July 12, 2022 |
The lengthy effort to build a pedestrian underpass at a dangerous crosswalk on the northeast side of the Rawlins moved off go last week. City council approved an agreement with the Wyoming Department of Transportation to build a pedestrian underpass at North Higley Boulevard where it intersects with Harshman Street and Aberdeen Boulevard. The cost to the city for the $1.5 million construction project is $158,341.
Before a vote was taken, Austin Gilbert, the city engineer described the financial terms of the agreement between Rawlins and WYDOT.
Pictured above: File photo of Rawlins City Hall. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
Last September, city council designated $1.7 million in federal urban systems funding for the underpass project. The pedestrian tunnel was one of three projects that emerged from the Higley Boulevard corridor study. Engineering Associates started the study in 2015. The city’s urban systems committee recommended that the city proceed with the project allowing WYDOT to proceed with the design and construction of the tunnel, which will provide safe passage between the Highland Hills residential area to Middle and High School campuses, as well as to the Carbon County Higher Education Center.
The city has budgeted for its $158,000 portion of the agreement. The money will not come from the general fund but from six-penny funds which voters approved.
Council discussion included a possible name for the tunnel in memory of a child who was killed at the intersection. Councilwoman Linda Smith raised the idea.
Mayor Terry Weickum described the intersection as dangerous, especially for children.
The proposed underpass would be installed approximately 300 feet south of the Higley Boulevard and Harshman Street intersection, connecting to Aberdeen and the Highland Hills street system. The Urban System Committee recommended that the tunnel be constructed as a box culvert with lighting and drainage considerations and AMA ramps. Easy snow removal would also be part of the design.
All of the engineering and construction will be done with WYDOT. Rawlins Public Information Officer Mira Miller told Bigfoot 99 after Tuesday’s meeting that the timeline to build the project is about three years.
The vote to approve the agreement with WYDOT passed unanimously, 7-0.
