JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County has given notice of award for the position of construction manager at risk (CMAR) to a Utah-based construction company expected to assist with the pre-construction work on the Teton Pass Trail.
At Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting, Director of Public Works Heather Overholser presented the agenda item to the BCC. Ultimately the Commissioners voted unanimously to award the job for pre-construction services to Whitaker Construction out of Brigham City, Utah. According to Overholser, this phase will cost the County $58,200 while the CMAR works to come up with a guaranteed maximum price for the project, ensuring that the County does not spend more than its available funds. A full contract for services is expected to be presented to the BCC on Monday, Feb. 23.
“[Whitaker Construction is] highly skilled with expertise that kind of checks all the boxes,” Overholser told the Board. “They have expertise as a construction manager at risk, construction in mountainous conditions, construction of trails and pathways very similar to what we are constructing with the Teton Pass Trail, they have significant construction of retaining walls, of which this project contains many.”
Overholser explained that because the County has a fixed budget, the bid process is the opposite of what would typically happen. Instead of having a project plan and seeking bids to determine the cost, the County must determine exactly how much money it can spend, then decide how much of the project can be completed. The CMAR will take on any risk associated with going over the guaranteed maximum price.
The BCC also agreed that the ongoing fundraiser supporting this project, led by local coalition Save Teton Pass Trail (STPT), can continue until at least March 31 while the County continues planning. The fundraising effort has raised approximately $1.5 million so far, according to STPT volunteer Tim Young. The ultimate fundraising goal is $5 million that would go toward construction of the pathway on the west side of the Pass, from Trail Creek Campground to the Coal Creek parking area, with a pedestrian tunnel under WY22.
“I just want to thank Mr. Young and his team for doing this great work,” Commissioner Wes Gardner said at the meeting. The $1.5 million raised so far will “get us a lot farther down the road. Keep up the good work — with another six weeks we can get a little closer to the finish line.”
After putting out a request for proposals, the County’s selection committee received six proposals and narrowed it down to three. Whitaker Construction scored the highest on the County’s assessment of all six options, with a 94.2 out of 100, per staff notes. The $58,200 contract will be paid for with funds from the 2026 BUILD grant budget.
Whitaker Construction looks “like a really good fit for this project,” Commissioner Len Carlman said. “I hope that they can bring their expertise to bear on this, and get us more distance for fewer dollars, if that’s possible. This is a high price-per-mile project, and if there’s a way to bring that down because of their skill and expertise, more power to all of us.”
