WWC Engineering's Darrin Tromble, top, pointed to a photo map while answering questions from Jeff Hermansky, Alan Culver and Hart Jacobsen. Culver is a member of the Lander Pathways Program and was interested in the new bridge's bike and pedestrian extension.
Story and photos by Ernie Over, Managing Editor, County10.com
(Lander) – Residents attending a public meeting and open house on the Mortimore Lane bridge replacement project Thursday night learned that a Blackfoot, Idaho, firm is the apparent low bidder on the project. The bridge was washed out during spring floods two years ago.
Wyoming Department of Transportation Public Involvement Specialist Cody Beers said Cannon Builders Inc. submitted the low bid of $1,043,227.75 at a bid opening in Cheyenne earlier in the day. Cannon’s bid was $99,720.20 above the engineers estimate for the project, which includes grading, draining, placing crushed gravel base, asphalt pavement surfacing, structure removal and replacement and other work. The low bid will be reviewed by the Wyoming Transportation Commission next Thursday, and if awarded, work is expected to begin soon. Beers said Cannon is the contractor building the new Blackrock Bridge on the western end of the Rosies Ridge/Togwotee Pass construction project east of Moran Jct.
Nearly three dozen area residents attended Thursday’s event at the Fremont County Library. WYDOT and WWC Engineering had prepared four large photo maps and cross sections of the planned work for the public’s review, and comments were solicited.
Darrin Tromble, an engineer with WWC Engineering, explained the bridge construction includes decking to be placed on steel piers driven down to bedrock with concrete caps. He said the bridge deck would then be placed over the caps, creating an unobstructed waterway underneath the structure. He also said the banks of the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River would be armored with rock to prevent erosion. A feature of the bridge is a 10-foot wide pedestrian and bicycle pathway on the northern side of the bridge, to accommodate future expansion of a pathway system. He said Mortimore Lane would be rebuilt and paved for about 400 feet on either side of the bridge.
The only concurs directed at WYDOT engineers during the public session were concerns over speed along the reconstructed route, and several “non-project” concerns, such as a four way stop at Hillcrest and Mortimore Lane at the top of the hill. Other questions concerned construction details, such as length of the paving, guard rails, approaches for the bridge and the grade of the slopes along the reconstruction route.
One hundred percent of the funding for the project is coming from Federal funds, including 90 percent from the Federal highway bridge replacement program and 10 percent from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergnecy Disaster Relief program since the bridge was taken out in a flood. Normally, Fremont County would contribute 10 percent of the cost.
WYDOT's Cody Beers opened the meeting Thursday. Nearly three dozen area residents signed in at the event, which lasted just under one hour.
Darlene and Dave Vaughn questioned WYDOT's Cody Beers during the open house portion of the meeting.
