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WYDOT talks state highway improvements

The Wyoming Department of Transportation visited Tuesday to discuss a state transportation improvement program.

District Engineer Shelby Carlson said new 70 mph speed limit signs are being installed on Wyoming highways.

Carlson said the 2016 Legislature passed a law declaring the speed limit for state highways at 70 mph. Statewide, approximately 3,370 miles have been converted. WYDOT has also been installing warning and cautionary signs. WYDOT is also studying additional sections of the roadway to determine if increasing the speed limit is appropriate, approximately 1,400 miles statewide.

Another bill was passed, Carlson said, to fix American’s surface transportation. The bill will last five years and it is the first long-term bill in more than a decade. The bill restored AML funds back to states. Wyoming has received $242 million in past payments and expects to receive $595 million in future payments. It also allows WYDOT and local entities to plan and invest with known federal revenue streams. Carlson said the bill basically allows for planning.

WYDOT also expects to spend $285.4 million on construction projects in 2016, including preventative rehab, thin overlay, thick overlay and resurfacing, asphalt reconstruction and concrete reconstruction. They will also be addressing sign vandalism.

Carlson said WYDOT utilizes a continuing and comprehensive process of asset review, priority ratings, financial analysis and manpower analysis.

WYDOT spent $34 million on construction in 2015, $28 million in 2016 and expects to spend $60 million in 2017.

District Construction Engineer Lyle Lamb spoke about projects in Hot Springs County.

In 2016, the last six miles of WY 170 was treated with overlay at Hamilton Dome. There were siphon replacements at various locations and Wind River Canyon repairs. In 2017, they expect to fix a section of Gooseberry Creek with overlay for 6.2 miles on WY 120. In 2019, Overlay will be done for 6.5 miles on U.S. 20 at Lucerne North. In 2020, they expect to work on slope and landslide repair in Wind River Canyon on U.S. 20 as well as overlaying and chip seal on Thermopolis streets.

Lamb said there are many other various projects in the works as well.

 

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