An Orphaned Highway - Central Federal Lands Highway Division

June 15, 2005, less than4 weeks after the landslides.Constructioncrews, working 24hours a day, 6 days aweek, completed theproject in just 4 months,in early October.The Road toAdoptionWith the Montana sectionnow repaired, the focushas shifted to puttingreconstruction of segment4 back on track.To construct a 1-kilometer(0.6-mile) project containinga new bridge andretaining wall at the highway’sworst safety location(Beartooth Ravine),$4 million is needed in2007 in addition to theremaining $12 million inhigh-priority funds. Toadvance a 2.8-kilometer(1.6-mile) project fromthe beginning of segment4 through BeartoothRavine, thus taking advantageof economies ofscale and better constructionsequencing, an additional$8 million is required.In support of this fundingneed, WYDOT has requested additionalfunding from the PublicLands Highways DiscretionaryProgram in the fiscal year 2007appropriations bill in the amountof $5 million. These efforts andothers will help advance reconstructionof all of segment 4—andthus set the orphaned BeartoothHighway on the road to adoption.Michael Kulbacki is a field operationsengineer with FHWA’s MontanaDivision office in Helena. As theoperations team leader, he is responsiblefor oversight and stewardshipduties for the Federal-aid highwayprogram in Montana in the areasof design, environment, and construction.His career spans 13 yearswith FHWA and 2 years consultingin the private sector. He earneda B.S. in civil engineering fromVirginia Polytechnic Institute andState University and is currentlyfinishing an M.S. in civil engineeringConcrete pump and delivery trucks are parked on the temporary alignment during constructionof a foundation at an MSE wall on the second Bradshaw Crossing. The uphill slope is overlaidwith geofabric and soil bolt anchors inserted as a stabilization measure to prevent slopefailure.at the University of Colorado atBoulder. Kulbacki is a registeredprofessional engineer in Coloradoand Montana. He can be reachedat 406–449–5302, ext. 239, ormichael.kulbacki@fhwa.dot.gov.Bert McCauley is a project managerwith CFLHD in Lakewood, CO.He is currently the agency’s projectmanager for segment 4 reconstructionin Wyoming. He has been intransportation engineering for 34years in various Federal, State, andlocal government and universitycapacities, including 18 years withFHWA. He holds a B.S. in civil engineeringfrom Texas Tech University,completed the graduate curriculumin transportation engineering as arecipient of the FHWA fellowshipto the Bureau of Highway Trafficat Pennsylvania State University,and is a registered professional engineerin Wyoming and Texas. Hecan be reached at 720–963–3726or bert.mccauley@fhwa.dot.gov.Steve Moler is a public affairs specialistat FHWA’s Resource Center inSan Francisco, CA. He has workedin various aspects of journalism andmass communications for more than20 years, including news writingand editing, public relations, andcommunity outreach. He has a B.S.in journalism from the University ofColorado at Boulder. He has beenwith FHWA for 5 years, helping itsfield offices and partners with mediarelations, public relations, and publicinvolvement communications. Hecan be reached at 415–744–3103or steve.moler@fhwa.dot.gov.For more information, visit www.cflhd.gov/projects/wy/beartooth/index.cfm or contact BertMcCauley at 720–963–3726 orbert.mccauley@fhwa.dot.gov.Additional information about theBeartooth Highway can be foundat www.byways.org/browse/byways/2281.The authors would like to thankJennifer Corwin, an environmentsenior technical specialist at CFLHD,for her contribution to this article.MDTPUBLIC ROADS • July/August • 2006 27