WYOMING — During a special meeting on Friday, August 2, the Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded an almost $12 million bid to Ames Construction to repair damage caused by the Big Fill landslide on Teton Pass.
According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), the funding will go towards the first phase of a multi-phased project to repair HWY22 and the landslide at milepost 12.8. The temporary detour was completed on June 28 and this phase of construction will permanently address a long-term solution.
“Our sincerest thanks to the Governor for his quick action with the June 8 emergency declaration and our Federal delegation for their push in D.C., which quickly opened up essential emergency Federal funding for our repairs to this vital economic corridor,” WYDOT Director Darin Westby told Buckrail.
The initial work will include clearing landslide debris, installing soil nails, traffic control and other dirt work. WYDOT District Public Relations Specialist Stephanie Harsha told Buckrail that crews already began moving dirt on site on Monday, August 5. WYDOT estimates that the excavation process will take about a month.
“Excavation work is underway and crews will be working for the next four or five weeks to prepare the site for the next phase of work,” WYDOT said via Facebook. “Crews will be working from top down, adding soil nails as temporary shoring to access the bottom of the fill.”
Once phase one is completed, crews will immediately begin the second phase of the project. Funding has not yet been received for phase two. Work was separated into two packages to maximize efficiency.
WYDOT said that the second phase of the project will include adding coupled micropiles (small-diameter, steel bars or pipes ranging 200 feet deep) to further stabilize the foundation and adding a lightweight reinforced fill to the area.
Crews will be working double shifts to expedite the work while the weather is still favorable, according to WYDOT. WYDOT and the contractor are committed to maintaining two-way traffic as much as possible for the traveling public, and the work in phase one should have limited impacts to traffic. Drivers over Teton Pass are asked to use caution through the work zone.
