A Casper company will replace a deteriorating bridge in Alcova, according to a news release from the Wyoming Transportation Commission.

Hedquist Construction, Inc., won the $2.7 million contract for the project, which will end a major headache for Natrona County government and people looking for a good time at Alcova Lake.

That contract was among eight totaling $13.6 million the commission awarded at its meeting March 23.

The current 60-year-old Alcova wooden bridge's condition disappointed campers, sun worshipers and Natrona County commissioners in June 2015 when a state bridge engineer report cited problems with decaying wooden piles.

The bridge serving Kortes Road (County Road 407) provides the only land access to Black and Cottonwood beaches and campgrounds at Alcova Lake, so the county had to restrict the load limit to three tons, and close the beaches.

A temporary repair brought the bridge back to a 12-ton limit, and WYDOT allowed restricted travel.

Hedquist Construction now will provide a long-term fix.

Crews will install a temporary bridge, remove the existing bridge, and build a new steel and concrete bridge. The company also will resurface the road, upgrade the variable speed limit signs, and replace concrete barrier. WYDOT will oversee the work and design because the project is federally funded.

The project completion date is Oct. 31, 2018.

The Wyoming Transportation Commission also awarded contracts for these projects:

  • Reiman Corp. won a $3.3 million contract for pavement surfacing, concrete slab replacement and bridge rehabilitation in Converse and Natrona counties. Project completion date is Oct. 31, 2018.
  • Intermountain Slurry Seal Inc., of Watsonville, Calif., won a $2.3 million maintenance contract for chip seal projects on U.S. Highway 191 south of Farson and south of Pinedale; U.S. Highway 89 near Afton; U.S. Highway 189 near La Barge and Evanston; and Wyoming; and Wyoming Highway 28 between Lander and Farson. Project completion date is Aug. 31.
  • Wilson Bros. Construction Inc., of Cowley, won a $2.1 million contract for rockfall mitigation work on U.S. Highway 14-16 between Yellowstone and Cody to scale back loose rock from the slopes. Crews will install rock bolts to stabilize the walls, and will install rockfall mesh to help contain rocks from falling to the road. Crews also will remove old rockfall mesh and replace it with new mesh on Wyoming Highway 296, commonly known as the Chief Joseph Highway.
  • Intermountain Slurry Seal won a $1.8 million contract to add an overlay to improve skid resistance and remove ruts on 25 miles of Wyoming Highway 24 and Wyoming Highway 585 in Crook County. The work is being paid for with 10-cent fuel-tax revenue. Project completion date is Oct. 31.
  • Knife River of Cheyenne won a $671,769 contract for a chip sealing project on Wyoming Highway 130 starting in Saratoga and on Wyoming Highway 789 north of Baggs. Contract completion date is Aug. 31.
  • Cache Valley Electric Co., of Salt Lake City, won a $542,262 contract to upgrade the variable speed limit signs at 12 locations in Albany and Carbon counties. Contract completion date is Oct. 31.
  • Linch Environmental Contractors of Linch won a $64,934 contract to repair a 130-foot section of concrete barrier damaged by a semi tractor trailer last fall. Contract completion date is May 24.

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