Friday, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 |
Photo – Rawlins City Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo
After numerous delays, the City of Rawlins has agreed on a price for the Higley Boulevard pedestrian underpass.
For two decades, Rawlins officials have worked with the Wyoming Department of Transportation to improve pedestrian safety along Highway 287, also known as North Higley Boulevard. Following extensive studies, the Rawlins Urban Systems Committee and WYDOT determined that an underground walking tunnel was the most effective and cost-efficient solution. The tunnel, when completed, will allow pedestrians to travel between the Highland Hills residential area and nearby school campuses without having to cross the busy highway.
In 2022, the city entered a contract with WYDOT to construct the pedestrian underpass for $1,506,659, with the city pledging to cover $158,341, or 9.51% of the total project cost.
Since that time, construction prices have skyrocketed. This past February, WYDOT informed the city that contractor bids came in much higher than anticipated, with the lowest bid being $3,332,767, or approximately $1.8 million over the originally agreed upon price.
Due to the higher-than-expected costs, WYDOT advised the City Council to reject the bids and wait for better pricing. If the Council had accepted the lowest bid at that time, the city would have been responsible for contributing $1.9 million toward the pedestrian underpass.
Following the initial round of contractor bidding, WYDOT redesigned the project to reduce expenses and increased its share of the overall cost. In August, the state agency presented the City of Rawlins with a revised construction estimate of $2,265,225. Under the new agreement, Rawlins is responsible for $306,073 of the total price.
During the September 16th Rawlins City Council meeting, Councilman Steve Sanger motioned to approve the new construction costs and allocate a maximum of $410,000 in city funds toward the project.
Councilman Bruce Seilaff seconded the motion.
Councilman Sanger asked about the difference between the city’s required $306,000 contribution and the $410,000 maximum amount contained in the motion. Public Works Director Cody Dill responded that if the city chooses not to continue the project, it is required to reimburse WYDOT for all incurred costs, totaling roughly $407,000. The maximum allocation protects the city in case expenses are higher than anticipated.
Public Works Director Dill said WYDOT is advocating for the completion of the Higley Boulevard pedestrian underpass. Dill added that by simplifying the design, the state agency was able to reduce costs by $600,000.
The Rawlins City Council unanimously voted to approve the new construction estimate for the North Higley Boulevard pedestrian underpass. WYDOT is expected to begin accepting contractor bids next month.
