TRAFFIC DETOURS SET TO BEGIN ON I-25 BRIDGE PROJECT

CASPER - The detours are in place and demolition work on two Interstate 25 bridges spanning Walsh Drive in Casper is about to begin.

Interstate traffic will be detoured to newly constructed ramp/detours around the bridges on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Interstate traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction through the construction area and speeds will be reduced to 30 mph. The construction/detour area runs from just west of Curtis Street to the Yellowstone Highway bridge.

Southbound traffic to I-25 will not be able to use the Yellowstone Highway on ramp, instead, that traffic will need to use the Curtis Street interchange. Northbound traffic will still be able to use the Curtis Street interchange as well as the Bryan Stock Trail on ramp. Interstate traffic (northbound) and Yellowstone Highway traffic will be separated by concrete barriers. Access to businesses along this stretch of Yellowstone Highway will remain open.

Demolition of the bridges is set to begin on Monday, Aug. 16. Demolition is expected to occur for 20 days, assuming there are no delays or other unforeseen problems, for up to 20 hours each day.

These detours will be in place for the duration of the project and will allow work to continue throughout the year and without traffic pressure.

The contractor, Ames Construction, of Burnsville, Minn., is tearing down the aging bridges to replace them with one span, approximately 850 feet in length, or roughly half the length of the current structures. The project has a contractual completion date of June 30, 2023. The cost of the project is $29.7 million. It is the first of three projects on I-25 through Casper over the next six years.