Rock removal project begins after Labor Day west of Cody

Removal of more than 10,000 cubic yards of rock overhanging US 14-16-20 west of Cody near Buffalo Bill Reservoir is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Sept. 5, following the Labor Day weekend.

In addition to removal of more than 10,000 cubic yards of rock, project work includes removal of loose rock through scaling, and installation of rock bolts and rockfall barriers above the roadway.

The $1.68 million project  "is being driven  by numerous falling rock events and input from local citizens," according to Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Todd Frost of Cody.

The project work is between mileposts 44.39 and 45.37, which begins about a mile west of the long tunnel on US 14-16-20 and ends at the long tunnel.

Prime contractor on the project is Wilson Brothers Construction of Cowley.

Project work is scheduled through September, October and November. "There will be blasting on the project, and there will be traffic delays," Frost said.

By contract, the prime contractor is required to allow unrestricted traffic, without stops, to drive through the project area between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on working days to allow daily commuters to make their way to Cody and home again in the late afternoon. "At other times, the maximum delay time will be 20 minutes," Frost said.

Traffic will be controlled by flaggers and pilot vehicles.

The WYO 296 (Chief Joseph Scenic Highway) portion of this project is scheduled to be finished prior to Labor Day weekend, except for seeding. It involved replacing existing 25-year-old rock mesh through Paint Rock Canyon at a cost of $520,000.

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