WYDOT crews able to make WIMS repairs ahead of schedule

WILSON - A recent break in the weather allowed crews a window of opportunity to diagnose and replace some radio technology at one of the communications relay towers on Teton Pass that was causing issues for the weigh-in-motion system (WIMS).

“There is a tower and a small building on the top of Teton Pass that houses some radio equipment used for the WIMS.  It is difficult to get up there in the winter,” Wyoming Department of Transportation Maintenance Foreman Bruce Daigle said.  

WYDOT Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technicians needed to access the tower and building in order to diagnose and address the communication issues.  WYDOT maintenance workers and technicians were able to use a snowcat to access the location, evaluate and ultimately repair the communications issues the system was experiencing.  

“Skiing into the area would have been difficult, considering how much equipment they would have to haul in.  It would have taken them several trips,” Daigle said. 

The WIMS was constructed in 2014.  The purpose of the unmanned scale is to weigh and measure trucks and trailers passing through and alert the Highway Patrol of vehicles in violation of trailer and weight restrictions on Teton Pass.  Late last year, the system began experiencing communication issues—some of the information was not making it to the Highway Patrol dispatch. 

WYDOT’s technicians were able to replace some of the radio equipment and bring the WIMS back on line.  The system is now operational and communicating with Highway Patrol Dispatch.  

“The weigh-in-motion system is like an extra phone call--an extra notification.  The notification, in conjunction with phone calls from the public and our WYDOT guys, as well as our heavy presence on the pass, helps us identify violators.  The weigh-in-motion clarifies known issues that we have already been addressing on the pass.  It’s just another tool for us to use,” Highway Patrol Lieutenant Matthew Brackin said. 

For information about road closures and weather conditions, please visit http://www.wyoroad.info.  If you have questions about WYDOT, please visit the department's website.