Construction in Laramie is ongoing as most residents and students have noticed by now.
Grand Avenue has been closed for some time, now with multiple repairs being performed. The Wyoming Department of Transportation is coordinating with the City of Laramie, said Randy Hunt, Director of Community Development.
“The construction on Grand is a state of Wyoming project because it is a state highway,” said Hunt. “Part of it is ours because we have waterlines under the street.”
Hunt said the water line project underneath Grand is not only on target, but also possibly even ahead of schedule.
“As I understand it, the street work being done is on schedule,” said Hunt.
The newer parts of Laramie have city utilities underneath the grass or sidewalks, while currently the water line is underneath Grand. Construction crews are replacing the older water lines with new ones to the side of the street, said Hunt.
Hunt said nobody should notice a difference with their water quality or flow, as there are alternate ways to run water.
O’Dwyers Public House is located across from Washakie cafeteria with the construction on Grand right in between. O’Dwyers Manager Jack Flaherty said he was grateful the restaurant was able to keep up with business as usual.
“Even since it has started, we have not seen a negative effect from the construction,” he said, adding their water supply has also remained noticeably unchanged. “Our main (water line) coming in is beefy, so even if there is reduced water flow, I have not noticed it.”
Flaherty said the construction fence is very close to their best handicap access since the sidewalk has been taken out.
“We have had to assist people in through the back door which is not exactly wheel chair friendly,” said Flaherty. “That’s the only thing, and nobody has really said anything about it.”
Other projects include the Cirrus Sky Technology Park, which is the largest dollar-and-volume wise project. The $6 million project is currently under way.
“The idea is a technology park where we would be able to bring in new businesses and new industry,” said Hunt. “Laramie has the ideal climate for servers of high tech companies, which are typically heat producing.”
The park will be for companies to build servers in a cooler climate. There is an existing informal trail that has been there for decades, Hunt said. With the development of the park, they will be able to also develop the trail.
Hunt said they are planning on starting construction in East Laramie by Greys Gable Road. Currently the area was developed without an underground drainage. The plan is to route the water properly underground, as streets end up being the drainage for the water.
The project will be around $1.4 million and will start around July 1st.
