JACKSON, Wyo. — Wyoming Department of Transportation District 3 engineer Peter Stinchcomb presented information about the WY 22/390 Snake River Bridge project during yesterday’s Business over Breakfast hosted by The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.
The bridge constructed in 1960 was deemed structurally deficient in 2014. The project aims to solve congestion issues in the area, provide wildlife crossings, pedestrian crossings, and replace the bridge.
The intersection at Highway 22 and Highway 390 will be reconstructed to help alleviate congestion. A new “Florida T” intersection will be constructed, allowing traffic on 22 headed towards Jackson to bypass the traffic signal.
The new bridge will have four lanes. According to Stinchcomb, half of the new bridge will be built in the first year or two. Traffic will continue to use the old bridge until the new bridge is halfway built, likely in the first year or two of the project. Traffic will transition to half of the new bridge while the old bridge is removed and the other half of the new bridge is completed. Two lanes will flow at all times.
“Construction is going to slow people down no matter what but as long as we can keep two lanes open, I hope it won’t be any worse than it is now. It’ll just get better as we get things finished, ” Stinchcomb said.
The new bridge is slated to be completed by 2025.
Four new wildlife crossings will also be built, three on Highway 22 and one on Highway 390. Three of the crossings will be located around the 22 and 390 intersections. One will be located on the east end of the bridge made possible by a bridge extension. Pedestrian crossings are also included in the new plan with expected completion by October 2023.
The project also coincides with other construction projects in the area including the BUILD grant activities, speed studies along WY22 and WY390 and other County projects.
WYDOT hopes to begin receiving construction bids for the project beginning in November 2022.
The Business over Breakfast meeting video is available here.
