WYDOT reopens US 26

The Wyoming Department of Transportation reopened a flood impacted section of US 26 west of River sooner than expected because of materials crews installed last year to combat future flood damage from the Wind River.

WYDOT reopened the section of US 26, 30 miles west of Riverton, on Sunday morning. The section of road closed Wednesday, June 7, after flood waters from the Wind River began flowing over US 26.

Last summer, a construction crew on a $4.96 million project installed articulated riprap along the slopes to prevent future severe roadway damage caused by floods in the area. Articulated rip-rap consists of small concrete blocks that are tied together and placed along the slope to prevent erosion, said Cody Beers, District 5 public relations specialist. The rip-rap is flexible so it lays on top of the slope. Topsoil and vegetation is then placed on top of the rip-rap.

“The topsoil and vegetation washed away during this past week’s flood,” Beers said. “So far with the use of the articulated rip-rap, the damages aren’t as bad as in 2011 when we had flooding in the same area.”

WYDOT installed the rip-rap last year as part of road construction project in that area to minimize damages caused by any future floods.

“The way the rip-rap helped prevent major damages to US 26 shows WYDOT made a prudent decision in using it,” Beers said. “This is a great example of how WYDOT is providing a safe, high quality and efficient transportation system to the citizens of Wyoming. We always strive to improve safety on the state’s highways.”

The rip-rap was only part of the work prime contractor High Country Construction, Inc., of Lander completed last year on US 26. The entire project called for grading, draining, milling asphalt, placing crushed gravel base, asphalt paving, chip sealing, bridge rehabilitation fencing and other work beginning at milepost 99.62 (a mile east of Diversion Dam Junction) and extending 5.06 miles east toward Riverton (milepost 104.68).

Crews still need to finish the project by chip sealing the surface of the highway. Chip sealing was put on hold because of the flooding. That work is expected to resume this summer, and it will take about a week to complete.