US 14A (Cody-Powell): Reconstruction, widening continues
A long-term effort to reconstruct and widen US 14A between Cody and Powell has resumed this summer.
Work began in earnest last month on a $10.2-million project involving about four miles (between mileposts 10 and 14) of the route, roughly halfway between the two Park County towns.
When the project is complete next year, the new roadway will feature five lanes, enough for two travel lanes in each direction plus a continuous left turn lane in the middle. High County Construction, Inc., of Lander is the prime contractor.
Over the past eight years, four similar projects have been completed within the Cody-Powell corridor, resulting in 14 miles of renewed roadway. The improvements have served to replace deteriorated and relatively narrow sections, while adding capacity to accommodate steadily increasing traffic.
The first project in the series, which began in 2001, involved reconstruction for two miles (mileposts 5-7) and updating and widening the Shoshone River bridge located at milepost 6.5. Roadway sections adjoining the bridge were widened to three lanes.
In 2002, ground was broken on the Powell Southwest section between mileposts 22 and 24, and two years later, work began on the adjacent Ralston section between mileposts 14 and 22. Both projects resulted in new sections of five-lane highway.
Work continued in 2006-07 with reconstruction of two miles of four-lane US 14A in Cody proper, beginning at the junction with US 14-16-20 (milepost 0) and extending north and east toward Powell.
Within the current project area between mileposts 10 and 14, reduced speed limits are in effect and motorist should expect to encounter delays, generally not to exceed 10 minutes. Traffic will not be stopped during morning and afternoon commuting times (7 – 8:30 a.m. and 4 – 5:30 p.m.).
Federal stimulus funding (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) is being used to pay for the work.
Similar reconstruction and widening is tentatively scheduled to begin on the adjacent three miles (mileposts 7 -10) next year. Once that work is complete, only the approximate three-mile section (mileposts 2-5) of US 14A between the Shoshone River bridge and Cody will remain to be improved.
