Rock Springs road construction update
Work on I-80 and Dewar Drive
by WYDOT
April 27, 2007
Rock Springs) – The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is alerting motorists to the next phase of road construction for the Rock Springs Marginal Dewar Drive/Pilot Butte project. Construction is moving into the Dewar Drive area of Interstate 80.
Traffic on mainline Interstate 80 will be switched to head to head traffic the morning of May 1 on the westbound lanes of the Interstate on the west side of the project, also known as Phase 1B. This phase of the two year project spans east from the Dewar Drive Interchange and will tie in with where the Elk Street reconstruction took place in 2005.
On May 2, at 10 PM, demolition of the I-80 eastbound bridge over Dewar Drive will begin, no traffic will be allowed under the bridge structures during this time. Ramps for the east and westbound traffic of the interstate will be open.
WYDOT recommends motorists plan alternative routes and avoid the Dewar Drive Interchange area, if possible. Suggested routes would include using Exit 99, the Gookin Bridge, and Exit 102 to Gateway Boulevard to access businesses on Foothill Boulevard, Dewar Drive, Sunset Drive and Gateway Boulevard and avoid the construction area.
On May 3 at 5 AM, Dewar Drive will reopen with a single lane of traffic in each direction, for removal of the debris. At 10 PM Dewar Drive will again close to all traffic, to continue the demolition of the bridge.
On May 4 at 5 AM Dewar Drive will again open with a single lane of traffic in each direction, for removal of the debris.
If needed, on the night of May 7, Dewar Drive will again close for demolition of the rest of the bridge structure.
Work in Phase 1A, the east end of the project, will be continuing with the removal of bridge debris at both Pilot Butte and Swanson Drive. The traveling public should anticipate traffic congestion and delays of 15 to 20 minutes. There are no planned road closures for Swanson Drive until later this summer when girders for the bridges will be installed.
Work on reconfiguring the Pilot Butte Interchange will continue with the extension and raising the grade of the off ramp on the eastbound lane to make it into a diamond shape interchange. There will be a period of time when the eastbound ramp traffic will be placed on a gravel surface before paving is completed later this summer.
At the County Road Separation, on April 28, the bridge will be demolished and there will be no access under the interstate from Community Park Drive until the bridge is replaced later this summer.
It is WYDOT's goal to minimize traffic delays and congestion, but the safety of the traveling public remains the priority. The speed limit on I-80 has been lowered to
65 M.P.H., and motorists should expect intermittent areas of 45 M.P.H. in the primary work areas on the interstate. Motorists are urged to slow down and be aware, alert and cautious while driving through construction areas.
Related Links
WYDOT - Wyoming Department of Transportation
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