Interchange – March 2023

511 website sees more than 2 billion hits in 2022; W-TAP hits 17K users

Wyoming 511 tools seeing more use than ever

By Jordan Achs

Every winter, the Wyoming Department of Transportation encourages drivers to know before they go. Recent data from the department’s 511 tools show that the message is working.

Data compiled for 2022 showed the www.wyoroad.info website saw 2.2 billion hits for the calendar year.

“The 511 tools are seeing increased usage year after year, which shows us we have great public trust in the system,” said Vince Garcia, program manager for Global Information Systems/Intelligent Transportation System at WYDOT.

The website shows both forecasted and real-time weather-related road impacts as well as data directly from WYDOT weather sensors, plow operators and Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers, all combined into one convenient tool for travelers.

The top visited pages were the Closures and Advisories page, followed closely by the I-80 web cameras.

A more active winter has also led to other 511 tool milestones. When the roads are closed, the Wyoming Travel Authorization Program can help drivers get to their destination when it is deemed safe enough to do so.

W-TAP users have to reapply each year, and as of late February, the program had a record number of more than 17,000 registered users with new applications rolling in nearly every day.

The Transportation Authorization Board – consisting of representatives from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, WYDOT Public Affairs office and the Chief Engineer – votes on many applications to ensure program compliance and to weed out travel that doesn’t fit the program’s mission.

About 90 percent of W-TAP users are Wyoming residents. The out-ofstate users, however, include doctors

and nurses from neighboring states that travel to work in small Wyoming hospitals, commercial drivers making oil or propane deliveries to Wyoming residents, out-of-state students at the University of Wyoming and more.

“The wide user base shows us that the program is working as intended: to support the economy of the state even when we’re experiencing bad weather and road closures,” Garcia said.

Users who are rejected from the pro-

gram have a way to appeal the decision and explain their reasoning to the TAB.

“The TAB takes a fair and honest approach to their votes to try to help enable travel whenever feasible,” Garcia said.

State employees are also encouraged to sign up for the program to minimize calls into the Transportation Management Center.

For more information about the program and the other 511 tools, visit www.wyoroad.info

Image: WYDOT

1 511 website sees more than 2 billion hits in 2022

12 District 1 wins Wyoming Engineering Society Award

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

Jordan Achs Public Affairs

Matt Groth Public Affairs

Mark Horan Public Affairs

Carlie Van Winkle Public Affairs

Andrea Staley District 1

Jeff Goetz District 2

Stephanie Harsha District 3

Laura Dalles District 4

Cody Beers District 5

Sgt. Jeremy Beck Patrol

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.

District Briefs

Headquarters Commission awards nearly $79.79 million in contracts in February

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded almost $79.79 million in contracts for 10 Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects during its February 16 regular business meeting.

The commission awarded an almost $57.67 million bid to Minnesota-based Ames Construction, Inc. for a group of projects involving bridge replacements, concrete surfacing, grading, traffic control, paving, electrical work, drainage and other work on about 1 mile of northbound and southbound Interstate 25 in Casper. The contracted completion date is November 30, 2025.

North Dakota-based Northern Improvement Company was awarded a $4.97 million bid for a project involving paving, fencing, traffic control, grading, guardrail, milling and other work on approximately 9.4 miles of US Highway 85 in Weston County. The contracted completion date is November 30, 2023.

Lewis & Lewis, Inc., based out of Rock Springs, was awarded an almost $4.58 million bid for a project involving paving, milling, traffic control and other work in various locations within Lincoln, Sweetwater & Uinta Counties. The contracted completion date is October 31, 2023.

The commission awarded a $2.34 million bid to Lovell-based Mountain Construction Company for a project involving paving, traffic control, chip seal, milling and other work on about 4.2 miles of US Highway 14A in Big Horn County. The contracted completion date is August 31, 2024.

Montana-based Streamline Markings, Inc. was awarded a $714,660 bid for a project involving striping, traffic control and other work in various locations within Albany, Campbell, Carbon, Crook, Johnson, Laramie and Sheridan Counties.

Streamline Markings was also awarded a $664,060 bid for a project involving striping, traffic control and other work in

various locations within Sublette, Sweetwater and Teton Counties.

Both projects with Streamline Markings have a contracted completion date of September 30, 2023.

The commission awarded an $887,009 bid to Cheyenne-based Reiman Corp. for a project involving bridge rehabilitation, traffic control, grading and more on a pedestrian overpass on I-25 in Cheyenne. The contracted completion date is August 18, 2023.

Also based in Cheyenne, Simon Contractors was awarded a $400,154 bid for a project involving paving, grading, traffic control, milling and other work on US 85 in Laramie County. The contracted completion date is October 31, 2023. Two projects this month are funded primarily with state dollars:

• Simon Contractors was also awarded a $4.75 million bid for a project involving paving, traffic control, milling, chip seal and other work on approximately 9.7 miles of Wyoming Highway 34 in Albany County. The contracted completion date is June 30, 2024.

• Simon Contractors was also awarded a $2.81 million bid for combined projects involving paving, chip seal, traffic control and other work in various locations within Campbell, Johnson, Sheridan and Weston Counties. The contracted completion date is August 31, 2023.

Eight of this month’s awarded projects are primarily funded with federal dollars. Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bid.

Massive drifts caused extended closures of I-80

CHEYENNE – Despite long hours and hard work by Wyoming Department of Transportation snowplow operator crews, massive drifting along Interstate 80 prompted an extension of a closure through Feb. 24.

After working through the night, crews reevaluated conditions in the morning hours and determined an updated estimated reopening time based on current conditions and forecasted weather, especially forecasted winds.

“We battled 4-plus-foot snow drifts along I-80, especially near the Continental Divide west of Rawlins and Bitter Creek,” said Tom DeHoff, assistant chief engineer for operations. “Drifts that big require slow moving, heavy equipment like rotaries, motor graders and dozers to make any kind of dent.”

Additionally, WYDOT shifted resources the night of Feb. 22 to rescue stuck and stranded motorists, including drivers who passed road closure gates illegally.

WYDOT snowplow crews based in areas which were less impacted by the storm moved south to help attack the snow drifts in the southern portion of the state.

“I-80 is a 24-hour road according to our Snowplow Priority Plan,” DeHoff said. “Crews continued their hard work through the night to get traffic moving again as quickly and safely as possible.”

Winter storm has major impacts; WYDOT issues reminders to motorists

CHEYENNE – As major winter storms bring major travel impacts to the state, the Wyoming Department of Transportation wants to issue some reminders to residents and travelers.

Briefs continued on page 4

A snowcat clearing the westbound I-80 passing lane of snow near Rawlins.

Photo: WYDOT

Briefs continued from page 3

Strong winds and snow caused closures in every WYDOT district over the President’s Day weekend. Before the snow started to fall, wind wreaked havoc on the highways, causing closures and delays through the holiday weekend.

WYDOT urged motorists to obey road closures and not drive past road closure gates. Closures indicated the road was impassable at some point, whether it was from large drifts, ground-blizzards or a crash.

“WYDOT has seen a major increase in gate runners this season,” said Tom DeHoff, assistant chief engineer for operations at WYDOT. “Motorists illegally passing gates delays WYDOT from reopening the road; crews have to shift to addressing stuck and stranded drivers and the drifts their vehicles caused while they were stuck.”

As announced in November, WYDOT has been experiencing personnel shortages, including shortages of snowplow operators and Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers. In previous storms, WYDOT and the WHP have moved forces from areas less impacted by a storm to areas with heavier impacts to help those crews.

However, since the recent storms have impacted the entire state, it is possible that levels of service, especially on lower-level roads, were reduced during the storm. To see the hours of service on Wyoming highways, check out our Snowplow Priority Plan at https://www. dot.state.wy.us/home/travel/winter/ snow_plow_priority_plan.html.

If it feels like this winter has been harsher than the last few years, you aren’t alone. WYDOT crews have been working long hours, weekends and holidays to fight the harsh weather and near-hurricane-force winds.

Winds have caused stretches of multiple-foot-deep snow drifts on highways like US Highway 287 north of Rawlins and even portions of Interstate 25 and Interstate 80. The drifts led to prolonged closures as crews had to use rotary plows and other heavy equipment to move the deep snow. Rotary plows are typically used to open seasonal closures, like Wyoming Highway 130 through the Snowy Range.

“Plowing through large drifts isn’t as easy as just driving a plow through,” DeHoff said. “The drift condenses and acts

almost like concrete, so it requires large, slow-moving, heavy-duty equipment to even make a dent.”

For those who do have to travel, please give WYDOT plows plenty of room to work. Use caution if passing; the road behind an active plow is the safest.

District 1

WHP troopers locate juveniles shooting road signs

CHEYENNE – On Feb. 13 a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was driving near County Road 124 and County Road 218 when he heard several gunshots being fired. The trooper located a pickup truck in the area where he heard the shots.

The trooper stopped the pickup truck and, throughout the investigation, learned the juveniles had been shooting road signs with a 12-gauge shotgun, 9mm pistol and .22 caliber rifle, which were located inside the truck. A missing 13-yearold female was also found in the vehicle riding with the older juveniles.

The juveniles were charged with the following:

• Reckless endangerment (due to the close proximity of houses and highways); and

• Property destruction (damage from shooting road signs).

The Wyoming Highway Patrol would like to thank the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office for its help with this investigation.

Pedestrian bridge in Cheyenne temporarily closed

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation temporarily closed the pedestrian bridge over Interstate 25 at mile marker 13.32 due to structural safety concerns.

Bridge engineers determined the far west column sustained critical damage due to factors such as moisture and weather conditions. The bridge was temporarily closed as well as a portion of Bishop Boulevard. I-25 and Hynds Boulevard remained open and were not affected.

WYDOT is currently evaluating

options to temporarily shore the bridge to open for pedestrian traffic as soon as possible. The pedestrian bridge was already scheduled to be rehabilitated this coming summer.

Once the school year has concluded, the bridge will close again during the rehabilitation project.

Avoid pushing snow onto state highways

LARAMIE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation issued a reminder that it is a violation of state law to place snow on state roadways.

WYDOT has received many reports across southeast Wyoming of people pushing snow into the traffic lanes of state highways.

State statute 35-10-401 (b) stipulates whoever, in any manner, wrongfully obstructs any public highway, or injures any bridge, culvert, or embankment, or injures any material used in the construction of any such road, shall be fined in any sum not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00), to which may be added imprisonment in the county jail not more than three months.

“It is important to remind the general public that piling or depositing of snow in WYDOT’s right-of-way not only reduces line of sight visibility, but also creates other hazards such as drifting, and potential road obstructions,” says Laramie Area Maintenance Supervisor, Eric Anderson.

District 1 Maintenance Engineer, Tim Morton, added, “large piles of snow adjacent to the roadway can melt and contribute to areas of unexpected slick spots, creating hazards on an otherwise dry roadway.”

While finding appropriate solutions to snow removal can be a challenge, be sure to remove snow responsibly, not causing further hazards to the traveling public.

District 2

Wyoming State Trooper injured in crash

DOUGLAS – On Feb. 3, a Douglas trooper was parked on Highway 59 at milepost 46.5 with emergency lights activated, assisting multiple motorists who had left the roadway due to weather and road conditions.

A 53-foot box trailer semi-truck was traveling northbound when the driver lost control of the commercial truck and collided with the back of the patrol vehicle. The trooper was inside the patrol vehicle at the time of the crash.

The commercial truck driver did not report any injuries at the time of the crash.

The trooper was transported to Memorial Hospital of Converse County for non-life-threatening injuries he sustained in the crash.

The commercial truck driver was issued a citation for speeding too fast for road conditions.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol would like to remind motorists to move over for emergency vehicles.

As the project progress, the majority of the work will occur on the shoulders and corners of Uinta Drive. Lane closures will be in place during pole removal and installation work as well as portions of the wiring and boring work. The completion date for the project is Oct. 31st of this year.

Avalanche infrastructure maintenance caused traffic delays

JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation performed maintenance on avalanche infrastructure in the Hoback Canyon on Feb. 18. The work caused delays for traffic of up to 15 minutes at a time.

Crews used helicopter operations in the Stinking Springs area of Hoback Canyon to do some general maintenance and refueling of the O’Bellx avalanche infrastructure units. These units use explosions to trigger smaller, controlled avalanches to prevent dangerous, uncontrolled conditions. The O’Bellx units are remotely operated by computer and are installed and removed by helicopter.

the occupants were interviewed, it was learned that the male was not supposed to be in the commercial truck.

The female driver told troopers the male was her ex-boyfriend and had entered her vehicle without her knowledge in California. She said he had physically and sexually abused her in the truck over the past several days while she was transporting the commercial cargo. She also stated he stabbed her in the leg.

As the male was interviewed, he initially gave false information about his name to conceal his identity. The male was identified as Alejandro Delgado, a resident of California, and had an active warrant for his arrest out of California.

Delgado was arrested and booked into the Sweetwater County Detention Center on the following charges: NCIC Warrant (No Bond, Full Extradition for Parole Violation out of Bakersfield, California) - Felony and Interference with a Peace Officer – Misdemeanor.

This is an ongoing investigation.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol would like to thank the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Department for its help with this investigation.

The

District 3

Work underway on Uinta Drive in Green River

GREEN RIVER – The Wyoming Department of Transportation, along with contract crews from Casper Electric, worked along Uinta Drive Feb. 27 as part of a signal and intersection upgrade project. Crews began work to remove various sections of sidewalk near the intersections along Uinta Drive. Motorists were urged to be aware of various lane closures at all three intersections along Uinta while the work took place.

The Green River Signal project work encompasses new traffic signal pole installation, new traffic detecting sensor installation, conduit drilling and installation, and ADA and sidewalk upgrades.

For the safety of the traveling public and the safety of WYDOT crews, the road was briefly closed and free of moving traffic for helicopter operations to collect and return the equipment to its position after maintenance and refueling. Ideally, motorists only saw two brief delays as the helicopter carried the O’Bellx units to and from their location. Roadside flaggers were traffic control for the operation.

WHP safely locates female involved in a multi-state domestic disturbance

ROCK SPRINGS – On Feb. 4, Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers were dispatched to a possible domestic disturbance in the area of Bitter Creek Rest Area in Sweetwater County. The reporting party told patrol dispatch they thought the driver of a gray Volvo semi-tractor trailer was dealing with a domestic disturbance with her ex-boyfriend.

Troopers located the vehicle parked in the eastbound Bitter Creek Rest Area on Interstate 80 in Sweetwater County. As

Work on N Street bridge near Civic Center

ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation restricted daytime access to the N Street bridge near the Rock Springs Civic Center Feb. 7-8 for some routine bridge inspection work. Crews needed to close the bridge to motorists to mobilize equipment and crews to perform drilling work on the south end and collect core samples for evaluation.

The work was extended and work continued through Feb. 14-15 as crews found some unexpected setbacks with drilling.

Residents of the area and local traffic will be able to access the surrounding neighborhoods and driveways, but through traffic is advised to find an alternate route or detour to Pearl Street.

The work was originally scheduled for December 2022, but was delayed due to weather conditions.

Briefs continued on page 6

trooper from Douglas sustained only minor injuries after this collision between a commercial truck and his patrol car.

Photo: WHP

Preliminary work on new Snake River Bridge, WYO 22/WYO 390 intersection

JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from Ames Construction, Inc., began extracting gravel and clearing trees in preparation for the work that will take place over the next two seasons in the replacement of the Snake River Bridge on WYO 22 in Teton County.

The gravel work in the river will force the closure of the southwest informal lot around the bridge, which has been used as a parking area for those wishing to access the levy area. The informal parking area will no longer be available, but a new pedestrian access from the boat ramp and under the new bridge to the levy will be available upon completion of the work.

Crews also began clearing trees around the southwest corner of the bridge and the southern side of WYO 22 as far west as Green Lane.

Drivers will see minimal impacts to traffic for this work. Travelers in the area are advised to watch for flaggers and trucks entering and exiting the levy area.

“The new bridge will be built in stages – with the first stage just south of the existing bridge while traffic uses the existing bridge. Once the first stage is complete, traffic will be put on it and the old bridge removed to make room for the second stage of the new bridge. The two parts will be tied together in the end. This first stage is right where the informal parking has occurred so that parking will no longer be available,” Resident Engineer Bob Hammond said.

The work is part of the Snake River Bridge and Intersection project, which was awarded in November of 2022. The work includes the replacement of the Snake River Bridge on WYO 22, the reconstruction of the intersection of WYO 22 and WYO 390, wildlife crossings and other work on approximately 1.80 miles of WYO 22 and WYO 390 in Teton County. More information about the project is available at www.dot.state. wy.us/snakeriver

The completion date for this project in

Extended closure on Interstate 80

ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Department of Transportation, along with the Wyoming Highway Patrol, oversaw an extended closure of more than 14 hours for Interstate 80 between Rock Springs and Rawlins in both directions due to deteriorating conditions and poor visibility Jan. 27-28. Maintenance crews reported visibility of less than 50 feet in some areas, slick roads, blowing and drifting snow caused by high winds. Rolling closures were in effect on I-80 eastbound between Evanston and Rock Springs and westbound between Cheyenne and Laramie.

WYDOT and the Highway Patrol ask local residents and business owners to help spread the message about the dangerous conditions and the extended closures on Interstate 80 and to help remind all drivers – local and interstate – to not park on the on-ramps, or at the closure gates. Parking on the interstate at the closure gates impedes maintenance activities and delays road opening.

Drivers can check Wyoming’s road and travel information at www.wyoroad.info for opening times and sign up for text alerts for opening notifications.

Total number of employees: As of February 10, 2023

1,787 One month ago 1,759 One year ago

1,920

District 5

Don’t pile snow near traffic signals

LANDER – Damage to a traffic signal control cabinet, electronics and wiring caused by piling snow on the corner of a business parking lot the weekend of Jan. 28-29 had left the traffic signal inoperable

Total number of highway fatalities: As of February 27, 2023

22 One year ago

12

An extended closure of I-80 was precipitated by extreme winter conditions of blowing snow and poor visibility.

Photo: WYDOT/www.wyoroad.info webcam

at the junction of Main Street and Baldwin Creek Road in Lander.

“The contractor removing the snow notified WYDOT, and we immediately cut the power to the traffic signal,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Traffic Engineer Jack Hoffman of Basin. “Please don’t pile snow near traffic signals. This will be a costly repair, paid for by the snow removal contractor.”

Hoffman said WYDOT traffic technicians responded to the area Jan. 30 to assess the damage to the traffic signal control box at the Main Street/Baldwin Creek intersection.

“Our hope is that the damage is minor, and that we can get the traffic signal up and running sooner than later,” Hoffman said.

With January’s record-setting snow in Fremont County, residents and businesses are trying to find places to pile snow. Hoffman said piling snow on or near roadways is creating safety hazards for drivers and pedestrians.

“Please pile the snow in other places,” Hoffman said.

A traffic signal control box was toppled by a snow clearing crew, causing damage to the unit and a signal outage in the area.

HR Happenings

Working for WYDOT

By Cristina Taylor, Human Resources

The Human Resources team as well as Wyoming Department of Transportation subject matter experts have been busy attending recruiting events! Over the past few months, the team has held pop-up events at local shops and attended career fairs.

As a team we count on each one of you to spread the word that WE ARE HIRING! If you are interested in attending career fairs or know of an event we should attend, please reach out to your HR representative. We rely on your testimonies to help find quality candidates that are ready for an exciting career opportunity with this agency.

Don’t forget about the referral bonus program. For every applicant that starts employment with any State of Wyoming agency, and puts your name as a referring employee, you will receive $250 on your check following the month of hire.

If you have any questions or ideas you would like to share please do not hesitate to call or email your friendly Human Resource Team.

WYDOT.

Aimee Binning, Andrea Staley and Ellen Teigen pose at the WYDOT booth at a recent career fair in Laramie to recruit potential new hires to

Photos: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

Resident Engineer Josh Jundt (left) and District Construction Engineer Isaac Finkle (right) host a booth at the recent career fair at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to advertise WYDOT job openings.

Photo: WYDOT

Two snowcats clear an initial few feet of snow on seasonally-closed WYO 130 to help guide larger WYDOT rotary plows as the crews work to reopen the popular scenic byway for the summer season. WYDOT has started partnering with the snowcat contractor each winter as an innovative and more efficient way to reopen the seasonally-closed mountain passes in District 1, which won the district an award from the Wyoming Engineering Society.

District 1 wins Wyoming Engineering Society Award

By Andrea Staley

District 1 Construction Engineer Ryan Shields, in conjunction with Surveyor Andrew Klingenberg, District Maintenance Engineer Tim Morton, and District Engineer Ralph Tarango, submitted their application for the Wyoming Engineering Society Presidential Award with “Utilizing Precision Survey and Machine Guidance to Open Mountain Pass Highways.” On Feb. 2, the WES announced that they had won. The awarded project highlighted a new and innovative way WYDOT has been able to use new technology to expedite opening our mountain passes.

The Snowy Range Scenic Byway (WYO 130) in southeastern Wyoming plays a vital role for Wyoming’s tourism economy and is a popular destination for snowmobilers, skiers, anglers, mountain bikers, hiking enthusiasts and those looking to camp in the mountains.

WYDOT is responsible for all maintenance on WYO 130, which peaks at 10,859 ft. and closes seasonally due to deep snow accumulations in the winter months. The effort to clear the 12-mile long mountain pass of snow can be very challenging and requires significant manpower and large, specialized equipment each spring. Crews often encounter snow depths of 10 ft. and drifts that can be as high as 20 ft. above the roadway surface.

“The snow depth obscures the underlying landscape making it difficult for equipment operators to know and follow the roadway alignment while clearing snow,” Morton said. “The process is time consuming and can often result in damage to the guardrail and other roadway features hidden beneath the snow, as well as damage to the equipment itself. Repairing this damage places an additional burden on WYDOT Maintenance and Equipment forces.”

The solution developed under this project allows a much more efficient operation. Snowcats with integrated GPS units are used, with the contractor Mountain States Snowcats, to cut in the exact roadway alignment, which is hidden beneath as much as 20 feet of snow, to the specified depth using precision survey data.

“WYDOT District Survey Support worked in conjunction with the snowcat operator to ensure that the data files provided were usable without further conversions or manipulations, and the data was aligning with the positions provided by the Global Navigation Satellite System receiver,” explains Andrew Klingenberg. “As additional data was prepared for other sections of road opening, it was straightforward to provide a data package to the snowcat operator that could be immediately loaded and used in the machine.”

To accomplish this, a detailed survey of this 12-mile stretch of WYO 130 was required. This data was collected using GPS survey equipment, which was adapted for

Photo: Andrea Staley

To the best of our knowledge, WYDOT is the first transportation agency to use precision mapping, machine guidance technologies, and real-time GNSS Precise Point Positioning, in conjunction with specialized snow removal machinery to re-open seasonally closed roads.

mobile use with a UTV to efficiently and safely perform the survey. The survey collected exact locations of the roadway alignment and all the roadside features such as guardrail. WYDOT’s in-house survey experts processed all the survey data and partnered with the snowcat operators to ensure that the snowcat operator could immediately load and use the data with little to no field manipulation.

WYDOT snow blowers can then easily follow behind and clear the remaining snow down to the roadway surface without damaging the guardrail and other features. This has proven to be an innovative way to utilize survey technology and WYDOT’s in-house expertise to optimize maintenance operations. This is in line with WYDOT’s guiding principles: to continually improve operational effectiveness and efficiency and pass those savings and benefits along to the traveling public and highway users.

“To the best of our knowledge, WYDOT is the first transportation agency to utilize precision mapping, machine guidance technologies, and real-time GPS Precise Point Positioning in conjunction with specialized snow removal machinery to re-open seasonally closed roadways,” Shields said.

This is a unique operation that allows WYDOT to more efficiently open our seasonal mountain passes for all our visitors to enjoy and help support tourism, Wyoming’s second leading economic driver.

A WYDOT District 1 rotary plow clears part of WYO 130 through the Snowy Range, guided by contracted snowcats using GPS technology. The process helps the rotaries stay on the highway, minimizing damage to shoulders, guardrail and other assets. WYDOT’s collaboration with the snowcats recently won the Presidential Award from the Wyoming Engineering Society.

Photo: Andrea Staley

Photo: Andrea Staley

The WES award was presented to District 1 Engineer Ralph Tarango at the February Transportation Commission meeting luncheon. Director Luke Reiner (left), Tarango, District 1 Construction Engineer Ryan Shields and District 1 Maintenance Engineer Tim Morton.

Photo: Doug McGee

Noteworthy UW Lab School kindergarten class visit

By Andrea Staley

UW Lab School in Laramie is helping their youngsters learn a little more about what different industries are doing in their community. With visits to Bloedorn Lumber and an engineering firm to learn about chemical engineering, it was finally their turn to learn a little bit about the transportation department.

D1’s Facilities Coordinator Josh Baker’s son Baylor and his classmates filtered into the Laramie complex conference room. There, they were able to watch videos of our maintainers opening our mountain passes, see our snow plows clearing roads, and ask questions about WYDOT. So many little hands were raised in excitement by the end when they were finally asked, “who wants to go see a snowplow?!”

Orange vests were passed around before loading up in the school bus to make the quick trip over to our truck storage facility. When unloading from the school bus, the class saw a snowplow leaving to make their run. The class started waving and got a little honk back. Shrieks of laughter and glee erupted from the class.

Eric Anderson, Laramie Area Maintenance Supervisor, met the class at the truck storage and escorted them to the snowplows. One by one, each kid had a chance to sit in the driver seat, blow the air horn, and squeal with laughter. Eric then answered all sorts of questions. At one point, a kindergartner may have admitted that a broken sign post might have been hit by his father. Other notable highlights included the kids realizing they could stand under the snowplow blade. Lots of pictures and some very excited “thank yous” later, we had to say goodbye. Thanks again for visiting us, UW Lab School! We hope to see you again in the future.

Photos: Andrea Staley/WYDOT

Wyoming snow plow driver overwhelmed by support after bringing tacos to stranded truckers

By Renée Jean, Business and Tourism Reporter

Reprinted with permission from Cowboy State Daily

Jaron Fry is one of Wyoming Department of Transportation’s snow plow drivers, but he used to be a truck driver in a former life. As he was working 12-hour shifts to plow roads in the Evanston area, his eye wandered often to all of the stranded truck drivers. He knew exactly how they were feeling.

Truck drivers, Fry believes, are unsung heroes in American society. Everything Americans buy – literally every little thing – arrives to communities on a truck.

“The stigma, or whatever, that truckers have,” Fry said. “I think it’s weird that they have that kind of shadow over them, when, in reality, they’re the heartbeat of America.”

After the third or fourth day seeing this long line of stranded truckers growing and growing, Fry decided to do something about it, to brighten their day. He was going to bring some tacos or sandwiches to them on his day off.

“I remember when I was stranded, I just wanted some decent food, not what I had stored in my truck,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “This closure had been for several days, and I kept seeing the trucks stack up as I worked my 12-hour shifts plowing, and I just kept thinking, these guys need a good meal.”

Unexpectedly Viral

Fry posted his little idea on Facebook, and that’s when something unexpected happened.

A few people, seeing what he was planning to do, asked for his Venmo. They wanted to just chip in a little and help him with this volunteer project.

Fry decided he would do that, expecting maybe $25 bucks here or there.

“That would still buy a lot of tacos,” he said.

But he didn’t get just $25 here or there.

“I don’t know what happened,” Fry said. “Like my Venmo blew up. I got all kinds of donations and waters and people that want to bake cookies, and I’m going, man, I’m just one dude here.”

With all these extra proceeds to help him, Fry was able to not only buy more tacos, but he could extend his deliveries to the next day.

He bought a big round of breakfast burritos the next morning and headed out, thinking that would likely be it.

But, when he looked at his Venmo after making those deliveries, 17 more donations had come in, ranging from $10 to $200.

He turned around for more breakfast burritos twice that morning, then decided to do Jimmy John sandwiches for lunch.

Tables Turned

By that time, the roads were starting to open up again, and Fry was telling people to stop giving him money for food for the

truckers. Or trying to anyway.

But some of the people just wouldn’t listen or take no for an answer. Those people, many of them, were the truckers themselves.

“You know, (truckers) have got this persona about them that they’re all grumpy and they hate the world, but I got so many God bless yous and thank yous,” Fry said.

By now, the truckers had all gotten to know what Fry’s car looked like. It’s yellow and black like a bumblebee, and kind of hard to miss — particularly against a nice, white backdrop of snow. Whenever they saw his vehicle, truckers would get out, not just to say thank you, but to pay it forward.

“I told them guys, I’ve gotten enough, I’m good,” Fry said. “And they would say, ‘Then you go buy your kids something. What you’re doing is amazing. Nobody else was doing it, and we appreciate it.’”

Like 9-11

Fry said he still has about $670 in donations because people just wouldn’t stop giving to the cause. He’s going to save it for the next storm, and take more food to stranded truckers.

“I never intended to make any money or anything like that,” Fry said. “I never intended it to go crazy like it did. I was just simply delivering some food to people who I thought might want it.”

But the whole experience did something way beyond money for Fry. It has helped restore his faith in humanity.

“It just seems like such a negative world we live in any more,” he said. “But this, this was nothing but positive. It just kind of blew me away.”

Negativity is so easily found these days. Online, on television – bad news abounds.

“It may seem like everybody hates everybody and everybody hates the world, but it’s just not true,” Fry said. “Like if you’re willing to go out of your way to help your fellow man, ironically, they turn right around and reciprocate with appreciation. All that negativity is just not what it seems, you know, if that makes sense without going too deep.”

The only other time Fry said he’s felt like humanity was all one, working together like this, was back during Sept. 11, 2001.

“I’m a volunteer firefighter for 22 years now here in Evanston, and 9-11 kind of hit home,” he said. “I was on the department at that time. There was nobody who hated anybody. Nobody. It was everybody helping everybody.”

The original story can be found at: https://cowboystatedaily. com/2023/02/27/wyoming-snow-plow-driver-overwhelmed-bydonations-after-bringing-tacos-to-stranded-truckers/

WYDOT Maintainer Jaron Fry offered a bit of Wyoming hospitality to stranded truckers along I-80.

Photo: Renée Jean/Cowboy State Daily

Burritos for truckers.

Photo: Renée Jean/Cowboy State Daily

Employee Safety

Employee Safety addresses near misses

by April Patrick, Employee Safety

As part of WYDOT’s ongoing efforts to track and report workplace incidents, and with the capability of the VelocityEHS safety management software system, strides are being made to actively report and track those instances that are considered near misses.

Ultimately, this allows WYDOT to enact proactive monitoring, since near misses are symptoms of undiscovered or unmitigated safety concerns. We can identify negative trends and come up with solutions to safeguard employees before the situation escalates to a true workplace incident.

Under Personnel Policy 16-2, WYDOT provides direction when reporting incidents that involve employee injury, damage to WYDOT equipment or property (regardless of the severity of the injury or extent of the damage,) or damage to private/public property caused by WYDOT equipment operators. To further clarify, this policy identifies the expected steps for when an incident has actually occurred, e.g. a light pole off WYDOT premises is struck by a WYDOT plow but only the light pole is damaged

and the plow has some transferred paint. What is a near miss?

We currently identify a near miss as an event that could have potentially resulted in an injury, damage to WYDOT equipment or property, or damage to private/public property caused by a WYDOT employee operating WYDOT equipment, but didn’t.

Keep in mind that an incident resulting in minor damage or minor injuries would not be classified as a near miss. Alternatively, you can call a near miss a narrow escape, close call, or near hit.

All instances that fall in this category should be reported through VelocityEHS as a near miss so it can be investigated and appropriate actions can be taken where possible to avoid a workplace incident. Actively participating in this reporting process extends a certain level of accountability for your workspace, giving you the opportunity to extend input into how to mitigate the hazards that have come to light. Additionally, reporting and tracking near misses give more credence to enact broader changes throughout WYDOT.

Pre-trip inspections – keep your tires on the road

By Terry Uhrich D2 District Employee Safety Representative

On Feb. 1, a tandem-axle plow truck was plowing snow when it lost its right-hand front tandem dual wheels due to wheel fasteners coming loose. The torque had loosened over time, allowing the wheels to loosen, wobble/rub until the wheel studs failed, and then the wheels detached from the vehicle. Fortunately, the wheels did not affect oncoming traffic and the operator was able to get the vehicle stopped in a safe manner. This incident required towing to a local repair shop, taking a critical piece of snow removal equipment out of service until parts could come in and the vehicle was able to be repaired and returned to service.

A best practice is to make sure when doing wheel and tire service work, the wheels are installed per the manufacturer’s recommendations, are free of rust and debris on the wheel mating surfaces and hub flanges, and the threads for the studs and lugs are clean, free of damage, and are torqued to the correct torque specification. Within 100 miles, they need to be rechecked and re-torqued.

Prevention tips

Operators need to perform pre-trip inspections and, when doing so, they need to pay particularly close attention to the wheels and their fasteners. They need to individually check for loose or missing fasteners, streaking rust, damaged, cracked or broken wheels, and wear around the fasteners or hub flanges that could indicate loosening wheels. When operating the vehicle, they also need to note any clunking noises that could indicate a possible loose and/or broken wheel. If any of the above are noted on inspection, operators need to take the vehicle out of service and have it checked by a mechanic to verify that it is in good working order.

Please contact your District Equipment Supervisor or your local mechanic for more information.

Pre-trip inspections could prevent a serious wheel stud failure.

Photo: WYDOT

Training

First WY Lead Leadership Academy cohort group selected

By Kurt Borgaard, Training Services

The inaugural 2023 WY Lead cohort group has been selected. The cohort was selected by a process in which applications were received and reviewed by the WY Lead Selection Committee, as well as including the recent graduates of the Western States Leadership Coalition.

WY Lead is WYDOT’s internal leadership academy and is a structured leadership development program for existing supervisors or those with previous leadership experience who are interested in advancing with WYDOT. This leadership academy has been developed in collaboration with senior leadership, a leadership development program planning team, and a curriculum review team

The WY Lead program extends nine sessions and includes a time commitment of approximately six months with twelve hours per month for homework, in-person and online meetings, and project work.

Congratulations 2023 WY Lead Cohort participants!

Ariel Villa, Grants and Contracts;

Brian T. Rentner, Bridge;

Brooke Allen, Traffic District 2;

Carson Morales, Maintenance District 4;

Christina Spindler, Highway Development;

Devon Nelson, Project Management Oversight;

John Bundy, District 3 Shop;

Mariah Johnson, Air Service Administration;

Marshall Newlin, Bridge;

Mary Delap, Financial Services;

Michelle Edwards, Traffic District 4;

Pam Fredrick, Budget;

Robert Haugen, Port of Entry-North Region; Scott Elliott, Heavy Mechanic Supervisor; and Shawn Schoolcraft, District 4 Shop.

Training@aGlance

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

Training@aGlance

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

Session 2: Opposition vs Conflict and Assess Motives Part 2

Session 3: Bring the Right Strength and Communicate in the Right Style

Aeronautics Brian Olsen receives ESGR Patriot Award

Submitted by ESGR Volunteer Kathleen Cook and edited for clarity by Mark Horan

Congratulations to Aeronautics Administrator Brian Olsen for receiving the Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. He was presented the award at an Aeronautics Commission meeting on February 22.

ESGR is a Department of Defense office established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers.

The Department of Defense Patriot Award recognizes civilian employers’ continued support to citizen warriors and their families through a wide-range of measures.

Aeronautics Senior Planner A.J. Schutzman, a warrant officer with the Guard and Reserve, submitted Olsen for the award based on three and a half years of exceptional support during his military mission requirements.

“Mr. Olsen allowed some flexibility in my schedule which allowed me to attend drill and additional flight training periods,” said Schutzman. “He also ensured a seamless transition from military orders and back-to-work, and vice versa, always smooth and without worry.”

Following the presentation, Olsen and WYDOT Director Luke Reiner, retired Maj. Gen., both signed ESGR’s Statements of Support recognizing the Guard and Reserve are essential to the

strength of our nation and the well-being of our communities. In his closing remarks, Reiner thanked Schutzman for his service and commended Olsen and the Aeronautics Division for supporting his enlistment.

Game and Fish

Game and Fish Director invites wildlife enthusiasts to Mule Deer Days

Game and Fish is transitioning away from Outdoor Expo and towards regionally focused events

By Breanna Ball, Public Information Officer

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will no longer be holding the Wyoming Outdoor Expo in Casper and will instead shift to localized, regional events. The change will allow Game and Fish employees to engage and connect with constituents at local partnership events. This transition will kick off at the inaugural Mule Deer Days in Rock Springs, March 10-11.

The Mule Deer Days event is a result of a partnership between the Muley Fanatic Foundation and Game and Fish. The two-day event will feature informative seminars and interactive activities as part of the Inspire A Kid initiative.

“Events such as this allow youth to learn from local wildlife professionals and conservation volunteers who dedicate their lives to Wyoming’s wildlife. Inspiring Wyoming kids to get in-

volved and outdoors will ensure a bright future for conservation,” said Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik.

Regional events are intended to support Game and Fish’s strategic plan and overall mission to conserve wildlife and serve people. Game and Fish plans to participate in local events that will help foster local community engagement around wildlife conservation and building relationships with the communities we serve.

“Our partnerships and communities provide excellent opportunities to interact with our state’s sportsmen and sportswomen and all who enjoy wildlife,” Nesvik said. “I urge everyone who wants to learn more about wildlife alongside those who are charged with managing them to come out to Mule Deer Days.”

Connect with your regional Game and Fish representatives at an event near you.

From left: Aeronautics Senior Planner and Warrant Officer A.J. Schutzman, Aeronautics Administrator Brian Olsen and Kathleen Cook, a volunteer with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Olsen was recognized as a patriotic employer for supporting Schutzman’s participation in the National Guard and Reserve Force over a multi-year period.

Photo: Mark Horan/WYDOT

District News

Headquarters

Welcome

Emily Ayers, Patrol-Safety and Training; Evan Deneke, Patrol-Safety and Training; Thomas Gamblin, Patrol-Safety and Training; Gausul Hasan, Highway Development-Project Development; Timothy Howell, Patrol-Safety and Training; Jamie Jenkins, Budget; Gregory Laurinavicius, Patrol-Safety and Training; Kraig McInally, Patrol-Safety and Training; Daniel Nesvik, EquipmentMechanics; Kyle O’Malley, Patrol-Safety and Training; Crosby Ralston, PatrolSafety and Training; Logan Sainsbury, Patrol-Safety and Training; and Vibin Sankaranarayanan, Bridge-Operations Design.

Promotions

and Transfers

Aubrie Cotton, Purchasing-Buying; Chrystal Fauver, Port of Entry-Cheyenne I-80; Alanna

Kendrick, Patrol-Commercial Carrier; Kevin Mickle, Traffic; Davyd Mortensen, Patrol-Commercial Carrier; Kyle Nelson, Materials-Bituminous; Kara Poppe, Financial Services-General Ledger; Angel Portillo, Bridge-Engineering Design; A. Taylor Ree, Geology; Tyson Rein, Patrol-Commercial Carrier; Erin Rhodes, Planning-Traffic Data Analysis; Jeffrey Sherman, Highway Development-Project Development; Shaylin Stein, Right of Way-Property Management.

Service Awards

Kara Peterson, Highway Development-Project Development – 25 years;

Dalelynn Meyer, GIS/ITS – 20 years;

Shauna Perkins, Planning-Local Government Coordination – 20 years;

Christina Helsel, Patrol-Commercial Carrier – 15 years; Robert Jones, Planning-Statistics/ Inventory – 10 years;

Kayla Martini, Right of WayAppraisals – 10 years;

Susannah Skiles, Driver Services-CDL –5 years;

Mikaela Smith, Driver ServicesCheyenne – 5 years; and Steven Weinberger, Facilities Management-Building Maintenance – 5 years.

Retirements

Paul DePew retired from Highway Development-Project Development as a principal engineer on Jan. 4 with 30 years of service to the state.

DePew is a civil engineer who graduated from University of Wyoming and also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was based in Cheyenne at

F.E. Warren from May 1987-May 1991. He later began his career with WYDOT as an engineering assistant in Laramie in January 1993.

Michael Sandidge retired Jan. 4 from Planning-Traffic Data Analysis with 34 years of service to the state.

He began his career with the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency, in April 1988.

Congratulations

Mark Kelly was selected as WYDOT’s Emergency Communications program manager effective Feb. 1.

District 1

Welcome

Dustin Branscom, Elk Mountain Maintenance; Jeff Carrington, Cheyenne Maintenance; Mark Delanois, Pine Bluffs Maintenance; Emilio Ponce, Cheyenne Traffic-Striping; Garrett Roelle, Elk Mountain Maintenance; Zaw Soe, Highway Development-Project Development-Laramie Design Squad; Matthew Taylor, Highway DevelopmentProject Development-Laramie Design Squad; and Samuel Wharton, Cheyenne Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Jared Egbert, Laramie Construction; Brittney Hiller, Cheyenne Construction; Matthew Mayfield, Laramie Mechanics; Adam Powell, Patrol-Cheyenne.

Fauver

Branscom

Mortensen Rein

Peterson

DePew

Kelly

Cotton

Mickle

Carrington

Ree

Sherman

Jones

Service Awards

Brett Baker, Elk Mountain Maintenance – 20 years.

District 2

Welcome

Tinsley Brownlow, Port of Entry-Casper; Elizabeth Hansen, Casper TrafficStriping; Bruce

Hines, Chugwater

Maintenance; Tyller

Lookhart, TrafficElectrical; Bailey Orr, Wheatland Maintenance; and Melvin

Rothleutner, Douglas Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Jacob Sterner, Shirley Rim Maintenance.

Service Awards

Spike Smith, Casper Maintenance –30 years; and Christopher McGuire, PatrolWheatland – 5 years.

Retirements

David Green retired on Jan. 4 from Casper Construction with 38 years of service to the state. He was a construction and field survey technician.

Green began his career with the old Wyoming Highway Department in April 1984.

District 3

Welcome

April Corwin, Port of EntryKemmerer; John Forman, Evanston Maintenance; and John Tighe, Jackson Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Rachelle Miller, Kemmerer Construction; Jeremiah Traughber, Labarge Maintenance.

Service Awards

Becky Hager, Rock Springs Construction – 40 years; Waylyn Day, Port of Entry-Evanston –10 years; David Fox, Rock Springs Mechanics –5 years; and Jeffery Holden, Patrick Draw Maintenance – 5 years.

Retirements

Mark McCracken retired from Farson Maintenance on Jan. 7 with more than 27 years of service to the state.

McCracken began his career with WYDOT in April 1995 as a road maintenance technician.

Before coming to Wyoming, he had earned a master’s degree from Hyles-Anderson College in Crown Point, Indiana.

District 4 Welcome

Joseph Brown, Gillette Construction; Jason Gillespie, Gillette Construction; Vernon Hendricks, Hulett Maintenance; and Mary Robinett, Hulett Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers

Andrew Conrad, Sheridan Maintenance.

Service Awards

Robert Haugen, Port-of-Entry-North Region – 20 years;

Rex Markley, Gillette Mechanics –15 years;

Thomas Skubal, Gillette Maintenance – 10 years;

Egbert

Mayfield

Hiller Powell Rothleutner

McGuire Smith

McCracken Hager

Gillespie

Robinett

Conrad

Hendricks

Haugen

Baker

Roelle Wharton

Delanois Ponce

Service award luncheons are held by the Transportation Commission for employees celebrating milestones of 25 years of service or greater. Service award recipients at this month’s luncheon: (Standing from left) Kimm Brookshire, 30 years; and Chad Aagard, 30 years. (Seated from left) Kara Peterson, 25 years; and Debbie Jones, 25 years.

District 5

Welcome

Jason Brost, Cody Maintenance; Mark Christopherson, Basin Mechanics; and Catarino Zapata, Basin Maintenance.

Service Awards

Brandon Blakesley, Thermopolis Mechanics – 15 years; and Timothy Arthur, Thermopolis Mechanics – 5 years.

Service Award Recipients

Michael Fischer, District 4 GIS/ITS –5 years; and Justin White, District 4 Support - 5 years.

District 4 Engineer Scott Taylor with service award recipients Misty Woods, 10 years; Heath Oetken, 20 years; and Jerry Melnick, 10 years.

Photo: Laura Dalles/WYDOT

DE Scott Taylor presented Extra Mile Awards to (from left) Joseph Bennett and Jeremy Frisbie. Carson Morales (not pictured) was also awarded. They were lauded for their work on implementing the new internal CDL program WYDOT has adopted.

Photo: Laura Dalles/WYDOT

DE Pete Hallsten presented DTE Jack Hoffman with his 20 year service award.

Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT

DCE Randy Merritt presented Doyle Yarbrough with his 5 year service award.

Photo: Cody Beers/WYDOT

Photo: Doug McGee

Fischer White

Skubal Markley

Blakesley

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.

Congratulations to all our recipients!

August 2022

Corey Bozell

Keith Carothers

Lew Fausett

Victor Dan Flores

William Lander

Steve Otto

Connor Pae

Kelly Rounds

Travis Schriner

Payton Thomas

November 2022

Tyd Erickson

December 2022

Joe Bennett

Brittany Branson

Jeremy Frisbee

Rodney Miears

Carson Morales

For more information about the Extra Mile Award or to nominate an employee, contact dot.humanresources@wyo.gov.

Rides

“Have canoe, will travel!” Jordan Achs, of the Public Affairs Office, shared this photo of her little, but mighty, hatchback sedan hauling a canoe built for two –and a dog.

Photo: Jordan Achs

A Wyoming Highway Patrol vehicle responds to stuck and crashed vehicles on WYO 213 in early February. Blowing and drifting snow caused vehicles to get stuck despite the road being closed.

Photo: WYDOT

A WYDOT plow addresses drifting snow at the Bozeman Trail site on WYO 387. Beyond keeping the highways clear, WYDOT crews also have to find time to clean up rest areas, parking areas and other assets that are just as prone to drifting snow.

Photo: WYDOT

Winter Wonderland

A plow driver on I-25 shows crews fighting a major drift that was forming under an interchange just north of Chugwater at milepost 65.

WYDOT crews in Laramie County took advantage of low winds at night to clean up some drifting on WYO 215 with a rotary plow. Winds often blow the drifts back as quick as crews can plow them, so a break in the weather can help crews get ahead of future storms.

A plow works to break through a major drift on WYO 789/US 287 southeast of Lander between Sweetwater Station and Muddy Gap. The Muddy Gap area between Lander, Rawlins and Casper has been a particularly challenging area of the state this winter for WYDOT crews.

WYDOT crews in both plows and rotaries are forced to work around a stuck driver who illegally passed the road closure gates at WYO 28 over South Pass. Stuck vehicles cause delays for crews trying to reopen the road. WYDOT has seen an increase in gate runners this winter season.

WYDOT plow operator Gary Lance stands with his arm stretched upward to show the severity of the drifting on I-80 between Rock Springs and Rawlins. Crews had to use rotaries and other heavy equipment to even make a dent in the drifting. FYI, Lance is not a short guy...

A WYDOT rotary plow clears drifting on I-80 near mile post 149. Drifts like this one caused extended closures on I-80 as crews spent weeks battling strong winds and snow.

A plow using a V-plow attachment addresses drifting on US Highway 14 near Burgess Junction in District 4. Drifting has affected all types of roads in the state, from the two-lane rural highways to the major interstates.

Photo: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

A WYDOT motor grader with a V-plow attachment barely makes a dent in the major drifting on WYO 72.

Photo: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

Passings

Mike L. Johnson

Michael “Mike” Lloyd Johnson, 74, passed away on Jan. 23.

Johnson was born September 6, 1948, in Kearney, Nebraska to John and Cleo (Huffman) Johnson and was soon joined by a brother, Don. When Johnson was a toddler, his dad drowned in a boating accident on Plum Creek Lake in Nebraska. His mom moved the boys back to the homestead north of Hulett, Wyoming known as “The Old Johnson Place.”

Johnson’s mother married Leonard Stoddard, and Johnson was soon granted another brother, Steve, and a sister, Cindy. On the ranch, hard work and discipline were learned early, traits that never faded. Anything worth doing was worth doing right the first time and everyone contributed.

Johnson graduated high school in Hulett, Wyoming and attended college in Casper. While in the Casper area, Johnson operated heavy equipment at a uranium mine and later worked for the Wyoming Highway Department in the Hulett.

In 1974, Johnson became a proud member of the Wyoming Highway Patrol. In those years, while attending the law enforcement academy, Johnson and his classmates slept in sheep sheds at the fairgrounds where having snow on his blanket was not unusual.

Johnson married Linda Hoffman in 1975 and the couple settled in Gillette where Johnson continued his work with the Highway Patrol. Daughter, Jodi, was born to the union in 1977 and son, Jay, in 1981.

Johnson married Sherry Walker in 1983 and the couple moved to Laramie to accommodate a promotion to sergeant with the Highway Patrol. Johnson was promoted to lieutenant in 1999 and led the State Trooper division based in Laramie, until he retired in 2004 with thirty years of service.

In 2004, Johnson started a company where he specialized in various home

construction projects. Johnson quickly became known for exceptional workmanship and his word was his bond. Johnson’s loyalty and eagerness to help resulted in many remarkable friendships and many believed there was nothing he could not fix.

Johnson enjoyed chairing Saturday “bored” meetings consisting of local friends and coffee where many world problems neared solving. For many years, Johnson also organized the Sunday morning breakfast gatherings consisting of large groups of friends.

Johnson remained actively involved in his community through various organizations to include the Elks, Moose, Masons, Shriners, Knights of Pythias and York Rite Bodies.

Johnson’s meticulous attention to detail made him a very talented woodworker and his hand-crafted projects touched the lives of many. Johnson thought the world of all his grandchildren and loved watching them grow. Naturally, as a State Trooper, Johnson enjoyed the open road and loved cross country trips with his pickup and camper. Johnson enjoyed visiting historical sites along the way but, as a native to ranch life, mostly enjoyed the open road and looking at new country.

At Johnson’s request, a family graveside service will be held in Gillette upon nice weather in spring 2023.

Memorial donations may be made in Michael’s name to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/give

Fred J. Madrid

Alfred Joseph Madrid, 87, known by family and friends as “Fred,” passed away on Feb. 5, 2023 at Life Care Center in Cheyenne.

ly 69 years of marriage together.

He was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Parish, where he served as a liturgist for many years.

Madrid spent his career in Highway Development-Project Development at the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency, retiring after 37 years.

Upon retirement, Madrid and his wife, traveled the world visiting 38 countries and spent quality time with family and friends. He dedicated weekly rounds on the golf course with his three sons for decades, sharing his love of golf with them and other friends. The door was always open at their house, and many hours were spent eating delicious food, sharing wonderful conversation and stories, and the occasional outburst directed toward the football game on television. He adored his family and truly loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and was equally adored by them.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 10 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish in Cheyenne.

Connie M. Merrick

Connie Mae Merrick, 78, of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, died on Feb. 6 in Loveland, Colorado.

She was born on June 13, 1944 in Sacramento, California.

Merrick was a billing associate at Blue Cross Blue Shield, a hair dresser, and worked in Financial Services-Disbursements at the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency. She had celebrated a 10-year service anniversary with the state in March 1983.

She loved to cook for her family, play pinochle with her friends and play games on the computer.

Madrid

Madrid was born on July 6, 1935 in Cheyenne, Wyoming to Joseph and Viola Madrid. Fred spent his entire life in Cheyenne, graduating from St. Mary’s High School in 1953, where he met Sally Gray, the love of his life. The couple spent near-

Services were held Feb. 17 at North Christian Church.

Johnson

Merrick

WTDEA

WYOMING TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION

We are looking for employees to join us in our fellowship

You can become involved by signing up with your local District chapter, attending meetings, joining the board of officers and participating in planning events and fundraisers that can help keep all of our employees connected. The more members we have that are willing to step up – the further our mission can spread.

The WTDEA was founded in 1956 with a primary purpose of encouraging harmony, promoting employee morale and serving as a liaison between employees and staff.

From WYDOT employees’ ideas and suggestions, WTDEA has facilitated department policies and changes such as:

• Sick Leave Donations

• Military Leave

• Employee recognition programs

• Changes to hardhat policy

• WYDOT Employee Relief Fund

• Maintenance equipment safety upgrades

District 3 snow maintainers – lifesavers

I am unsure which department actually takes care of the highway between Kemmerer and Cokeville, or I would reach out directly to them.

I cannot thank them enough for the great care they have taken to clear the road and make sure it is widened. If they would not have done such a great job, I potentially could not even be writing this email right now. Due to a near-miss head on collision, I had swerved all the way into to the snow berm, which was on the edge of the shoulder.

Thank you guys so much for the pride and care you took in your job, as you have saved me and my two children’s lives last night.

Lisa Wiswell via email

Way to go, Driver Services!

• AM/FM radios in equipment

• Mechanic tool allowance

• Employee’s Memorial

• Clothing allowance

We strive to maintain and improve morale in the department by hosting events to create an atmosphere of harmony and friendship among employees. We also promote fundraisers to maintain the WYDOT Employee Relief Fund, helping our employees in times of unexpected circumstances. We also hold fundraisers to fund WTDEA Scholarships awarded to undergraduate students throughout the state.

Contact Your District Chapter to Join Today

WTDEA District Contacts

Headquarters

Justin Mordahl, President

Chelsey Lindsay, Vice President

Pam Fredrick, Treasurer

Audrey Hobbs, Secretary

District 1

Rich Barber, President; Laramie

Brandon Strannigan, Vice President; Saratoga

District 2

David Cullison, President; Casper

Zach Miller, Vice President; Douglas

Debbie Herbold, Secretary/Treasurer; Casper

District 3

Paul Schurman, President; Rock Springs

Michael Kennedy, Vice President; Afton

Ember Brown, Secretary; Evanston

Christina Kindler, Treasurer; Rock Springs

District 4

Erik Brannigan, President; Sheridan

Laura Dalles, Vice President; Sheridan

Keri Griffith, Secretary; Sheridan

Paul Miller, Treasurer; Sheridan

District 5

Christa Hauser, President; South Pass

John Farr, Vice President; Lander

Cole Mosegard, Secretary/Treasurer; Basin

On the morning of Feb. 6, I visited the Laramie WYDOT building to renew my driver’s license. While horror stories abound involving trips to the DMV [sic], my experience was wonderful.

The two employees – one male, one female – engaged each customer with cheer and kindness. I was personally helped by the lady behind the counter. She made the drudgery of Monday morning’s bureaucratic boredom fun and enjoyable.

A pat on the back, high five or fist bump should head their way.

Joel Charles via email

Don’t be a flake. Buckle up.

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To learn more about the account everyone is talking about, text to 800.442.2392 or go to www.wyhy.org

Break Time

Find the five differences in the photos at the right. Enjoy the break from your workday!

Answer to the February 2023 Break Time maze:

Name change, I am a family member of a deceased employee, but I would like to continue receiving Interchange.

Wyoming Department of Transportation

5300 Bishop Blvd. Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340

Address Service Requested