The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently released the latest episode in its “State DOT 2-Minute Update” video series; this one featuring the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
[Above photo by AASHTO]
The video features Darrin Westby, Wyoming DOT’s director, who talks about his department’s two main priorities: addressing staffing shortages by making public service a priority to attract more hires, and securing additional funding for the state.
Westby also stresses in the video the importance of elevating public understanding of infrastructure’s critical role; emphasizing that proper funding is essential to meet the expectations and necessities of maintaining roads and infrastructure effectively.
The agency has also been hard at work repairing the damage caused by two catastrophic landslides in early June that wiped out a broad section of Wyoming State Highway 22 at Teton Pass.
Three weeks later, Wyoming DOT – with the help of the Idaho Transportation Department, contractors, and federal agencies – opened a detour around the road closure.
“While temporary, this detour safely reconnects communities and gives commuting families their valuable personal time back,” said Westby in a statement.
“This process underscores the vital importance of infrastructure like mountain passes that connect people to work, family, medical care, affordable housing and other necessities,” he added. “WYDOT staff from a variety of departments and areas of expertise rolled up their sleeves and got to work for the people – a master level class in public service.”
Wyoming DOT is continually monitoring the area as engineers and other construction professionals plan the reconstruction of the section of Teton Pass highway impacted by the slide. The goal is to have Teton Pass completely rebuilt before the worst of winter arrives, the agency said.
States
Julie Meredith Appointed New WSDOT Secretary
January 10, 2025
States
