Feb. 13 public meeting scheduled on Cody's Sheridan Avenue project; project begins March 2

Cody citizens and business owners are invited to a Feb. 13 public meeting concerning the upcoming $4.93 million Sheridan Avenue highway improvement project in Cody.

The public meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, in the Cody Auditorium.

Prime contractor S&S Builders, LLC, of Gillette and Wyoming Department of Transportation will host the Feb. 13 public meeting, being held prior to the start of construction activities on March 2 in the Sheridan Avenue/10th Street intersection, weather permitting.

Weekly public work progress meetings will be held at 10 a.m. every Tuesday between March 3 and June 9 at the Cody Club Room. Citizens and businesses are invited to these weekly meetings, where the prime contractor will answer questions and share a two-week schedule of upcoming work.

S&S Builders, LLC, was awarded the Sheridan Avenue concrete rehabilitation project last Nov. 21 by the Wyoming Transportation Commission.

The Sheridan Avenue (U.S. 14/16/20) project -- between 10th Street and Stampede Avenue in Cody -- was originally bid last September, and all the bids were rejected by the Wyoming Transportation Commission.

"A few items were changed on the project, and it was rebid in November and awarded," said Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Todd Frost of Cody. "This maintenance/repair project can't be delayed, or the roadway will continue to deteriorate to the point where it will require full reconstruction. To date, no maintenance has been done on the street in 33-plus years."

The Sheridan Avenue project includes removing and replacing existing damaged concrete slabs, resealing existing concrete joints, grinding and texturing existing roadway, upgrading ADA at every corner between 10th Street and Stampede Avenue, and replacing broken curb and gutter and sidewalk.

Changes to the Sheridan Avenue project include:

• Phase I was changed (from complete all work from 10th Street to 15th Street by June 15, 2020) to complete all work from 10th Street to 14th Street by June 15, 2020;
• Phase II was changed (from complete all work from 15th Street to Alger Avenue after Aug. 24, 2020 prior to winter shut down) to complete all work from 14th Street to Alger Avenue through concrete grinding and texturing prior to 2020 winter shut down;
• Phase III was changed (from complete all remaining work prior to June 15, 2020) to complete all remaining work except resealing joints and pavement markings on Phase II and Phase III prior to June 15, 2021;
• Phase IV was added from Aug. 24, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2021, to complete all remaining sealing of joints and pavement markings.

"WYDOT did add a $200,000 incentive to the project contract to complete all work on the project prior to June 15, 2021," Frost said.

As part of its contract with WYDOT, S&S Builders, LLC, won't be allowed to work on the project between June 15, 2020, and Aug. 24, 2020, and all construction equipment/traffic cones will be removed from the project during this time.

#CodyImprovements has been designated as the project hashtag for social media communications, and citizens will be informed of project happenings through traditional media (newspaper and radio), through the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce newsletter, and by twice-monthly updates delivered to Sheridan Avenue businesses.

For information about this news release, please contact Cody Beers, WYDOT public relations specialist, at (307) 431-1803.