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Commission awards $62.7 million in contracts in September

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation will pave 13 miles of Interstate 80 between Rock Springs and Rawlins to improve the surface.

The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded Interstate Highway Construction Inc., of Englewood, Colorado, a $20.8 million contract for the work in Sweetwater County. The commission awarded that and six other projects totaling $62.7 million at its meeting in September.

For the I-80 work, crews will mill the existing asphalt surface and replace it with concrete, which typically lasts longer. Crews will also replace the Baxter Interchange near Rock Springs by reconstructing the underneath portion of the structure.

The contract completion date for the work is Nov. 30, 2021.

The other contracts the commission approved included paving, chip sealing and road widening work.

Simon Contractors, of Cheyenne, was the low bidder on a $19.8 million contract for the Interstate 80 Winter Freight Improvement Project. WYDOT previously received a federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant for the work.

Crews will install truck climbing lanes on 2 miles eastbound over Halleck Ridge and 3.53 miles westbound between Cooper Cove and Quealy Dome Road.

The project also includes installing Ft. Steele and Quealy Dome truck parking areas, which will each accommodate about 100 trucks.

If the interstate closes, the additional truck parking will enable truck drivers to park safely while they wait for winter conditions to improve. If the interstate is open but conditions are poor, truck drivers can use the truck parking to wait out the storm.

Additionally, the additional climbing lanes will help with traffic flow and will also help prevent secondary crashes when the interstate reopens following a road closure.

The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2022.

The commission awarded Avail Valley Construction LLC, of Afton, a $19.7 million for a 9-mile road widening and reconstruction contract for US 89 between Thayne and Alpine Junction.

Crews will widen the lanes from two to five, creating two lanes northbound, two southbound and a center turning lane. Crews will also perform pavement work on the road to improve the road surface. The contract completion date is June 30, 2022.

Also awarded by the commission were contracts for: • $1 million to Mountain Construction

Co., of Lovell, for a materials stockpiling contract for various locations in

Fremont County by June 30, 2021; • $676,828 to Oftedal Construction Inc., of Casper, for a rock scaling contract on I-80 at the bottom of Telephone

Canyon in Albany County by Aug. 31, 2021; • $515,179 to Northern Improvement

Co., of Fargo, North Dakota, for a chip sealing contract on about 13 miles of

WYO 159 beginning in Torrington in

Goshen County by Aug. 31, 2021; and • $77,055 to S&L Industrial, of Cowley, for a slope paving and bridge repair contract on I-80 at the Ft. Steele Interchange in Carbon County by Nov. 30, 2020.

FMCSA announces extension of deadline for expired CDL/CLP holders

CHEYENNE – Commercial driver license and commercial learner’s permit holders whose credentials have expired or will soon expire now have until Dec. 31, 2020 to renew.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has pushed the extension on certain expired credentials until Dec. 31, 2020. Previously, FMCSA provided extensions for commercial driver licenses and permits back in April because of the coronavirus pandemic. That extension was initially set to expire on Sept. 30, 2020.

The most recent extension also applies to DOT Medical Examiner’s certificate, but the extension dates on this waiver are slightly different. For CDL or CLP holders whose DOT Medical Examiner’s certification expired between March 1, 2020 but before June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383. 73(o)(4) is waived until Oct. 31, 2020.

For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383. 73(o)(4) is waived until Dec. 31, 2020.

“Even though FMCSA has pushed the deadline on these extensions, our offices are open and we are urging commercial drivers to renew their expired (or expiring) credential either in person or by mail prior to the expiration date on the card to eliminate any potential backlog that may occur,” said Misty Dobson, program manager for Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Driver Services Office. “In addition, if you have obtained a new DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate, please ensure we get a copy of this before you current card expires.”

Drivers who haven’t already renewed their expired licenses and are currently operating under the FMCSA waiver or Gov. Gordon’s Executive Order 2020-9 should visit their local exam stations to have their CDL/CLP renewed.

Drivers who need to submit a valid DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate to the department can email it to CDL@wyo. gov, send it by fax to (307) 777-4922 or drop it off at any Driver Services location.

District 1

Bridge work began on I-25 southbound near Lincolnway

CHEYENNE – Starting Sept. 21, motorists on I-25 southbound in Cheyenne were warned of potential delays as maintenance crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation worked on

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The southbound passing lane between mileposts 8.9-9.14 were closed through the week as crews worked on structure repairs, including slab and deck surface repair work.

The work zone is close to high-traffic areas like the I-25/US 30 (Lincolnway) interchange as well as the I-25/I-80 interchange.

A width restriction of 14.5 feet was in place and oversized loads needed to find alternative routes.

Unlike similar work that occurred in this area in August, this project did not affect interstate on- and off-ramps within the work zone.

Train derailment cleanup along US 30

BOSLER – Motorists on US 30/287 just south of Bosler were encouraged to stay alert and be prepared to slow down as crews worked to clean up debris from a train derailment that occurred the weekend of Aug. 22.

Cleanup efforts near milepost 312 involved frequent highway crossings by personnel, equipment parking or moving within the highway rights-of-way and equipment frequently entering and exiting the highway, among other activity.

Derailment cleanup along US 30/287 south of Bosler.

Photo: WYDOT

Potential cattle in rights-of-way near Hanna

HANNA – Motorists through Hanna were warned to stay alert for potential cattle within the rights-of-way after the 316 Wildfire over Labor Day weekend burned several miles of the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s right-ofway fencing.

WYDOT maintenance crews worked to repair the burnt areas, which are primarily located along US 30/287 and WYO 72 near Hanna.

Critical areas of fencing are being prioritized first for repairs, but cattle may wander into the roadway until repairs are complete. The project was expected to take multiple weeks.

District 3

Temporary signals deployed to help with congestion on off-ramp

EVANSTON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation addressed congestion issues at the I-80 eastbound off-ramp onto Front Street in Evanston.

Preliminary investigation by WYDOT showed an issue with summer weekend/ holiday traffic backing up onto the interstate, especially recreational trailers and motor homes, trying to turn left off the off-ramp.

WYDOT deployed portable signals as a temporary solution to observe traffic operations and safety. The traffic team placed three portable traffic signals on each leg of traffic at the on-ramp. Signal wait times were adjusted to prevent queuing on the off-ramp.

The signals began normal operation Sept. 2 and carried throughout the Labor day weekend. The signals were removed on Sept. 8.

“This being a holiday weekend, we thought this would be an ideal situation to deploy this demonstration project. We can use the information and data we collect from this weekend and use it to help decide what to do in the future from here,” WYDOT District Traffic Engineer Darin Kaufman said.

Evanston congestion issues were addressed Labor Day weekend with temporary traffic lights.

Photo: WYDOT Wildlife warning signs installed in Sheridan, Johnson, Weston counties

SHERIDAN – WYDOT and contractors finished installing new wildlife warning signs with LED flashing borders.

Solar powered, these new signs replaced several static wildlife warning signs found on Wyoming highways. Although they may look like the traditional signs to the naked eye, the LED flashing border is visible from dusk to dawn indicating a high animal activity area. The signs are set to flash only during months of higher animal activity in each area.

WYDOT worked with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to determine the locations and times of year with the highest animal-vehicle collisions in northeast Wyoming for these signs.

The project is a low-cost safety measure to attempt to lower the number of animal-vehicle collisions and is one of the first of its kind in Wyoming. Signs were installed in the following locations: • I-90: Milepost 10-32 from Ranchester to Sheridan; • WYO 335: Milepost 0-9.5 from the

Big Horn Y to Red Grade Road; • I-90: Milepost 43-55 from Piney Creek to Buffalo; • US 16: Milepost 48-63 west of Buffalo near Powder River Pass; • US 16: Milepost 0-17 east of Buffalo to

Ucross; • I-25: Milepost 290-300 south of Buffalo to Trabing Road; • I-90: Milepost 59-108 east of Buffalo to Kingsbury Road; and • US 16: Milepost 250- 259 east of Newcastle to the South Dakota state line.

Photo: WYDOT New solar powered LED signage placed to help WYDOT and WGFD lessen animal-vehicle collisions.

Gillette intersections closed nightly to place thermoplastic pavement markings

GILLETTE – WYDOT and its contractor S & L Industrial installed thermoplastic pavement markings at various intersections around Gillette during three weeks in September.

The work began Aug. 31 with closures beginning at 6 p.m. Contractors worked throughout the night and ended operations at 6 a.m. each day. The closures were Monday through Friday and were completed by Sept. 18.

Thermoplastic pavement markings are thicker and more wear-resistant than other types of marking paints. These markings are used to clearly mark traffic lanes, road boundaries, crossings and turn arrows at intersections.

District 5

Passing lane construction east of Moneta on US 20/26

SHOSHONI – Work continued on construction of seven sets of passing lanes between Shoshoni and Casper on US 20/26.

The $5.8 million project begins east of Moneta (milepost 76) and continues to Waltman (milepost 51.6).

The new US 20/26 passing lanes are being constructed between mileposts 51.6 to 52.7 (passing lane 1), mileposts 54.8 to 56.0 (passing lane 2), mileposts 57.1 to 58.3 (passing lane 3), mileposts 61.6 to 62.8 (passing lane 4), mileposts 64.9 to 66.4 (passing lane 5), mileposts 68.5 to 69.7 (passing lane 6), and mileposts 74.5 to 76.0 (passing lane 7).

Crushed gravel base was placed on passing lane 7 the week of Sept. 18, east of Moneta. The contractor worked until 7 p.m. each day and Saturdays.

Other major work involves removal of surfacing, grading, leveling and repaving of the Waltman Rest Area parking area.

The rest area was closed for up to two weeks during the project.

Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell, is the prime contractor on the US 20/26 passing lane project. The contractor was awarded the contract on July 18, 2019, by the Wyoming Transportation Commission. Contract completion date is Oct. 31.

Work on passing lanes being constructed on US 20/26 east of Moneta Sept. 17.

Photo: WYDOT

Night grinding began between 14th, 15th streets in Cody

CODY – Concrete grinding began Sept. 21, between 14th and 15th streets and between Beck and Alger avenues on the Sheridan Avenue concrete rehabilitation project in downtown Cody.

Night grinding hours are scheduled between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

“The contractor completed all work from 14th Street through 15th Street on the south half of Sheridan Avenue, except for some minor Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades on the southeast corner of 15th Street,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Todd Frost of Cody. “The south intersection of 15th Street/Sheridan Avenue and the lane closure reopens to live traffic tonight.”

The west side Alger Avenue/17th Street intersection reopened to traffic Sept. 1, in Cody, but the west side of the Beck Avenue intersection closed as improvements continued on the $4.93 million Sheridan Avenue concrete rehabilitation project.

Continued work by contractor S&S Builders LLC, of Gillette, includes replacement of concrete slabs, curb and gutter, double gutter, sidewalk and ADA upgrades around the corner from 17th Street to Sheridan Avenue in the eastbound lanes.

“The west side of the Beck Avenue/17th Street intersection remained closed for this work,” Frost said.

During the $4.93 million Sheridan Avenue project, traffic was carried on one lane in each direction on one side of the street, while work was being completed on the other half of the street.

The work zone speed limit was set at 20 mph and left turns were not allowed through the work zone.

WYO 120 paving complete south of Cody; chip seal set for June 2021

CODY – Asphalt paving is complete on a $5.5 million highway improvement project south of Cody on WYO 120.

Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell, is the prime contractor on the 6.8-mile project.

The Cody South project is located between the WYO 120/US 14/16/20 intersection adjacent to Yellowstone Regional Airport and milepost 74 near the snowplow turnaround south of the Park County Landfill.

“The contractor is working on signs, mailboxes, reclamation and other cleanup,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Todd Frost of Cody. “Guardrail will be placed on the Cody Canal and Alkali Lake bridges, as there’s been a delay in receiving some of these materials. All this work, except the chip seal and shoulder fog seal, will be completed by Oct. 31. Motorists should expect short traffic delays.”

The newly-paved highway’s chip seal and fog seal is scheduled for June 2021.

The WYO 120 project includes full reconstruction from the intersection of WYO 120 and US 14/16/20 (milepost 81.21) to the south for 2,000 feet. A 5-inch asphalt pavement mill and overlay hooks into the reconstructed highway and continues to near the entrance of the Park County Landfill, and pavement leveling and a pavement overlay complete the project from just south of the landfill turnoff to milepost 74.

Contract completion date is Oct. 31.