Transportation Commission awards $29.5 million in contracts

Contracts totaling $29.5 million for eight projects around the state, including two to be funded through increased fuel tax revenue, were awarded by the Wyoming Transportation Commission during its February meeting in Cheyenne.

Nearly 7 miles of I-25, from the Bull Creek bridge south of Buffalo to the I-90 Interchange north of Buffalo, will be improved under a contract won by Riverside Contracting of Missoula, Mont., which submitted the low bid of $16.3 million. The work will include cracking and compacting the deteriorating concrete pavement, which dates back to the late 1960s, and using that material as a base for a new layer of asphalt. Also included will be rehabilitation work on 14 bridges and culverts. Work will begin on the northbound lanes, and the contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2016.

LeGrand Johnson Construction of Logan, Utah, was the low bidder at $4.9 million for improvements to nearly 5 miles of US 287 about 15 miles southeast of Lander. The work will include a new layer of pavement over the entire section and areas of full reconstruction at the south end of the project, where bentonite under the road is causing frost heaves that damage the pavement. Trenches lined with waterproof fabric will be used under the reconstructed road sections to prevent future heaves. The project will be funded with revenue from the 10-cent fuel tax increase, and it is scheduled to be done by June 30, 2016.

Bituminous Paving Inc. of Ortonville, Minn., submitted the low bid of $3.4 million for chip sealing to extend the life of the pavement on highway sections in Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan and Weston counties by Aug. 31. About $1.9 million of the funding for the project will come from the 10-cent fuel tax increase.

Casper’s Knife River won a $2.1 million contract for chip sealing and microsurfacing work on sections of US 30 in Albany County, and US 85, WYO 211, WYO 212, WYO 213, WYO 219 and WYO 222 in Laramie County. The chip sealing will improve a total of 44 miles of highway and the work is expected to be done by Sept. 30.

Simon Contractors and Subsidiaries of Cheyenne was the low bidder at $1.8 million for a contract to replace damaged concrete slabs at the Thayer Interchange and Sage Creek Road overpass on I-80 in Rawlins, and on Spruce Street at various locations between Third and 16th streets in Rawlins. The contract completion date is Aug. 31, 2016.

Lewis & Lewis Inc. of Rock Springs won a $782,000 contract to install cable median barrier and modify bridge railings to improve safety on nearly 3 miles of I-80 through Green River. The contract completion date is June 30.

Maxwell Asphalt of Salt Lake City won a $136,000 contract for crack sealing on airport runways, taxiways and aprons at airports in Big Piney, Cody, Fort Bridger, Greybull, Powell, Riverton and Worland by June. 30.

Torrington’s Caylor and Genz Earthmovers submitted the low bid of $48,000 to place rocks on the banks of an irrigation canal that runs under the south end of the WYO 156 bridge over the North Platte River about 2 miles south of Lingle. The work will protect the bridge abutment from erosion, and it is expected to be done by May 31.