PINEDALE – The Pinedale Town Council wrapped up the South Tyler Avenue pathway project at its July 25 meeting, unanimously approving a motion to approve final completion of construction.

Councilman Tyler Swafford, presiding over the meeting as mayor pro tempore, reported hearing overwhelmingly favorable comments from the public about the new trail for cyclists and pedestrians.

Town staff conducted a final walk-through and audit on the completed construction with the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), said Abram Pearce, director of public works. Both agencies deemed the project “acceptable,” Pearce told the council.

Councilmembers passed a separate motion authorizing Change Order No. 4 on the South Tyler pathway, closing out the financial balance sheet and reflecting a $4,775 reduction on the final price tag.

Total costs for both engineering and construction came to $882,146, Pearce explained to the Roundup. WYDOT covered $618,840 as a grant through federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) dollars, he said, with the Sublette County Recreation Board donating an additional $75,000.

Despite a slow start due to “unforeseen hurdles” with permits and drawings, Pearce expressed satisfaction with the final product.

“I’m thrilled with the work the contractors did and we got a quality project,” he said. “This is an asset for the town.”

Town staff noted heavy use on the new pathway since construction was substantially completed earlier this spring, Pearce said.

Airport closure update and additional updates

The planned runway closure at Ralph Wenz Field was moved back to Aug. 5, Pearce reported to the council. Work to repair a portion of the runway’s asphalt will begin at 7 a.m. and is expected to be completed in one day, he added.

In other projects, the town scheduled completion of all chip-seal work on streets by Friday, July 29, Pearce said. Town staff will treat the streets with a fog seal and clean up excess chips, “buttoning up road maintenance for the year,” according to Pearce.

The town continues to work on draft contracts with Jorgensen Engineering on the town’s traffic and pedestrian safety studies, Pearce said. The town will hold multiple public meetings later this summer and fall on both projects with times and dates to be announced.

Grant application deadlines for the first round of federal infrastructure monies available through the American Rescue Plan Act deadline are due in mid-August, Pearce told the board. The town planned to submit a request to fund a permanent fix for the Orcutt Hill seep and install a proper storm drainage system on South Tyler Avenue to remove spring runoff, he said.