Canyon rockfall project begins

Traffic delays are scheduled to begin Tuesday, Oct. 18, on U.S. 20/Wyoming 789 through Wind River Canyon as a Cowley, Wyo. contractor begins rock scaling, cleaning culverts, reshaping ditches and other work related to the Memorial Day weekend flooding and mud slides of 2015.

Wilson Brothers Construction, Inc., is the prime contractor on the $840,000 project.

The work within Wind River Canyon will take place between mileposts 116.80 (near the tunnels) and 126.82 (about six miles south of Thermopolis). All work is dependent upon favorable weather and favorable road conditions.

Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer Kaia Tharp of Thermopolis said the contractor is scheduled to begin rock scaling in the southern end of Wind River Canyon, and will work its way north from there.

“As the work progresses, there will be more than one crew working in different locations along the canyon. By contract, traffic stop delays will total 15 minutes throughout the project,” Tharp said.

Rock crushing will be occurring in the Birdseye Pit south of Wind River Canyon as part of this project at milepost 109.1 on U.S. 20/Wyoming 789, and motorists are advised of trucks entering and exiting the highway at this location.