The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded $28.6 million in highway construction contracts last Thursday, including $22.2 million for the first 15 Wyoming road projects to be funded with federal economic stimulus program money.
Federal Highway Administration analysis suggests about 280 jobs are sustained or created by every $10 million invested in highway construction, so the stimulus-funded projects can be expected to provide work for about 600 people over the next two construction seasons. In addition to the equipment operators, laborers, supervisors and engineers in the work zone itself, those jobs would include mechanics, materials suppliers and other support personnel.
Local projects approved include
 Lovell’s Mountain Construction was awarded a $1.4 million contract for a pavement overlay on 14 miles of US 30 west of Basin followed by a chip seal by June 30, 2010.
“The stimulus act sets a 120-day time frame for getting shovel-ready projects let to contract, and we will meet that goal,” WYDOT Chief Engineer Del McOmie said. “Wyoming has a backlog of road improvement needs and this funding will help us accelerate our efforts to meet those needs.”
The commission plans to consider additional stimulus projects at its April 30, May 14 and May 28 meetings.’
Other stimulus-funded contracts awarded by the commission Thursday were:
• Highway Improvement Inc., Harrisburg S.D., $850,000 for crack sealing on 128 miles of highway in Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie counties by March 31, 2010;
• Olson Fencing, Powell, $437,000 for replacement of right-of-way fencing along 11 miles of  US 14 west of Shell and east of Cody by Sept. 30;
• Wilson Brothers Construction, Cowley, $371,000 for slope flattening, guardrail upgrades and other improvements on 1.5 miles on US 14-16 west of Greybull by Oct. 15.