDOT continues to see is the result of the hard work and commitment of the department’s employees,” said WYDOT Director Bill Panos. “Understanding how we are doing as a government agency is critically important. Partnering with the University of Wyoming gives us a great way to target improvements and better serve our customers.” WYSAC interviewed 952 adult Wyoming residents, including 700 on cellphones, representing every county in the state. WYSAC contacted them using randomly generated telephone numbers. The results have a margin of error of 3 percentage points with 95 percent confidence that the opinions of the state’s population as a whole fall within that range. WYDOT also scored high in overall satisfaction regarding delays in travel.

Eighty-seven percent of respondents agreed the state’s highways and interstates usually permit travel between destinations with only minimal delays. That number is trending upward from 2014’s figure of 85 percent. Regarding air travel, 70 percent of respondents said they’re satisfied with commercial air service, an increase from 61 percent in 2014. Motorists also continued to praise the cleanliness of Wyoming’s rest areas. Ninety-three percent said they’re satisfied with the cleanliness, an increase from 2014’s 92 percent. Eighty-two percent of travelers said they’ve used Wyoming’s rest areas, an increase from 81 percent. When conducting business at Driver Services, 79 percent said they’re satisfied with the promptness of the staff, a slight increase from 2014’s figure of 78 percent. Eighty-seven percent also said they’re satisfied with the overall courtesy of the Driver Services staff. The Wyoming Highway Patrol also had significant increases in several categories. Seventy-nine percent of residents agreed WHP personnel respond to situations in an appropriate manner, an increase from 73 percent in 2014. Eightythree percent also agreed WHP meets their expectations, an increase from 78 percent in 2014. When Wyoming citizens had contact with WHP, they had higher satisfaction. Eighty-four percent said WHP meets expectations, 83 percent said WHP responded in an appropriate manner and 85 percent said WHP personnel treat people with respect. Other survey findings indicate: n 84 percent said they agree Wyoming’s construction zones are properly identified and easy to navigate; n

81 percent agreed WYDOT does a good job of keeping litter and debris cleaned up along state highways and interstates; and

83 percent said they are satisfied with how WYDOT communicates with the public. n

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Noteworthy

Paying it forward; off-road enthusiasts help those stuck in snow

Photo: Katie Glennemeier

By Katie Glennemeier, writer with sweetwaternow.com. Reprinted with permission. A group of off-road enthusiasts in Rock Springs make it their hobby to help people get unstuck—whether it’s in town or high in the hills. Tyler Mullen, Chris Kendall and Kyle Ogden (pictured below with their vehicles) are administrators for a Facebook group called Stuck! RS-GR. Mullen started the group two years ago, originally to help offroad enthusiasts get help with recovery when they needed it. “We got tired of not knowing anyone to call when we got stuck. Everybody has thought about a page like this. I just happened to finally make one,” said Mullen. He and his group have put years of work modifying their trucks to handle rough terrain. They sport swapped axles, big tires, lifts and redundant rescue equipment like air compressors and battery chargers. When the first of the big snowstorms hit this winter, the guys decided to open it up to anyone who gets stuck and needs help. The group has gone from 800 users to more than 1,700 in the last month. “I included everything from jump starts to getting pulled out of your driveway,” said Mullen. “I wanted to bring the community together, that was my whole goal. Pay it forward.” The three have collectively gone on hundreds of runs over the last few years and it’s increased tremendously with the recent storms. Mullen said he’s gone on around 40 runs over the last month. Kendall said he did four rescues in three days last weekend. “A couple were bad ones, all-nighters. Got home at 2 or 3 a.m.,” said Kendall. Mullen has helped so many that the off-roading group decided to pitch in, so he can do it even better. “He always helps people, like all the time,” said Kendall. “Three or four days before Christmas, we surprised him with a brand new winch so he can assist people better.”

Mullen, Kendall and Ogden aren’t the only ones in the group rescuing. There are about 20 people who will do it regularly, which is helpful since the group has more than doubled in the last month. They said they haven’t seen snow like this in a long time. The group’s recent popularity has come with some challenges, such as keeping the mood civil when people get stuck. One strict rule is no trash talking, which includes telling someone they got stuck because they drive a Ford. That also includes telling someone he or she is lazy. Mullen said many people came here with the oilfield boom and don’t have anyone to call and don’t know how to deal with the snow. “This one lady from California was stuck on a little patch of ice on the street in front of her house and she was taking a taxi to work for two weeks. She finally posted on the page and said ‘I can’t afford to do this anymore. Can somebody help me?’ We shoveled out the snow around her parking spot and got the ice chipped off the ground. I got in the car with her and we did some laps around town to build her confidence up. She just needed a little practice is all,” said Mullen. The group is simply there to help each other. Kendall recalled helping to gently fish a 2017 Ford truck out of a ditch recently, which they were able to do without hurting the brand new truck. “I had been stuck out there the week before doing the same thing he was. Nobody is perfect,” said Kendall. Finally, it’s a rule that you can’t ask for money when you assist someone. “If they offer, it’s up to you,” said Ogden, but the point of the group isn’t to make money. The three off-roaders said the scariest part of rescuing is the bitterly cold temperature. “If it is -20 degrees, your skin can literally freeze. If you have enough people that you can switch out and go sit in your truck, that’s best,” said Kendall. He keeps a propane heater, coveralls, air compressors and tools. He can repair an axle in the field, if needed. The craziest rescue they can recall was when they hooked 10 off-road jeeps together to pull out a one-ton truck that had sunk to its headlights in river silt. Ogden said they were calling everyone that had off-road vehicles and cables. They didn’t get home until 1 a.m. that night. These trucks are outfitted such that sometimes they can get to people when a tow truck cannot. A couple winters ago, the group

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came upon a tow truck trying to get to a 2-wheel drive Toyota truck that had gotten stuck on White Mountain. “We saw there was no way the tow truck was getting out there. They are big and lumbering and don’t go through ditches very well. We had him send the tow truck home and got him out,” said Mullen. They enjoy helping people and they enjoy trekking out of town when it’s needed. “We like doing that stuff for fun, so it’s not a big deal,” said Ogden. “It’s a reason to go out and play.” Paying it forward, but also having fun. n

Photo: Katie Glennemeier

Editor’s note: Tyler Mullen is a WYDOT employee with Rock Springs construction.

WYDOT employee Tyler Mullen attaching a tow cable to a stuck vehicle.

“Slick top” patrol cars to increase highway safety The Wyoming Highway Patrol launched a pilot program using “slick-top” patrol cars in hopes of increasing highway safety across Wyoming. Five new patrol vehicles will be patrolling Wyoming with one car headed to each of the five WHP districts across the state. Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. David Wagener said slick-top patrol cars do not bear a light bar and have less conspicuous markings. “They are still fully marked, but the markings are subdued,” Wagener said. They are still clearly identifiable as WHP patrol vehicles, he said, and will be used to help identify distracted driving, impaired driving and also to increase the WHP’s criminal interdiction efforts in areas such as human and contraband trafficking. “With these cars we want to be able to see people before they see us,” Wagener said. “We miss a lot of things in our patrol cars that are highly marked and highly visible.” Wagener said he sees opportunities to make a positive impact on public safety with slick-top patrol cars. “When I’m in my personal vehicle, a teenager pulls up next to me buried in their cellular device, and they keep driving distracted. But I can’t do anything legally,” Wagener said. “When I’m in my patrol car and that same teenager sees my patrol my car, they put their device down until they pull away from

me and continue that unsafe behavior.” The slick-top car gives troopers the opportunity to see and observe a lot more and, ultimately, intervene to hopefully stop behaviors like distracted driving. “I am excited to see the results of this initiative,” WHP Col. Kebin Haller said. “Slick top enforcement patrol vehicles are not new to law enforcement or other highway patrol agencies throughout the country. This is something that we have been discussing for the past year and we now have an opportunity to pilot such a program.” Wagener said the department is piloting the slick-top patrol cars after getting information from other states suggesting that the strategy has been successful in improving enforcement for distracted driving, impaired driving and criminal interdiction. “I am supportive of this pilot project and encouraged when we innovate to advance law enforcement efforts in our state,” said William T. “Bill” Panos, Wyoming Department of Transportation director. n

March 2017

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Photo: WHP

Five new WHP “slick top” patrol car have been deployed in each of WHP’s five districts across the state.

Blo o By J. O’Brien Snow blows across the roadway, creating areas of ice even where the sun shines. “11 degrees … there’s a potential for black ice.” He scans the roadway for gravel and dry pavement before pointing out a dry line. “Do you see that gray area? I’m keeping my tires on that line.” Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Tim Romig is always reassessing the road to determine how he can make his delivery safely, even while traveling more than 110 mph in his Dodge Charger on a day on which the forecast calls for winds between 55 and 75 mph in areas of Southeast Wyoming. Romig raced west on Interstate 80 on Feb. 3 not to pursue a speeding driver but to deliver platelets. Troopers call the service a “blood run.” When a hospital in Wyoming runs out of blood or platelets, it puts a call in to the WHP. If the event meets WHP requirements, several troopers are organized to make a relay run from Cheyenne to wherever the blood may be needed. The first available trooper is sent once the call is made. “It must be an emergency,” Romig said. “We run ‘lights on.’ But it’s a life-saving service we provide.” Regardless of the conditions – even if roads are closed because of weather – the troopers answer the call. “Someone’s life hangs in the balance,” he said. “The hospital can save someone’s life with (the blood).”

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March 2017

Blood runs are needed several times a month. And, sometimes, there may be more than one run in a day. “Sometimes hospitals run completely out of blood, and they have someone in surgery,” Romig said. “Sometimes the need can be because of a bad crash.” Troopers can complete the run faster as a relay. The Feb. 3 run from Cheyenne to Rock Springs would call for four-five troopers, Romig said. Because each trooper knows the region and drives a portion of the section they run twice, they know what the conditions will be. Additionally, he said the troopers are more attentive than if they had to drive two-three hours by themselves.

WHP Lt. Tim Romig places platelets into the back of his patrol car from United Blood Services in Cheyenne Feb. 3. The platelets were needed at the hospital in Rock Springs.

Photo: J. O’Brien

Patrol provides life-saving service with ‘blood runs’

Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Tim Romig runs “lights on” southbound on I-25 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Feb. 3. He was the first leg of the relay on a “blood run” to deliver platelets needed at the hospital in Rock Springs.

All of this effort is made despite that everyone involved will never even know who they helped. Always vigilant and working to keep the roads safe, Romig spots a vehicle parked on the side of the road on the return trip to Cheyenne and radios in to check to see if another trooper has already made a welfare check on it. After confirming that they have, he drives on, ready for the next life-saving call. n

Photo: J. O’Brien

“We try to do these as quick as we can,” he said. But safety is always paramount, he adds. He tries not to surprise drivers. He doesn’t want them to change lanes too quickly or anything else that could present a danger. He’s careful not to pull too close to vehicles. He wants a clear path but doesn’t want them to think they themselves are being pulled over. “People can’t always hear the siren or see the lights until the patrol car is close,” Romig said. He calls it outrunning your siren. “These people don’t know how important what we’re carrying is,” he said. Romig met Trooper Dave Redding at the Albany County line. The 26-mile trip from United Blood Services in Cheyenne to the county line took around 18 minutes. Romig estimates the average speed of the trip was around 90 mph. Romig said there are more people than just the troopers who are involved. “Without the plows and sanders, we wouldn’t be able to drive through on these roads,” he said. “Without the mechanics we wouldn’t have serviceable vehicles. And without dispatch and the (Transportation Management Center), we wouldn’t have the information we need to make the trip. All of this ties together and saves someone’s life.”

Photo: J. O’Brien

d Runs Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Tim Romig holds the door for Trooper Dave Redding at the Albany County line as Redding pulls platelets from the back of Romig’s patrol car near Cheyenne. The platelets were needed at the hospital in Rock Springs.

March 2017

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want you working

idonnot pairs. let each other

out of your sight And make sure you have

Photo: Stephanie Harsha

an avalanche beacon on.â&#x20AC;? 12

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Bruce Daigle, WYDOT Maintenance foreman, speaks into the radio with a deep, radiating voice. Even under threat of crisis, this newly appointed snow commander remains cool.

Photo: Brian Gorsage

Sheets of snowpack slough off the mountainside on the Glory Bowl slide area.

“This is what we do up here, we battle snow. It’s our job,” Daigle said. His truck, which sits directly in front of a 10-foot-high snow slide, covering both lanes of travel, vibrates in the dark. Everything glistens in the headlights, wet with relentless rainfall, which blankets everything in sight. It’s 2 a.m. “It’s going to be a rough night,” Daigle said. The week of Feb. 6 ushered in a highly unusual weather pattern, one WYDOT Avalanche Technician Jamie Yount said avalanche experts fear: Warmer temperatures and heavy rains and winds on massive amounts of accumulated snow. The weather system resulted in downed lines that supplied power to Teton Village, collapsed roofs, flood warnings and a state of emergency. “This weather was ripe for avalanches,” Yount said. “If there was an avalanche danger classification even higher than ‘extreme,’ this would have been it.” Yount, who has a degree in meteorology, said he was on edge earlier that week. After forecasts from the National Weather Service for warming temperatures and persistent rain for the better part of the week, he said he was notably concerned. “Weather is the architect of all avalanches,” Yount said. “We track the weather and watch the snowpack evolve through the season.” In January, unprecedented levels of snow – double the amount of pack from previous years according to data from the University of Wyoming Water Resources Data System – fell in the Jackson region. This led to massive amounts of banked and stored snow

along highways, canyon walls and mountain passes. “The mountain sides – known avalanche paths and any slope steeper than 25 degrees – throughout the valley were primed for avalanches at all elevations,” said WYDOT Avalanche Technician Brian Gorsage. With warming temperatures and rain fall saturating and weighing down the weak snow pack, Yount said avalanches were inevitable. “Explosives testing and control work is notoriously unreliable in these situations,” Gorsage said. “The snowpack is guilty until proven innocent. Slopes have to avalanche, return to colder temperatures or a reduction in the additional stresses to the snowpack has to happen. You have to give it time. A wet slab avalanche doesn’t care about what your avalanche atlas says or what the old timers have seen, it plays by it’s own set of rules.” Gorsage and Yount said the cycle of wet snow avalanches is as follows: 1. Rain adds weight to the snowpack. 2. Weight reduces the strength of layers in the snowpack. 3. Rain lubricates sliding surfaces and/or the ground. 4. These conditions cause areas for potential wet/loose slab avalanches to increase in size. Eventually, the wet slabs come down, unless the temperature is drastically reduced additional stresses to the snowpack, like rain, subside. Yount said under ideal conditions, the snowpack builds continuously and slowly, like adding weight to a backpack. However, this situation was not ideal and Yount said he was convinced it would be the most active avalanche event of his career. Yount’s

March 2017

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Photos: Stephanie Harsha

predictions would prove to be accurate. The storm, with the widespread and heavy rain caused the failure of snowpack in both canyons and the slopes above the Town of Jackson, Gorsage said. Crews and equipment were mobilized from other offices within District 3 and outside the district. Extra rotary, safety vehicles, patrol units and staff were made available for assistance. The battle had begun. Snake River Canyon Conditions around the Snake River Canyon (US 26-89) held together for the better part of the week, but snowpack in that area eventually succumbed to the conditions and produced more avalanches on both Teton Pass and in Hoback Canyon. The decision to close the Snake River Canon overnight was made Feb. 9. Just as crews cleared up one major avalanche, a second came down. Daigle and Yount made the call to close the canyon and pulled WYDOT crews out. “The biggest thing is public safety,” Daigle said. “If it’s not safe for our guys to work in, the public should definitely not be out there. Sometimes we need to let mother nature run her course and then pick up the work.” Daigle, Yount and Gorsage said they cautiously entered the closed canyon in the early morning hours of Feb. 10, discovering snow slide after snow slide. Crews were brought in as pairs, to clear the canyon and open the road. Overall, 26 avalanches occurred in the Snake River Canyon in that short period of time. The Snake River Canyon was reopened at around 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 10. Hoback Canyon The wind, rain and avalanches impacted Hoback Canyon as well. It was closed due to a major avalanche on Feb. 7 but eventually reopened in the morning. However, the real battle came Feb. 9, when crews entered Hoback Canyon to clean up several avalanches. They were trapped by secondary avalanches while they were working. Slides ranged in size and weight, some creeping into only one lane and others an estimated 100-yards wide and 14 feet high. “As soon as we would get one cleared, another would come down, literally right in front of or behind us,” Daigle said. “We were continually digging ourselves out.”

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March 2017

That’s when teams made the call to close Hoback for the night and pull crews out of the canyon. “It was just too dangerous for our people,” Yount said. “Someone asked me, which paths do you think will come down? All of them.” Hoback would remain closed until the evening of Feb. 10, when the rain finally subsided and temperatures slowly started to drop. Overall, the Hoback Canyon (US 189-191) to Jackson was the site of three controlled avalanche missions, 16 major avalanches and numerous small slides breaching the road. Teton Pass In the early morning hours of Feb. 7, WYDOT maintenance crews closed Teton Pass (WYO 22), which is between the Idaho state line and Jackson, for avalanche control work in anticipation of major snow slides. After evaluating the snowpack and weather conditions on Teton Pass, crews decided it should remain closed the rest of the night – at the very least. The closure of Teton Pass (WYO 22) continued because of dangerous conditions until Feb. 11, when crews were able to ignite Gazex to relieve the Glory Bowl and Twin slides of their overwhelmed snowpack. Gazex exploders are one of the avalanche control system the department uses to trigger avalanches when there is no traffic on the nearby roads. The Gazex system triggers avalanches by using propane and oxygen to produce a controlled explosion in an area prone to avalanche conditions. Yount said the Glory Bowl slide area produced a roaring avalanche between 160-200 feet wide, 25-30 feet high. “That is the biggest one I’ve seen on Glory Bowl,” Yount said. “I’ve seen it higher one time, but in terms of sheer volume, that is the biggest.” Crews immediately got to work, mobilizing equipment on the pass and clearing the road. Crews were able to open the pass the afternoon of Feb. 11 – 18 hours sooner than initially predicted. It was the last of the state roads to open that week. The avalanches on Teton Pass were the largest and included six controlled avalanche missions and 12 major avalanches. By Feb. 12, rain gave way to bluer skies and colder temperatures, and all state highways remained open in and out of the Jackson area.

WYDOT battles avalanches:

By Stephanie Harsha, District 3 Public Involvement Specialist

Gazex exploders • Produces explosions with a 1:6 propane and oxygen mixture • Remotely operated with computer and radio

Avalanche Guard • Mortar system produces explosions with black powder • Can be fired 10 times before need for reloading • Remotely operated by computer or radio connection

O’Bellx Gas exploder • Produces an explosion with a 2:1 hydrogen to oxygen gas mixture • 9-shot capacity (aluminum cylinders) or 18-shot capacity (steel cylinders) • Remotely operated by computer with 450 MHz radio communications • Can be installed and removed by helicopter

Infrasonic avalanche detection • Remote sensing of avalanche activity using an array of six infrasonic sensors • Also used to confirm results from avalanche control work and verify explosive detonations • Allows monitoring in poor visibility n

Photos: WYDOT

“The colder temperatures and getting away from that rain was exactly what we needed,” Yount said. Department employees put in 1,187 man-hours that week, with no injuries or accidents. “I think that is one of the things I am most proud of,” Daigle said. “We got our job done safely and effectively. My guys’ safety is my number one priority.” Local businesses and residents expressed their appreciate to the crews with food and a number of thank you cards. One note from a local child, bearing a hand-drawn image of mountains and power lines, said, “Thank you for fixing our power and keeping our roads clear of ice and snow.” “They are the best in the business, no doubt,” Tory Thomas, district maintenance engineer said. “We have the best operators, avalanche team and maintenance crews in the region – their dedication and determination to get the job done and do it right is simply amazing. It’s a team that I’m proud to be a part of.” Daigle said his team has remained pretty humble. “We are just doing what we do,” Daigle said. “It is always a team effort. I am very grateful and would like to thank all those who were involved and helped us accomplish our mission.” n

The department employs a number of different technologies to help mitigate avalanche danger. Some of that includes equipment that deliberately triggers avalanches while the roads are closed. This decreases chances of an avalanche while traffic is on the roadway. Gazex, Avalanche Guard and O’Bellx Gas systems are all systems that use explosions to trigger smaller avalanches to clear danger. The department also uses infrasonic avalanche detection technology to detect when an avalanche may be occurring.

March 2017

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Headquarters

Welcome Gedeon Heilmann, GIS/ITS; Briana Lewark, Motor Vehicle Services-Registrations/Title; Taylor McCort, Traffic; J.L. O’Brien, Public Affairs; and Walter Schoene, Driver Services.

Promotions and Transfers Tina Borgaard, Facilities ManagementAdministration; Laura Miazga, Driver Services-Policy and Records; Jamie Romo, Budget-Federal Aid; Ryan Shields, Traffic; and Scott Swallow, GIS/ITS.

Freeman

Miazga

Sherman

Mellor

Roadifer

Romero

Jones

Service Awards

Bradley Freeman, Materials-Bituminous – 30 years; Jeffrey Sherman, Traffic – 30 years; Matthew Johnson, Planning-Counter Shop – 25 years; Jeffrey Mellor, Traffic-Administration – 20 years;

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March 2017

Lee Roadifer, Traffic – 15 years; Vanessa Romero, Planning-Local Government Coordination – 10 years; David Fritz, Planning-System Planning – 5 years; and Andrea Jones, Highway Safety – 5 years.

Retirements David Boyer, a construction and field survey specialist, retired on Jan. 3 with 38.7 years of service to the state. Land Management Program Analyst Peter Brennan retired from Right of Way after more than 40 years with the department. Right of Way Project Manager Roy Weber said Brennan was known for being the main point of contact for railroads. Weber said BrenBrennan nan’s work wasn’t always easy, and Brennan “deserves a medal for it.” Weber added that Brennan worked extensively with landowners, putting in extra time and even taking meals with the landowners to ensure work was done. Brennan’s ability and desire to connect with individuals wasn’t just for work; Weber said that Brennan always had a toy on hand to give to the children of his coworkers. Weber said Brennan even brought his coworkers Hanukah presents. Brennan said he was enjoyed working for the department as long as he did because of the caring attitude that each person in Right of Way has for one another. He also appreciated the open-door policy of the leadership. Brennan said he was proud of the fact that he never missed a letting for a railroad project during his time, but he admitted that he was probably just lucky. Dennis Daniel retired from WYDOT on Jan. 4. He worked as a custodian for Facilities Maintenance. Steve Kohnz, a Daniel senior construction and field survey specialist, retired Jan. 3 with 40 years of service to the state.

Vernie Tennant James retired on Jan. 4 after 28 years of service. Tennant worked in Patrol Dispatch her entire career. Tennant was born in Kansas City, Mo. Prior to WYDOT, she worked in the Hutchinson School District I Hutchinson, Kan., and Tennant for the Mental Health Institute in Clarinda, Iowa.

Congratulations Emily Ahearn has been selected as the principal bridge engineer in the Bridge Program effective March 1. James Dahill has been selected as the assistant chief engineering geologist in the Geology Program at WYDOT.

Ahearn

Dahill

Cradle Call Proud parents Christine and Adam Grant welcomed Sylvie Karon on Dec. 27, 2016. She weighed 8 pounds and was 20.5 inches. Christine works in the Planning/ STIP Program in Cheyenne. n

Photo courtesy of Christine Grant

District News

Donna James retired from WYDOT on Jan. 4 after 41 years of service. She worked as a senior design specialist for Highway DevelopmentProject Development.

District 1

Welcome Ryan Drake, Highway DevelopmentProject Development-Laramie Design Squad; Edison Elder, Highway Development-Project Development-Laramie Design Squad; and William McGary, Baggs Maintenance.

Brian Pennock, Laramie Construction – 10 years; and Joshua Baker, Laramie Maintenance – 5 years.

Promotions and Transfers Gary Bohl, Cheyenne Construction; Darryl Cameron, Laramie Mechanics; and George Escobedo, Cheyenne Construction.

Finn

Colling

Boyer

Williams

Service Awards

Retirements David Boyer retired on Jan. 4 after 38 years of service. During his time with the department, he worked as a construction and field survey specialist for the Construction program in Cheyenne. John Evans retired on Feb. 2 after 14 years of service with WYDOT. He worked as a construction and field survey technician for the Construction program in Cheyenne. Lee Williams retired on Jan. 4 after 15 years of service to the state. He worked as a construction and maintenance technician out of Laramie. n

Kelly Finn, Elk Mountain Patrol – 20 years; Richard Colling, Laramie Patrol – 10 years;

District 2

Welcome

Haller promotes two new lieutenants

Christy Clymer, Midwest Maintenance; and Cameron Rissler, Douglas Mechanics.

Service Awards William Kirkman, Casper Patrol – 20 years; and Matthew Goetz, Wheatland Maintenance – 15 years.

Kirkman

Retirements Howard Parkin, retired from the Wyoming Highway Patrol with 19 years of service. He spent his career in Douglas.

Goetz

WHP Col. Kebin Haller appointed two new division lieutenants Feb. 13 to fill two vacancies in the first-line supervisor ranks of the Patrol. The lieutenants took part in an extensive promotional process to achieve their new Frye rank. Trooper Andrew Frye has been promoted to become the supervising lieutenant of Division F in Wheatland. Division F is responsible for Patrol duties in Goshen and Platte counties. Frye has been with the Patrol since December 2011 patrolling primarily in Sweetwater County. Frye will be replacing Capt. Steve Sanders who promoted to captain in December. Trooper Clint Haver has been promoted to supervising lieutenant of Division

B in Casper. Division B is responsible for Patrol duties in Natrona County. Haver has also been with the Patrol since December 2011 patrolling primarily in Natrona County. Haver will be replacing Lt. Chris Schell who retired in December. Col. Haller congratulated lieutenants Frye and Haver and said, “They have demonstrated high Haver performance, integrity and leadership. They both have my full confidence in assuming command of Divisions B and F.” Division lieutenants for the Wyoming Highway Patrol are first-line supervisors responsible for overseeing troopers for a certain geographical area within Wyoming. These lieutenants are heavily tasked on a daily basis and are a key element to the success of the Patrol. n

Parkin

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District 3

Welcome

Promotions and Transfers

Scott Lym, Evanston Maintenance – 10 years; and James O’Connor, Pinedale Maintenance – 5 years.

Robert Hass, Patrick Draw Maintenance.

Service Awards

District 5

Michael Flores, Cody Maintenance; Chase Mead, Thermopolis Mechanics; Adam Powell, Riverton Construction; and Leslie Thronburg, Cody Construction.

Retirements Hass

Barry Tippy, Rock Springs Patrol – 20 years; Darrell Bowie, Evanston Maintenance – 10 years;

Jean Dyjak, from the Jackson/Afton Driver Services office, retired Dec. 31, 2016 with more than nine years of service to WYDOT.

Flores

Mead

Tippy

Bowie

Lym

Service Awards

O’Connor

District 4 Shane Waugh, Hulett Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers Luz Craig, Gillette Driver Services; Andy Harkins, Sheridan Port of Entry; and Nicholas Woods, District 4 Maintenance Staff.

Harkins

Woods

Service Awards Ronnie Moseman, Sheridan Patrol – 20 years.

William Lushine, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, retired from WYDOT on Feb. 2 with 38 years of service. Lushine spent the entirety of his career with Gillette Maintenance.

Thermopolis native William Gotfredson retired from Worland Maintenance with 15 years of service. n Lushine

Darwin Mitchell, Gillette equipment supervisor in District 4, retired Jan. 31 with 29 years of service with WYDOT. He began his career at the Sheridan Equipment office and worked there from 1988 to 2001. Mitchell moved to Gillette and was soon promoted to shop supervisor over the Gillette Equipment office. He took pride in his work and in a job well done. He is looking forward to frequent road trips with his wife Jennifer across the country in their Camaro, camping, fishing and traveling. n

Retirements Larry Davis retired Jan. 4 with eight years of service to the state.

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Photo: WYDOT

Becky Fowler retired Jan. 4 with more than 24 years of service to the state. Fowler She was a supervisor at the Sundance Port of Entry. March 2017

Gotfredson

Photo: WYDOT

Welcome

Powell

Goodies were arranged and put out for commercial drivers at the Sheridan Port of Entry on Valentine’s Day. One of CVSA Inspector Cheryl Jordan’s PMI goals was to celebrate Driver/Employee Appreciation Day. The Feb. 14 celebration was to promote a positive, fun attitude and spirit between the drivers and the Port officers. Port employees brought goodies and Jordan placed them for the drivers to enjoy. The drivers know that they are thought of while on the road during the holidays.

Awards

such as Cheyenne Frontier Days, the USAF Air Force Thunderbirds air show and the Hulett Ham-N-Jam motorcycle rally. Wagner worked cooperatively with statewide media outlets on two R8 border press conferences and coordinated with WYDOT’s Traffic Management Center to use statewide variable message signs (VMS). Furthermore, Wagener used the WHP’s social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+) to spread safety messages to the greatest audience possible and impressively changed the WHP’s Facebook cover page to the S2S during the campaign period. While Wagener helped Region 8 propel S2S in 2016, his traffic safety contributions didn’t stop there. He was instrumental in the Below 100 Officer Training and Technical Assistance Program that promotes officer use of safety equipment, personal responsibility and prevention, enhanced situational awareness and risk reduction. He is involved in the execution of train-the-trainer courses and reaches out to other Wyoming law enforcement agencies to include them in the WHP classes. After the course ends, he provides technical assistance to small and/or rural agencies. As a result of Wagener’s championing of the Below 100 program, nearly all Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers have been trained and Below 100 is part of WHP’s Basic Academy, ensuring every new recruit completes the course before becoming a road trooper. Finally, Wagener initiated a campaign to educate motorists about the rise in and causes of highway fatalities using social media and VMS. WHP continues to receive media coverage and feedback about how this positively impacts in- and out-of-state drivers. With enthusiastic partners like Wagener who go beyond the badge to promote safety in contemporary and grassroots means, NHTSA’s Region 8, WYDOT and WHP are succeeding in a shared mission to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce economic costs through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activity. n

Great News for Highway Patrol and Highway Safety By Ken Ledet, Highway Safety Program Sgt. David Wagener serves as the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s public relations and recruiting officer. He started his career with the Patrol on May 16, 2001, working as a trooper in Cheyenne and Laramie. He was promoted on July 1, 2014, and since that time, Wagener has been instrumental in creating and spreading fresh highway safety messages throughout Wyoming on his own volition. Wagener has gone above and beyond job duties as a trooper and Wagener public information officer, volunteering to execute several traffic safety initiatives this year, including #DoNotGetHashtaggedByWHP and Region 8’s Safe2Sturgis (S2S) motorcycle safety campaign. During the summer of 2016, the NHTSA Region 8 office created a public information campaign entitled Safe2Sturgis, a border-to-border initiative to reduce the number of motorcyclist fatalities and serious injuries before and after the Sturgis South Dakota Motorcycle Rally that draws hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts across the West – and Wyoming, in particular. Wagener was Region 8’s state champion in this effort, tackling S2S with vigor and creativity. He drove all over the state to hang S2S banners along highways and rest areas, so they were visible to the motoring public and then went above and beyond to display S2S signs and posters at other highly-attended WHP outreach events,

Patrol recognized in communities

Photo: WHP

WHP Trooper Rodney Miears was recognized on Feb. 18 by the Cody, Wyoming Elks Lodge as the Cody area Trooper of the Year. This award is a token of appreciation by the Elks Lodge for recognizing individuals for all they do for the Cody community. Trooper Miears is very active in the Cody community teaching the Alive Trooper Rodney Miears accepting his award at the Cody Elks Lodge. at 25 program and educating and enforcing highway safety in Park County.

WHP Lt. Joseph Scimone was recognized on Feb. 21 by the Casper, Wyoming American Legion and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve as a Patriotic Employer for contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force. n

Lt. Joseph Scimone accepting his award from a member of the Casper American Legion.

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Congratulations to our January recipients!

Shine your chrome!

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.

Joel Eldred Chuck James Meadow Ridley For more information about the Extra Mile Award or to nominate someone, contact Katherine Castaneda at Katherine.Castaneda@wyo.gov.

Rides deadline 05/12/17

carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov Check out these upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and WeLL.

In March: Date Class 3/17/17 3/20/17 3/21/17 3/22/17 3/23/17 3/31/17

In April: 4/5/17 4/5/17 4/6/17 4/10/17 4/11/17 4/12/17 4/12/17 4/13/17 4/25/17

Pavement Management: Micro-Surfacing and Slurry Seals New Employee Orientation Project Management District 4 Roadshow – Dealing with Supervisory Challenges & the Disciplinary Process Piling Basics – Design to Construction Technical Communication as a Writer and Presenter; a six-week series

PMI Competency Vocational Communication Leadership

March 2017

Webinar WYDOT-U TLN

Developing Others Vocational

Sheridan TLN

Communication

Webinar

Exceptional Customer Service Customer Service OSHA 10-Hour Work Zone Safety Vocational Confident Public Speaking Communication Diverging Diamonds Design and Construction Case Study Vocational Tractor Mower Safety Vocational Heavy Equipment Preventative Maintenance Vocational District 3 Roadshow – Franklin Covey’s 7 Habits Foundations Personal Effectiveness Drilled Shaft Foundations Vocational New Supervisors Orientation Leadership To register, or to find out more details, please visit the Training Program intranet page.

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Location

WYDOT-U TLN WYDOT-U TLN TLN TLN Rock Springs TLN WYDOT-U

Brag a little. We want to be jealous.

Headquarters WTDEA is currently seeking applications for 2017-2018 scholarships. The WTDEA presents three, oneyear scholarships for academic excellence to qualified applicants annually. The $500 scholarships are awarded to full-time, undergraduate students attending an accredited institution of the recipient’s choosing. All applicants must be a spouse, or the unmarried child or legal dependent of a WTDEA Headquarter’s chapter member in good standing with at least two years of current, continuous membership.

carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

The WTDEA scholarship committee judges all applications based on scholastic ability, economic necessity, citizenship and extra-curricular activities. The application forms and all related rules and regulations for the 2017-2018 scholarships can be found on the WTDEA intranet page. All signed applications and related documents must be delivered to Justin Mordahl, scholarship chairman, no later than March 24. n

WYDOT Hats WYDOT Hats le Afte yc

ading! Re

03/17/17

Headquarters chapter seeking scholarship applicants for 2017-18 school year

Outdoors deadline:

WTDEA

ease Re c Pl

Where have you been lately?

18 – adult 15 – child

20162017 Season

WTDEA Reps selling tickets:

Pam Fredrick (Internal Review) Tim Dolan (Aeronautics) Janet Vossler (Patrol) Renee Krawiec (Driver Services) Heidi Martin (Right of Way) Matt Walusis (WyHy)

Contact Tina Phillips to get one today!

March 2017

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Visit WyHy.org/MoneyMarkets or contact us at 307-638-4200 today. * APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Contact the Credit Union for full details. Federally Insured by NCUA.

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March 2017

Break Time

Take five and find five differences in the images.

Check your answers online at: employees.dot.state.wy.us, or if not able to access the employee site: www.dot.state.wy.us/ home/engineering_technical_programs/manuals_publications/interchange.html.

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1) Complete and return this slip to WYDOT Public Affairs Office, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009, or 2) Send an email to Carlie Van Winkle at carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov. Add me to the mailing list

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March 2017

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

NOT EVERYBODY IS A DESIGNATED DRIVER. designate a sober driver

PLAN FOR A SOBER RIDE HOME.

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