Gravel Road Capital Improvement Plan

I keep a close eye on county roads, so I recently sat in on another meeting about the Gravel Road Capital Improvement Plan and wanted to share more about where things stand.

Laramie County maintains about 1,300 miles of roads, and the study sampled a little over 300 miles. The consulting firm drove and evaluated those roads using several measures to get a clear picture of their condition.

The work is still underway. The consultant and Public Works staff are fine-tuning the information and reviewing factors such as road condition and makeup, drainage needs, the scope of any rebuild, and traffic volume. Traffic counts are still being completed and will be another important piece of the picture.

Just as important, the data is being compared with what our Public Works crews know from maintaining these roads every day. Putting those two pieces together helps identify roads that may need larger projects such as reconstruction or significant drainage work.

As the plan comes together, projects will generally fall into needs that need to be addressed in the next one to five years and those that are further out. That can change as road conditions, needs, and available funding change. Since the study is still underway, that priority list is still being developed.

This is separate from the regular maintenance happening throughout the year. Some roads need attention every couple of weeks, while others may be on a four- to six-week schedule depending on their condition, traffic and use.

The study will also help when we apply for grants. Good information showing a road’s condition, how much it is used, and why a larger project is needed can make us more competitive for outside funding.

And if you have a question or concern about a county road, you can always reach out to Public Works. Director Molly Wright and her staff know these roads well and are always willing to visit with residents about what they’re seeing and the work being done.