Cost to repaint rail bridge has Casper, Wyo., officials looking for alternatives

Written by RT&S Staff
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BNSF

The saying, “It just needs a coat of paint,” takes on a little more sting when the cost is $150,000.

Officials in Casper, Wyo., want to know why it costs so much to repaint a rail bridge. The bridge is part of an enhancement project on the I-25 corridor. The Wyoming DOT plans to reconstruct the highway from Poplar Street to East Yellowstone Highway in the near future.

Casper has set aside just over $462,000 to enhance Center Street between B Street and I-25, and additional federal dollars will be used. City officials are trying to figure out how to stretch the budget on some enhancements, and work involving the rail bridge could be a sticking point.

Casper Vice Mayor Steve Freel said the cost to repaint the structure seemed high. City Manager Carter Napier agreed, and added the rail bridge project needed to be among those included in the enhancement effort. Napier said the city could pull the repainting project out of the Center Street work and budget it separately in the new fiscal year.

The city also will approach BNSF, the owner of the bridge, for funding assistance.

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