WILSON, Wyo. — If you’ve driven across the Wilson Bridge on WY22 over the Snake River in the past week you might have noticed the heavy machinery moving huge amounts of dirt and snow on the south side of the bridge.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) and contract crews from Ames Construction Inc. have begun the preliminary work for the Snake River Bridge replacement project, which is set to take place over the next two years. The project also includes restructuring the intersection of WY22 and WY390 and adding wildlife crossings.
“The new bridge will be built in stages — with the first stage just south of the existing bridge while traffic uses the existing bridge. Once the first stage is complete, traffic will be put on it and the old bridge removed to make room for the second stage of the new bridge. The two parts will be tied together in the end. This first stage is right where the informal parking has occurred so that parking will no longer be available,” resident engineer Bob Hammond said.
Crews are extracting gravel and clearing trees near the southwest parking lot. Under the new plans, the parking lot will be closed permanently but a walkway will be installed from the boat ramp, under the new bridge to the south side. Work will extend as far west as Green Lane.
An improvement project at the Wilson Boat Ramp, which includes paving the access road and the boat ramp is set to begin in April.
