JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Roadwork season is winding down but it is not over yet.
Striping work is ready to get underway this week though weather may delay some of that.
Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from Streamline Markings will be working around the Jackson area beginning this evening. Crews will be striping traffic markings on WYO 22 Teton Pass, WYO 390 Village Road and US 89-189-191 for the next 8-10 days, weather permitting. Operations will take place in the evenings as temperatures allow. Work could begin as early at 7pm. Striping operations are mobile so motorists are asked to reduce their speeds and be aware of striping vehicles.
The annual project is necessary to restore proper visibility of pavement markings on state highways. Due to Wyoming’s harsh winter conditions and weather hazards, these lines can fade or be destroyed. WYDOT crews must re-paint these markings to provide improved safety and capacity for motorists traveling on highways.
WYDOT reminds drivers to be aware of the striping trucks on the road and to slow down accordingly. Stripers travel at 15 mph while applying the paint and travel with a shadow car, which watches for traffic in the area. Drivers are urged to not follow stripers too closely and only pass when it is safe to do so. Striping operations are slow moving and can cause traffic delay. Drivers are asked to adjust their schedules accordingly.
WYDOT and contract crews would like to also remind drivers that driving over wet paint can reduce the reflectivity of the markings, as well as stick to your vehicle. If you find that you did get paint on your vehicle, WYDOT recommends the following tips:
- As soon as possible, take your vehicle to a car wash. This will loosen and remove most of the paint, unless it has dried for more than one full day.
- If the car wash does not remove the paint, allow the water to dry off the vehicle.On the dry surface, spray the paint residue with WD-40 and allow it to stay on the area for 1-2 hours and rewash the vehicle. The WD-40 will soften the paint without hurting the vehicle’s finish. If there is a heavy concentration of paint, repeat the procedure.
- For heavy accumulations of paint that have dried for several days, apply a liberal coating of petroleum jelly to the dried traffic paint and allow it to stay on overnight. Take vehicle to a pressure car wash. Repeat the process if necessary.
- Do not scrub the surface of your vehicle with a solvent or scouring cleanser when removing the paint. This will only damage the finish.
- Paint is often difficult to remove from wheel wells, due to their flat finish.Apply a liberal coating of petroleum jelly and leave it on for several days. Then use a pressure washer to wash away the residue. Applying an alcohol such as Solox or rubbing alcohol to the area in the wheel well will help to soften any residue left after the petroleum jelly is washed away. Do not scrub the surface, just apply with a rag or sponge.
Grand Teton NP highway closure
Grand Teton National Park, in coordination with Federal Highway Administration, is conducting maintenance work at several bridge locations along US Highway 89/287, in the northern area of the park. The work will involve a temporary highway closure at Arizona Creek, approximately five miles north of Colter Bay.
Two-hour closures of the highway are planned for Tuesday, October 16 and again on Tuesday, October 23. Closures will occur mid-morning and mid-afternoon each day, with time between the closures for one-way traffic access through the area.
Those wishing to access or depart Yellowstone National Park on these dates through Yellowstone’s South Gate may want to consider using the Yellowstone West Entrance to avoid the delay.
One-lane traffic with up to 15-minute delays will begin Tuesday, October 2 as construction crews prepare for the installation of the new wing walls at Arizona Creek. The delays may be daytime delays only, but it is possible that the delays may occur during the night as well. Please be prepared for 15-minutes delays through October 23.
The work will address deferred maintenance in the park. The scope of work at Arizona Creek is to replace four failing concrete wing walls that channel water into the box culverts and protect the adjacent bank. Pre-cast wing walls will be installed by using a crane to move them and set them in place. One pre-cast wing wall weighs approximately 46,000 pounds and therefore requires a large crane to set the walls in place. The crane will take up both lanes of traffic once set up.
Significant work on Pacific Creek and Spread Creek bridges along US Highway 89/191/287 is also taking place with minimal traffic delays. The work as Pacific Creek is completed and work continues at Spread Creek. Please expect sporadic daytime 15-minute delays at Spread Creek for the next two weeks. Spread Creek is located approximately four miles south of the Moran Junction.
During this time of the year, visitation to the area winds down, services and facilities are closed, and there is much less traffic, making it the opportune time for this work to take place before winter weather arrives.
