Federal highway officials say they may be willing to spend $12 million to help upgrade a portion of the South Fork Road.
Over the past two construction seasons, the Federal Highway Administration provided millions of dollars to widen and fix up the final 14 miles of the Park County-maintained road. The agency is now seriously exploring the possibility of providing millions more to improve additional portions of the South Fork route, potentially starting in 2027.
“This is great news for Park County,” said County Engineer Brian Edwards, noting the county government would only be on the hook for 15% of the project cost.
“Although there is no shortage of road and bridge infrastructure needs throughout the county, any time the county is able to secure 85% federal funding for a major capital improvements project, it is a win/win situation for the citizens of Park County,” Edwards said.
While no final decisions have been made, federal highway officials have shortlisted a second phase of South Fork upgrades for funding under the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP). The program is meant to improve access to federal lands and supported the previous South Fork work, aiming to make it easier to get to recreation sites in the Shoshone National Forest and on Bureau of Land Management property.
In the first round of work, crews effectively started at the end of County Road 6WX, about 42 miles southwest of Cody, and worked back toward the city. Over the course of the 2019 and 2020 construction seasons, contractors improved about 7 miles of gravel and paved another 6.5 miles, reaching the boundary of the Shoshone. While no final cost figures have been released, the project was previously expected to total about $14.4 million after going over budget, with the county paying $2.36 million. Work wrapped up in mid-September.
Months later, Park County’s Public Works Department requested funding to continue working back toward Cody, proposing to rehabilitate as many as 17 miles — all the way back to where Road 6WX becomes Wyo. Highway 291. However, the Federal Highway Administration says it likely doesn’t have the funding to go that far. In a letter to the county last week, Federal Lands Access Program Manager James Herlyck said improving the entire 17 miles would likely cost around $22.82 million. However, he projected that only about $14.12 million would be available: a maximum $12 million contribution from the FLAP plus a $2.12 million (15%) match from the county.
Exactly how many miles that would cover — of widening, reconstruction, improved drainage, minor realignment and new pavement — remains to be seen.
“The money’s going to kind of drive how far we can get it,” Edwards said.
In his letter, Herlyck cautioned that the plans are contingent on FLAP funding being available. The program is set to expire this year, but the manager said he’s “optimistic” it will be extended in some form.
Herlyck projected that FLAP funding for the second phase of the South Fork project would become available in the summer of 2026, with construction likely beginning in 2027. That schedule “is a little further out than we had hoped,” Edwards said. “However, this will give the residents that live on and use the South Fork a break from construction activity for a few years.”
He also said it should give the county more time to plan for the project and save up money to cover its share of the cost.
Meanwhile, the Federal Highway Administration has agreed to do some preliminary engineering to refine the costs and the scope of work. That scoping is expected to finish up by the end of the year or early 2022, at a cost around $60,000; Park County will be required to pay $10,000 or 15% (whichever is greater).
The agreement does not commit any of the parties — from the county commissioners to federal officials — to going forward with the actual construction work itself.
While Edwards had felt the second phase of the project had a good chance of being shortlisted, he said the Federal Lands Access Program draws a host of worthwhile applications against a limited pool of funds.
“The fact that our project was selected for further consideration is evident of the quality and value of public lands that we are fortunate to have in Park County,” Edwards said.
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March 30, 2021 at 09:10PM
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Feds may help fund more improvements to South Fork Road - Powell Tribune
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