The recent closure of the bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks next to Rock Springs High School could mean the project will be completed earlier than expected.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation recently began work on the bridge which is one of three bridges in Rock Springs that WYDOT plans to rehabilitate over the summer. Despite plans to keep the bridge open with two, narrow 9-foot lanes, WYDOT was unable to keep it open as they had hoped.
“Larger vehicles, like tractor trailers, busses and even some pickup trucks, were finding it difficult to drive through the project with the narrow lane width,” WYDOT Public Relations Specialist Stephanie Harsha said.
Because some vehicles were striking guard rails and cones, WYDOT chose to close the bridge to ensure safety for the traveling public and those working on the construction.
Work on the High School bridge was originally scheduled to taper off in June as crews geared up for work on the other two bridges on WYO 376 Belt Loop, but with the new closure, the work may be completed earlier.
“We don’t have a schedule yet, but hopefully that work on the High School bridge will be completed sooner. Once that work is completed, then they will be able to move to the other bridges,” said Harsha. “Once they move to the other bridges by Chopstix, they’ll have a sixty-day window for the closure before they start seeing penalties.”
Harsha says one of the other two bridges will be closed during the second part of construction, but maintaining access to residential areas and local businesses is important.
“They’ll still maintain access to the animal control center, the dog park, and that trailer park,” said Harsha. “You’ll still be able to access that area from Dewar, but you won’t be able to get to the other side to Blairtown.”
The contract was awarded to Reiman Corp. and Subsidary, out of Cheyenne, in September of 2015, for about $1.5 million. WYDOT has set a completion date for the project at the end of October this year.