Construction Projects to Impact Traffic

A pair of construction projects are impacting traffic in the Big Horn Basin this week.
Extensions to culverts have kicked off work on the Wyoming 31 highway improvement project between Manderson and Hyattville. The project includes concrete extensions, culvert extensions, minor slope flattening, and asphalt milling, an asphalt pavement overlay and chip seal.
Michael Miller, Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer in Basin, says when improvements are complete, the highway will have a better driving surface and safer shoulders.
Mountain Construction of Lovell is the prime contractor on the $1.8 million dollar project, which is scheduled to be complete by the end of October.
On the other side of the Basin, traffic will be running on a crushed gravel driving surface until this fall with this week’s milling of asphalt pavement on the highway between Lovell and Cowley.
Bridge pile driving is scheduled to begin this week at the Shoshone River bridge when weather permits, according to Miller. The $11.7 million Sage Creek highway and bridge improvement project consists of road widening, bridge widening over the Shoshone River, replacement of the Sage Creek and railroad bridges, asphalt paving, and other work.
Miller said work is continuing throughout the Big Horn County project, and drivers should expect traffic delays and reduced speed limits. The project will be ongoing through June of next year.