JACKSON, Wyo. — An examination of Spring Gulch Road that took place last year has led County officials to discuss the future of the well-traveled artery that has an annual average maintenance cost of $60,000.
Last spring, Teton County awarded Inberg-Miller Engineers a contract to perform a geotechnical investigation and roadway design for two sections of Spring Gulch Road. After the survey was complete, an August 2025 report found that a typical mill and overlay approach would not sufficiently address the overall structure and longevity of the roadway. There are currently two sections of Spring Gulch Road that will need attention: on the north end from Sagebrush Drive to Cattleman’s Bridge, and on the south end from WY22 to Polo Place.
At the Jan. 12 Board of County Commissioners voucher meeting, officials convened to discuss construction phasing and potential additional design work for the southern portion, which they are naming “Area B.” According to the presentation at the meeting, Inberg-Miller has already completed draft design drawings, and staff is providing comments and feedback for final bid documents. The section of the road is 3.1 miles long, and the asphalt surface is 24 feet wide.
With the realization that the road will need to be redesigned and reconstructed, the County is looking at how to incorporate a non-motorized pathway into the design, as prioritized in the 2020 Integrated Transportation Plan. The current design does not plan for a separated pathway, which would cost more and require construction of retaining walls near steep slopes. A potential alternative design, which would include a separated bike path, would require shifting the roadway alignment within the existing 60-foot right of way.
“If we don’t move forward with design to include a separated pathway, doing a separated pathway in the future will be very difficult,” said Teton County Director of Public Works Heather Overholser at the meeting. “So we are at a critical juncture here to make that decision. It doesn’t mean that a pathway would need to be constructed at the same time as the road reconstruction.”
Ultimately, county staff recommended that the Commissioners request a new design from the consultants to shift the road alignment and include space for a future separated pathway. The Commissioners ended the workshop by agreeing with that recommendation, which will cost about $20,000.
“We all know, Spring Gulch Road is one of the most beautiful drives you’ll see anywhere,” said Commissioner Luther Propst. “And if anything, it warrants thinking about it as kind of a parkway rather than just the fastest possible way to get from the airport to the Village.”
