Sheridan details $15M-plus 2025 construction program, warns of summer road closures

Sheridan City Engineer Thomas Mona outlined the city’s 2025 construction program on March 18, detailing about 13 projects that the engineering division expects to advance this year, including a multiyear South Downtown reconstruction, landfill excavation, major water transmission work and pool rehabilitation.

The update, presented to the Sheridan City Council, said South Downtown Phase 1 will fully reconstruct roads, sidewalks, curb and gutter, and utilities on South Main, West Whitney and South Shergie. Mona said the project stems from the 2019 Capital Improvement Program and will be funded in part by cap tax (an optional 1-cent sales tax) and State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans for water and sewer components. He said construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2025.

Mona said the city is coordinating phasing and traffic plans with utilities and contractors because South Downtown “will be a complete reconstruction” and is likely to require road closures. “It’s going to be a coordination effort between David, Nathan, and myself to keep MDU and the South Downtown project moving forward, but not conflicting our traffic patterns,” Mona told council members.

Why it matters: the package of work includes projects that underpin future development and public safety—water transmission upgrades to improve pressure and fire flows in the northeast, wastewater clarifier replacements that restore plant reliability, and streets work intended to extend pavement life and reduce long-term rebuild costs.

Key projects and funding notes

- Landfill dig-and-flip: Mona said the current phase involves removal of roughly 365,000 cubic yards of waste. The project began in fall 2024; the awarded amount reported to council was $5,030,000. The work is funded by an SRF loan and Wyoming DEQ support and remains ongoing.

- Kendrick Park pool rehabilitation: Mona said the project, value-engineered after higher bids, is under construction and will keep the pool closed for the summer of 2025. He reported an awarded amount of $5,400,000 and said a $500,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant is earmarked for pool equipment and mechanical work. The city has preserved the historic pool house shell while rebuilding mechanical systems, Mona said.

- Northeast Transmission Main: Derived from the 2019 Water Master Plan, the project will install about 10,800 linear feet of 16-inch PVC (C900). Construction is expected in summer 2025; the reported contract award is $1,830,000, funded by Water Enterprise funds, WWDC grants and a DWSRF loan. Mona said the work is intended to increase pressure and fire flow capacity in the northeast part of Sheridan.

- Wastewater clarifier replacements: The council was told the north and south clarifier work is bundled and funded by Sewer Enterprise funds and a CWSRF loan. Prospect Construction is listed as contractor and the awarded amount reported was $2,650,000.

- Rotomill and overlay (North Heights): Mona said staff hope to combine phases 2 and 3 into a single 2025 contract to reduce repeated disruption to a neighborhood that has experienced several years of water and road work. Funding is a mix of public benefit, water enterprise, GPET and cap tax.

- Bellevue Avenue water crossing: Replacement of an aging ductile-iron water main under Goose Creek between Bellevue and Kendrick Park is planned for fall 2025 and will be paid from the water enterprise fund; TriHydro is the engineer of record.

- Brundage Island lighting: Following repeated damage to flashing beacons and pedestrian-safety concerns, staff proposed roadway lighting near crosswalks to improve visibility on Brundage Lane; funding was included in a 2025 budget revision.

- Big Goose water treatment plant porch repairs and landfill building: Mona said the treatment-plant porch requires specialty repair work and the city is investigating options; the landfill administrative and maintenance shop will be replaced because the original building sits atop the dig-and-flip area.

- Army Corps Little Goose Creek study: The city is participating in a federal feasibility study (Army Corps) for aquatic ecosystem improvements in the concrete chute area downtown; Mona said the total study cost is $3,000,000 with a 50-50 federal/city cost-share if the project moves to construction and receives federal authorization.

Smaller projects and subdivisions: Mona listed smaller utility extensions, subdivision reviews and work on the Grand Central RV park (phase 2 would add 13 spaces and a bathhouse, and must meet Chapter 25 municipal code standards). He also reiterated the city’s intent to update pavement-condition data and to reprioritize the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to reflect inflation and recent needs.

Council questions and next steps

Council members pressed staff on traffic impacts during concurrent utility work (including MDU gas-line projects), documentation of lead service-line inspections while water mains are exposed, and groundwater monitoring near landfill cells. Mona said staff would follow up with utilities and the project managers (David Ford and Nathan Rager) on several of those technical questions.

Mona told council he will return with more detailed timelines and contract-award items as contractors are selected and bids are brought forward for council approval.

Ending: Mona said engineering will continue to refine phasing and will present additional project-specific updates, including a dedicated report on Kendrick Park pool work in May.