At the yearly Wyoming Department of Transportation STIP meeting at the Park County Commissioners, WYDOT officials had noted the importance, even with a shortage of funds, in continuing to replace old bridges around the state. 

The county has a number of old bridges, and WYDOT has identified one east of Meeteetse as the next Park County bridge project. 

At the Dec. 16 meeting, commissioners approved a floodplain permit brought forth by county engineer Brian Edwards to allow the project to get underway. 

The roughly 190-foot bridge over the Greybull River is 21 miles from Meeteetse on County Road 3XQ. 

Bridge EHZ was constructed in 1955 and received a substantial rehabilitation in 1973. It’s one of 70 20-foot-or-longer bridges in the county. 

“We have 14 of the 20-foot-plus bridges that are rated for major rehabilitation or replacement including Bridge EHZ,” Edwards said. “Probably the next priority bridge for replacement would be Bridge CJS on Lane 9 across Bitter Creek. That particular bridge was built in 1937.” 

He said the cost of replacement for the Bitter Creek Bridge will likely exceed $2.5 million.

The project will also include improvement on the county road immediately south and north of the bridge. 

Edwards said the goal would be to get some demolition work done early and the project will be bid right after the first of the year. 

“The goal is to get it in one construction season,” he said, but noted, as commissioner Lloyd Thiel had offered, that it would be beneficial to provide a two year window for the project.