Bridges close for rehabilitation in Powell and Cowley, bridge work starts on US 14-16-20 west of Cody

A 45-day closure of a pair of bridges near Powell and Cowley is scheduled to begin Monday, July 31.

Bridge rehabilitation will take place on WYO 295 (Bent Street Canal Bridge in Powell (milepost 12.55)) and WYO 35 (Cannery Road outside of Cowley (milepost 0.72)).

“Citizens will need to use alternative routes during the closures,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Kaia Tharp of Thermopolis. “We apologize for the inconvenience.”

The work near Powell and Cowley is part of a $2.95 million bridge rehabilitation project on four bridges this year and 14 bridges this year and next year in northwest Wyoming. The work is scheduled in Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs and Park counties.

Repairs and improvements include bridge deck repair, silica fume overlay, expansion joint replacement, and a few approach slab replacements.

The bridge rehabilitation work this summer and next summer on the other 14 bridges includes seven on the North Fork of the Shoshone River (US 14-16-20 west of Cody, one bridge on the South Fork of the Shoshone River (WYO 291), three bridges between Cody and the Montana State Line on WYO 120, the Greybull River Bridge in Greybull, and two bridges south of Dubois on US 26-287 southeast of Dubois.

Work started west of Cody Tuesday at 50 Mile bridge (milepost 4.7), about 45 miles west of Cody. “The contractor will be replacing expansion joints and repairing bridge decks,” Tharp said. “Drivers should expect minor traffic delays, and traffic will be controlled with portable traffic signals. Two-way traffic will be maintained the weekend of the Eclipse (Aug. 17 to Aug. 23).

“The contractor is trying to get as much work done this summer and fall while the weather is good, so they won't run into problems if the weather does not cooperate,” Tharp said.

Information about this news release is available by calling WYDOT public relations specialist Cody Beers at (307) 431-1803.