Encampment River Bridge Reopened After Repairs Made

MAY 21, 2025 |

Photo – Bridge on County Road 680 – Bigfoot99 file photo

The County Road 680 bridge, over the Encampment River, reopened Monday evening.

During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting in Riverside, Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz announced the Encampment River bridge, on County Road 680, is once again open to traffic. Fritz expressed her gratitude toward the Laramie-based engineering firm Reiman Corporation and her road crews for their prompt efforts.

On April 3rd, the Wyoming Department of Transportation recommended closing the County Road 680 bridge, crossing over the Encampment River. A routine inspection carried out through WYDOT’s Bridge Program identified safety concerns with the gusset plates used to reinforce the structure, leading to the bridge being closed to traffic.

After the closure, Road and Bridge Superintendent Fritz began contacting engineering firms to obtain a cost estimate to make the bridge usable again. The county ultimately hired Reiman Corporation for $106,000 to complete the repairs.

At Tuesday’s Board meeting, Commissioner Sue Jones said nearby landowners appreciated the county’s quick response. While the bridge was closed, local residents were forced to take a 20-minute detour to reach the other side of the Encampment River.

WYDOT engineers found structural concerns during a routine inspection of the same bridge last year, causing the state agency to lower the weight limit on the bridge. Road and Bridge Superintendent Fritz said the same weight restrictions are still in place.

WYDOT was already planning to completely replace the trellis bridge on County Road 680 under its Bridge Replacement Off System, or BROS, program. However, work on the replacement bridge wasn’t scheduled to begin until 2030, five years from now. Speaking at a previous County Commissioners meeting, Fritz said the newly completed repairs should last until that time.