Wyoming Transportation Commission awards $20.3 million in contracts

February 24, 2012

Contracts totaling nearly $20.3 million for 13 projects around the state were awarded by the Wyoming Transportation Commission during its February meeting in Cheyenne. 

New parking areas to allow vehicles on Interstate 80 to safely install or remove tire chains for crossing the hills known as the Three Sisters east of Evanston will be built under a $6.3 million contract awarded to low bidder H-K Contractors of Idaho Falls. The contract completion date is June 30, 2013.
 
A truck parking area at the Fort Bridger Interchange will have space for up to 100 trucks when needed during highway closures or when the chain law is in effect. New chaining areas just east of Evanston will be parallel to the highway to allow vehicles to pull off and safely install or remove chains. The area for eastbound vehicles will accommodate up to 20 trucks installing chains, and the area for westbound traffic will accommodate up to 10 trucks removing chains.
 
Lovell’s Mountain Construction submitted the low bid of $2.6 million for patching work to preserve the pavement on highways in Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie counties by Sept. 30.
 
New electronic equipment to help get road, weather and traffic information to the public will be installed on I-80 and WYO 28 under a $2.4 million contract won by Custom Lighting Services of Sandy, Utah. The work will include a new dynamic message sign on I-80 east of Cheyenne, a new Web camera on I-80 in the Three Sisters area east of Evanston, new variable speed limit signs in the Elk Mountain and Laramie areas, and new weather sensors between Laramie and Cheyenne. WYO 28 will get variable speed limit signs on the 27-mile section over South Pass. The contract completion date is Oct. 31.
 
Custom also won a $1.2 million contract to install new road closure gates on I-25 at Chugwater, and new electronic message signs over the highway north and south of Chugwater. The work also will include installation of new lighting at the Chugwater Interchange, and the project is expected to be complete by Sept. 30.
 
Metal snow support structures to help prevent avalanches will be installed east of US 26-89 south of Jackson under a $2.3 million contract awarded to AIS Construction of Carpinteria, Calif. Because of the elevation and steepness of the terrain, the structures must be installed using helicopters. Planting of native trees in front of the structures is expected to follow next year with a contract completion date of June 30, 2013.
 
Cheyenne’s Reiman Corp. won a $1.7 million contract for rehabilitation work on 14 bridges on I-80 in the Laramie and Arlington areas and one bridge on WYO 130 near Centennial. The work is expected to begin in late April and be completed by Oct. 31.
 
The intersection of Grand Avenue and 30th Street in Laramie will be reconstructed and widened to accommodate turn lanes under a $1.1 million contract awarded to Simon Contractors of Cheyenne. A dedicated right-turn lane for westbound traffic on Grand turning onto 30th will be added, along with a signal-controlled left-turn lane on 30th for southbound travelers turning onto Grand. The work is scheduled to be done by June 15.
 
The Mortimore Lane Bridge on Fremont County Road 20 will be replaced under a $1 million contract awarded to Cannon Builders of Blackfoot, Idaho. The bridge has been closed since being damaged by flooding. The contract completion date is Nov. 30.
 
Other contracts awarded by the commission during the meeting included:
  • Patrick Construction, Lander, $400,000, for drainage improvements, slope flattening and widening of safety shoulders on US 287 about 4 miles south of Diversion Dam Junction by Sept. 30;
     
  • S&S Builders, Gillette, $391,000, for rehabilitation work on an I-90 bridge west of Moorcroft and two WYO 331 bridges west of Sheridan by Sept. 30;
     
  • Fencetrak, Big Piney, $376,000, for right-of-way fence replacement along WYO 295 north of Powell by Aug. 31;
     
  • Caylor & Genz Earthmovers, Torrington, $288,000, for drainage improvements on WYO 156 at Bulldog Draw west of Torrington by Sept. 30;
     
  • 4M Welding & Construction, Carpenter, $163,000, for right-of-way fence replacement along WYO 343 north of Dayton by Sept. 30.