One of Laramie’s main roads has been under construction for months, forcing residents, students, and visitors to navigate the cluttered 3rd Street and its surrounding blocks.
As a result, Laramie residents and businesses are experiencing struggles, as areas around 3rd street are experiencing higher volumes of traffic they’re not intended to support.
Business employees and managers in downtown Laramie reported there was a noticeable decrease in consumer traffic.
Jone Martindale, manager of Martindale’s Western Store located on Grand Avenue, explained their customers are experiencing an “extreme inconvenience” navigating the downtown area.
“They’re running ragged trying to figure out how to get here,” Martindale said.
The month of August is usually one of Martindale’s busiest months, as is such for many other shops located near 3rd Street and downtown.
Martindale reported that business traffic is down “extremely” compared to the store’s projections based on years prior.
Mary Ward, an employee of Atmosphere Mountainworks explained their customers have struggled to access the store, as citizens of Laramie are now looking elsewhere for leisure activities and consumption.
She also noted that her experience as an employee working downtown has been altered by the construction.
Employees are having to account for alternating detour routes and increased commute time, along with other pedestrians and residents commuting in the area.
Per the City of Laramie, there was extra funding requested toward the 3rd Street Utility Rehabilitation Project, under the Wastewater Fund for the 2022-23 fiscal year which caused delays in the construction process.
The city was granted an extra $1,499,804 to accommodate for updated estimated costs and bids.
Laramie also states that construction on the city’s utility pipelines and infrastructure is in preparation for an expected increase of Laramie residents and University of Wyoming campus population.
The section of 3rd Street between Harney and Highway 30 was scheduled to be complete in late October of this year, as final infrastructure is being put in place for the current phase of construction.
Laramie’s Project Manager, William Winkler, stated “We’re trying to update the infrastructure before WYDot comes in to repave the way,” which is scheduled to occur in 2025.
“What we’re trying to do right now is get our waterline and utility infrastructure up to snuff, so that when WYDot comes in, there are no further utility concerns”, Mr. Winkler continued.
As construction continues to delay and another Laramie winter fast approaches, the city and its residents can continue to expect one of its main routes to be under constant construction through fall and into the winter months.
With further expansions continuing on the university campus; the city will continue to battle population growth and funding, and as a result, continuous construction.
Laramie’s residents and businesses should expect infrastructure changes and commuting difficulties for years to come.
