January 5, 2024|
Photo – Bridge on CR 203 – Bigfoot99 file photo
The bridge replacement project on County Road 203 has been postponed for two years. The county road and bridge superintendent asked to use the money set aside for that project to resurface County Road 401.
During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz spoke about some of the projects she is working on. The first item Fritz addressed was the bridge on County Road 203, across the North Platte River. Wyoming Department of Transportation was scheduled to replace the failing 94-year-old structure in 2026. Fritz said rising costs pushed the completion date back another two years.
On April 28th of last year, WYDOT engineers conducted a geology study to determine if the ground beneath the bridge can support a heavier duty structure. At the time, WYDOT Public Relations Specialist Andrea Staley said the bridge was set to be replaced some time in 2026.
At the county commissioners meeting this week, Road and Bridge Superintendent Fritz said county road crews have been filling holes in the decking of the bridge. Fritz said the bridge has patches on top of patches and requires constant observation.
Commissioner John Johnson asked how much money the county is required to contribute toward the bridge replacement. Fritz said the scale of the project will make the price very high.
Fritz said WYDOT is scheduled to resurface Highway 71, south of Rawlins. Highway 71 connects to County Road 401, also known as Sage Creek Road. Fritz suggested the county spend the money set aside for the County Road 203 bridge replacement project to resurface Sage Creek Road while WYDOT’s contractor is in the area.
Fritz said the two-year delay of the County Road 203 bridge project will give the county time to save the necessary $1 million WYDOT match. The road and bridge superintendent said she pledged to be fiscally responsible, but County Road 401 is too important to the county to defer road repairs any longer.
The board gave Fritz permission to request a bid from WYDOT’s chip sealing contractor to resurface County Road 401.
