Commission gets update on county road repair, replacement bridges

Road and Bridge supervisors Shannan Hovey and Eric Mann gave their department reports at the September 17 meeting of the Big Horn County Commission. 

Hovey said they had been working on Lane 38. This included milling patches and the ditches. Commission chairman Bruce Jolley asked if the crew did any additional work further down on the road. Hovey replied they just cleaned up the area that had been complained about. 

Hovey continued that work is needed on Trapper Creek to help with flooding issues. The culverts are buried, and the ditches are building up with rocks and mud. 

Hovey and county engineer Willie Bridges attended a meeting on Forest Service Road 17 with the Forest Service and Federal Highways.  He was told that the cost to fix the road from the campground to the Flitner cattle guard would be $200,000. Bridges explained that the budget the county had set was inflated to what prices might be in 2030, which is when the road construction project is scheduled. He added that the meetings, site visits and upcoming zoom meeting are to develop the scope of the project and to make sure everyone understands that scope. It will then be turned over to an engineering firm to do the design.

“We keep trying to make sure they understand the scope of the work we want is not a highway,” he said. “We need to get some gravel on this road.” 

The county would like a 16-foot road with ditches on the side plus culverts so that the water doesn’t run over the road. On the rocky portions they would like to see a reclaimer brought up to grind up the rocks, then perhaps put some crushed base on top. Signage and cattle guards at the same height as the road would also be a part of the project. 

Mann said on the north end of the county they have been mowing. They have also been blading roads when there is some moisture.  He also addressed concerns about the lack of doors on the new road/bridge building.  The lack of doors is allowing birds to come in, and insulation is changing colors from the exposure. 

Jolley asked about a cut that had been made on Road 11. The road was cut for a water line for Northwest Rural Water.  Mann said it is rough and has not been fixed yet by the contractor. Bridges said it was supposed to be paved by the end of last week. He hasn’t been up there to check. Commissioner Dave Neves suggested that the commission write a letter to Northwest stating that the county would not allow them to cut the road again. 

Commissioner Deb Craft noted that in the agreement with the county to cut the road, it states that the entity requesting a cut is responsible for repairing it. 

Bridges gave an update on the G-P Road. He said the approach into Spence Oilfield is rough and has dips. He will be meeting with the contractor about fixing it. 

Bridges also provided an update on the bridge replacements for Shell Creek and Rairden Lane. He will be meeting with WYDOT for its final recommendations. The projects will likely be bid next fall. 

 In other business:

• Tavis Moger from the Willwood Irrigation District asked for a letter of support for a Wyoming Water Development grant. 

• The commissioners accepted the resignation of Cash Duncan as fair manager.