WYDOT to close bridge for repairs beginning July 31

The bridge that spans Garland Canal on Bent Street, just south of Coulter Avenue, will be closed for repairs beginning July 31 and running into mid-September. That’s so the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Bridge Department can rehabilitate the deck of the bridge, said City of Powell Streets Superintendent Gary Butts.

“From what I understand, the project entails new expansion joints, bridge step rehabilitation, curbing, handrails and utilities,” Butts said.

The project is scheduled to last approximately 45 days, with traffic blocked off Bent Street from Coulter Avenue (U.S. Highway 14-A) to North Street. The businesses located between Coulter Avenue and North Street will have limited access, as will local traffic.

“There will also be some sort of warning sign on South Street, because that’s the main thoroughfare,” Butts said. “That will let folks know it’s going to be closed and not to turn there.”

Butts said motorists should be able to use Fair, Day and Hamilton Streets to cross the canal without too much of a delay.

“Depending on how far they’re going and where they want to go to, they will have to adjust a little bit,” Butts said. “But they’ll still be able to get through.”

With the Park County Fair set to begin next week, Butts said he asked WYDOT if they could push back the start date to avoid the fair parade scheduled for July 29.

“They won’t actually be doing anything until the 31st,” he said. “The fair parade won’t be affected. Which is good, because a lot of people come through there during the fair.”

Though the timing of WYDOT’s bridge project came as a bit of a surprise to the city — with officials only learning of it this week — Butts said the renovations are definitely needed.

“This bridge has some issues, and it has for some time,” Butts said. “Obviously we have some other bridge decks that have some problems, but this one with its expansion joints had the most, so they wanted to get it taken care of.”

WYDOT owns and maintains 1,959 structures across the state, according to its website. Each of these — as well as the 842 bridges owned and maintained by the towns, cities, counties and other state agencies — are inspected at least once every two years by teams of WYDOT bridge inspectors.

As for why WYDOT chose to complete the project now, rather than waiting until the canal is drained, Butts chalked the decision up to “construction season.” That said, there will most likely be additional utility work done after the canal is emptied.

“With some projects you can wait; other projects, depending on the materials they’re using and cure times, they can’t cure it during colder weather,” he said.

The rehabilitation of the Bent Street bridge is just the latest in a series of projects in and around the city this summer. Butts reiterated the importance of being mindful while driving in work zones, especially since the Coulter Avenue project is still in progress.

“We just want people to be attentive and to drive safe,” he said. “Thankfully, most of the work being done on the Coulter Avenue project in the area of Bent Street has been completed.”

Butts said the other parts of the Coulter Avenue project continue to progress smoothly.

“We got the rest of the lighting up this [Tuesday] morning, and we’re working on the irrigation system,” Butts said. “The concrete work is ongoing; they’re doing a great job on that. The island removals will get going again very soon. For a project this size, it’s gone very well.”

With smaller concrete projects also underway, Butts said there’s no shortage of workers out and about.

“For the public, be aware; there’s a lot going on,” Butts said.