Project begins to replace 3 bridges on West River Road

WORLAND - A two-year project has started to replace three bridges and reconstruct a small piece of Wyoming Highway 433 (West River Road) roadway near Worland.

"The $10.245 million project includes total reconstruction of the 3 bridges and roadway through the construction zone," said Wyoming Department of Transportation project engineer Kelly Erickson of Worland.

Prime contractor is Reiman Corp., of Cheyenne.

The start of the 1.4-mile project, located between West River Road mileposts 4.14 and 5.50, includes construction of a narrow detour roadway around the construction area where the bridges will be built.

Besides demolition and construction of the three bridges, other project work includes grading, asphalt pavement surfacing, fencing, chip sealing and other work.

Contract completion date is June 30, 2024.

"Irrigation water was turned off in the canal for the season on Oct. 1, and that will help construction of the detour to be complete by the end of October," Erickson said. "Paving of the detour is scheduled to be complete by early November."

Cody Beers, WYDOT public relations specialist for District 5, said basically the detour includes filling in the canals to use as part of the detour road.

Erickson said construction truck traffic will

increase in October as material is hauled in to build the narrow detour roadway.

Erickson said the contractor is required to build the two canal bridges after irrigation flows end this year, with work being completed on the canal bridges prior to when irrigation water begins flowing to farm fields in 2023.

Beers said the work will need to be completed in time to clean out the canals before the water goes into the canal for next year's crops.

Permanent signs and portable digital message signs have been placed at both ends of West River Road, advising over-the-road truckers to take the main highway (US16/20/WY789) through Worland.

"Taking the main highway through Worland will help truckers and other big rigs, including school activity buses, from being delayed by this project, and it will increase safety for workers through the narrow work zone," Erickson said. "Digital message signs will provide drivers with up-to-date information, including delays to traffic, on West River Road."

Beers said they have had pretty good compliance so far.

"It is going to be faster to drive through Manderson and into Worland. The detour is going to be narrow," Beers said. "We will be working with area farmers and other people doing business on West River Road."

He added, "If we can get good compliance we will have a much safer project."