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WYDOT outlines major Sheridan projects; business owners press concerns about Coffeem Avenue medians
Summary
Scott Taylor, WYDOT District 4 engineer, reviewed the State Transportation Improvement Program and a multi‑year slate of local projects. Local business owners and residents raised access and snow‑removal concerns about proposed medians on Coffeem Avenue; WYDOT promised additional public meetings and design adjustments.
Scott Taylor, WYDOT District 4 engineer, presented the state’s transportation program and a multi‑year list of projects that affect Sheridan County, then answered council and public questions about local design details.
Taylor told the council District 4 is responsible for a large inventory of assets and said the statewide program for fiscal year 2026 includes more than $400 million worth of construction. He described eligible funding streams—BROS bridge funds, TAP pathway funds, CRIP discretionary funds and urban systems money—and said many projects are federally funded. "For Wyoming…most of it is federally funded," Taylor said, noting the state’s limited tax base.
Taylor highlighted several Sheridan‑area projects scheduled across the STIP: a multi‑million‑dollar realignment on US‑90, a milling/overlay and ADA upgrades in the Coffee/Decker corridor, a Ward Street bridge replacement (bridal/bridge program), and a CRIP partnership to pave and realign East Ridge Road. He described conceptual elements such as a possible roundabout at the Bighorn Y and a planned 10‑foot pathway funded by TAP funds on a major corridor.
Public comment and council questions focused on Coffeem Avenue medians and business access. Patrick Akers, a business owner on Coffeem Avenue, asked for a written plan addressing snow removal and vehicle access that would show how U‑turns and diverted traffic would be handled. "You're going to put medians in there…what is the snow removal plan?… you're going to be putting some of that traffic into those areas," Akers said, warning about access to deliveries and customers and the effect on nearby school zones.
Taylor responded that WYDOT plans two to three more public meetings, will produce revised grading plans and will incorporate gaps and access adjustments where businesses require them. "We're gonna have many — when I say many, 2 to 3 more — and then after that next grading plans...we'll have our other public meeting to show everybody what we've come up with so far and take more comment," he said.
The council did not vote on any WYDOT project at the meeting; staff urged residents to use the WYDOT project map and grants page for information and to contact the local government coordinator or WYDOT staff for details.
Local project highlights and next steps: Ward Street bridge funding will be advertised for bid in April; Decker Road and Coffee Avenue projects include milling/overlay, ADA upgrades and medians with further design changes promised after public input; East Ridge Road will move forward under CRIP with county coordination on right‑of‑way acquisitions.
