JACKSON HOLE, WYO – The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has begun work on Cattleman’s Bridge. The contract was awarded to Reiman Corp. in October for $3.8 million. The Teton County bridge is located on Spring Gulch Road north of Jackson.
The bridge was closed in early June after spring runoff waters pounded the pier footings and caused the deck to buckle.
The project is part WYDDOT’s Bridge Replacement Off System program where WYDOT partners with local counties to replace deficient bridges off the state highway system.
The work on Cattleman’s Bridge will include installing a single lane temporary bridge to move traffic while crews take out the old bridge and begin construction on a new one.
Completion date is set for October of 2018.
“The contractor has set an aggressive schedule and hopes to have the new bridge open ahead of the completion date,” said WYDOY resident engineer Bob Hammond.
The new bridge will feature just two piers in the water, an improvement from the old bridge’s nine piers.
“Having only two piers instead of nine will reduce the debris that builds up underneath the bridge,” Hammond said.
The new bridge will also feature a separated pathway.
The bridge has been closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles and will remain closed until the temporary bridge is constructed and opened. The temporary structure will be one-way and signal-controlled, with alternating traffic. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2017, weather permitting.
