Crews will start paving work on a 13-mile section of I-80 near Elk Mountain on May 31

Drivers on a 13-mile, eastbound section of I-80 near Elk Mountain will encounter reduced speeds and a single-lane closure starting May 31 as crews complete paving work.

Simon Contractors and Subsidiaries of Cheyenne will be doing the paving work between the Elk Mountain and Cooper Cove interchanges. Workers will be installing a 1-inch, high performance asphalt wearing course to provide better traction and a smoother ride, and to prevent water from seeping into the joint between the two lanes. 

The paving is all that remains of a $7.3 million project the Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded in 2015. Simon Contractors completed the bulk of the work last year, which included replacing damaged concrete slabs. WYDOT anticipates the paving work will be completed at the end of June.

Starting on May 31, workers will close the driving lane and start removing the lane lines. They will then mill transitions at all bridge ends, ramps and at the end of the project in preparation for the paving work, said Lawrence Packard, Wyoming Department of Transportation engineer.

Workers will first pave the passing lane. Once that’s completed, they will pave the driving lane and then the shoulder of the driving lane.

WYDOT is reducing the speed limit in the construction area to 65 mph. The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph when construction workers and machinery are present.

“We reduce speeds in construction zones to keep motorists and workers safe,” Packard said. “When traveling through this and other construction zones in Wyoming, motorists should slow down and obey posted speed limit signs, and watch out for workers and machinery in the construction zones.”

Motorists can visit WYDOT’s Wyoming Travel Information Service web page to view a map of construction projects and to get the latest road conditions.