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Big Horn County weighs $200K–$250K fix after WYDOT orders Lane 32 bridge closed
Summary
County Road & Bridge staff told commissioners a timber bridge on Lane 32 near Shell crossing Red Gulch must be closed after a WYDOT inspection; staff estimated replacement at $200,000–$250,000 and outlined a box-culvert alternative and a one-mile detour for landowners while staff seeks funding options.
Chair Deb Craft and county road staff on June 17 discussed emergency repairs after the Wyoming Department of Transportation ordered closure of an aging timber bridge on Lane 32 near Shell crossing Red Gulch.
Road and Bridge staff member Bridges said WYDOT performed the inspection in February and the county received formal notice June 13. Bridges told commissioners the structure would need full replacement. He estimated a total replacement cost in the $200,000–$250,000 range and described a lower-profile alternative using a box culvert, road grade adjustments and rip rap to reduce flood risk. Bridges provided an itemized rough estimate for a culvert-based option — about $150,000 for labor and equipment, $50,000 in rip rap and $5,000 for crane rental — and said a culvert ordered for a different lane would be too short for this crossing.
The county noted WYDOT prioritizes replacements based on traffic patterns and critical routes; Bridges said an accessible detour adds roughly a mile for local landowners. Commissioners asked about assistance from WYDOT; Bridges said he would pursue the limited assistance program he knows of and contact homeowners to update them on options. He estimated 12 months as the quickest timeframe to bid, order and deliver a culvert for Red Gulch.
Why it matters: the crossing serves local landowners, and the county must weigh spending for full replacement versus interim work to restore connectivity and reduce flood risk. Bridges said a full replacement has a wider span than the nearby Shell Creek bridge WYDOT is replacing for over $1 million. The commission did not adopt a formal funding commitment at the meeting; Bridges was directed to continue outreach to WYDOT and area property owners while developing procurement and scope options.
What’s next: Bridges will follow up with homeowners and report back to the commission with clearer cost estimates and any grant or WYDOT assistance options.
