Transportation Commission awards $23 million in contracts at May meeting

Bridge reconstruction and overlay work will move to the eastbound lanes on a 2-mile section of I-80 near Pine Bluffs during the 2016 and 2017 construction seasons.

The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded an $8 million contract to SEMA Construction Inc. and Subsidiaries of Centennial, Colo., during its meeting on May 19. That was the largest contract the commission awarded out of a total of $23 million in contracts for 15 projects throughout the state.

In 2014, the commission awarded similar work on the 2-mile section of I-80 for the westbound lanes, which will be completed in June.

“We’re removing three bridges in that area and rebuilding them, similar to what we did in the westbound lane,” said Tim Morton, Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer in Cheyenne.

The milling and overlay portion of the work will improve pavement conditions for motorists. WYDOT is having the bridges removed and rebuilt because of the age and condition of the structures.                                                         

This construction season will be devoted to prep work, and the actual reconstruction will take place during the 2017 construction season. The project is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2018.

The other contracts the commission awarded are for pavement overlay work, landslide mitigation, traffic signal upgrades, rumble strip installation and other work.

DRM Inc. of Gillette was the low bidder at $3.6 million for the Rupe Hill landslide mitigation work on 1.4 miles of US 14 between Devils Tower Junction and Sundance in Crook County. Workers will realign US 14 to an area that’s more geologically stable. WYDOT did an environmental impact study on Rupe Hill to ensure the best course of action for that area. The contract is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2017.

Geneva Rock Products Inc. of Murray, Utah, won a $3.5 million contract for microsurfacing work on a total of 25.3 miles at various locations on I-25 and WYO 59 in Converse, Laramie and Platte counties. Workers will be adding a thin layer of asphalt and rocks for the resurfacing work. About 17 miles of the work will be on I-25 between Chugwater and Cheyenne, and 8.5 miles will be in two different locations on WYO 59 at Bill. The contract is expected to be completed by July 31, 2017.

McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co. of Worland came in as the low bidder on a $2.3 million overlay project on 5.8 miles on WYO 116 between Sundance and Upton. Workers will be adding a new overlay to preserve the payment, and installing guardrails in an area that has a steep slope. Workers will be doing dirt work to widen the shoulders in the area where the new guardrails will be installed. There will be lane closures during the day, and pilot cars and flaggers will be on scene directing traffic. The project is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2017.

McGarvin-Moberly also was the low bidder on a $1.9 million mill and overlay project on 7.7 miles on US 16 between Ten Sleep and Buffalo. Workers will mill about 1.5 inches of pavement off the road surface, and put a 2-inch overlay on top, followed by a chip seal. The project also includes creating a turnaround for rock climbers, which is a project being done in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service. The project is expected to be completed by June 30, 2017.

Knife River of Cheyenne won the bid on a $1 million mill and overlay project on 10.5 miles at several locations in Natrona and Platte counties that will fix deteriorated pavement. Part of the work will be completed in Edgerton near Midwest on WYO 387. The work will also be done in several areas along I-25 between Glendo and Orin Junction. The project is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2016.

Also awarded by the commission were contracts for:

• $904,505 to Advanced Electric Contracting Inc. of Sheridan for traffic signal detection systems at 14 locations in Cheyenne and two locations in Laramie by Nov. 30;
• $597,855 to North State Environmental of Winston-Salem, N.C., for wetland mitigation and other construction work at Shutts Flats in the Big Horn National Forest on Forest Service Road 193 off US 14 by June 15, 2017;
• $243,305 to 4M Construction Inc. of Carpenter for removal and installation of snow fence on US 18-20 near Manville in Niobrara County by Oct. 31;
• $216,260 to Jackalope Hydro Seeding & Reclamation of Douglas for the removal and installation of right-of-way fence between Diversion Dam and Dubois on US 26-287 by May 31, 2017;
• $171,529 to Surface Preparation Technologies of Mechanicsburg, Pa., for the installation of new rumble strips and flashing beacon systems in Sheridan, Gillette, Wright and Sundance by Oct. 31;
• $147,755 to 71 Construction of Casper for the removal of a ramp and installation of curbing, gutter and sidewalks at the Bryan Stock Trail Interchange on I-25 in Casper by Oct. 31;
• $98,414 to S & L Industrial of Cowley for the installation of flexible delineators from Casper to Gillette on WYO 259 and WYO 387 by Oct. 31;
• $80,280 to A & H Co. Inc. of Ironton, Minn., for the installation of chevron signs for curves in the road at 332 locations in Goshen, Laramie and Platte counties by Oct. 31; and
• $55,780 to Windcreek Services Inc. of Gillette for upgrades to the communications systems for the traffic signals at about 30 locations on WYO 59 by Oct. 31.