Plans to continue developing and improving the Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway now include hopes of developing two new scenic turnout points.
These plans were presented to the Board of County Commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting. Funding to develop the turnouts could be provided through a Wyoming Department of Transportation grant program.
The goal is to have two new scenic turnouts along the part of the Flaming Gorge Byway that travels through Southwest Wyoming. Jenissa Meredith, the executive director for Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism, explained the plans for the turnouts to the commissioners.
One turnout would be along Highway 530 where the Blacks Fork River runs along the highway. A sand dune that has formed over the past several years can be seen in the area as well. The turnout would include signage about the sand dune and the surrounding geology, as well as potentially including a walking or mountain biking path.
“It’s a really great opportunity to get people to pull off and really experience the landscape there and enjoy that view,” Meredith said.
The second planned turnout would be on Highway 191 near Clay Basin. According to Meredith the area has a beautiful overlook and many opportunities for turnouts, and the goal is to provide restroom facilities in the area since it’s along a stretch of highway without many facilities.
Last year, the Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway received the designation of being an All American Road. Meredith noted many people didn’t understand the significance of the designation, but this new opportunity for the byway shows its importance.
“This is why it matters,” Meredith said. “We now qualify for these types of funding sources in partnership with the county.”
Travel and Tourism is also looking at other grant opportunities and funding streams to help with development along the Scenic Byway in the future, but believes these turnouts are the first step.
“We just know that these two locations are prime and ready and we know that they’re ideal for this round of funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program,” Meredith said.
The Transportation Alternatives Program is run through the Wyoming Department of Transportation and provides federal funding to support “community-based projects that expand travel choices and enhance the transportation experience” by improving aspects of transportation infrastructure according to Krisena Marchal, Sweetwater County’s grants manager.
The estimated cost of the project is between $200,000 and $300,000. Public Works Director Gene Legerski noted the exact cost of the project will depend on the locations chosen, but explained there are already some semi-developed turnouts in the Clay Basin area which would make development easier and less expensive.
The grant requires a 9.51% match, Marchal explained, which would be just under $30,000. Marchal also noted the match for the grant was previously 20%, so the current rate is a good deal.
While the infrastructure would not be owned by Sweetwater County, the county has to be the official sponsor of the grant application and oversee the project. Joint Travel and Tourism funding cannot be used for the fund match, but “they would participate significantly” with other expenses as part of the project, according to Marchal.
The commissioners voted to approve the request to submit a Statement of Intent (SOI) to the grant program. The SOI is non-binding and not an obligation to carry out the project, Marchal explained, but is the first step in being able to get the funds in order to make the planned turnouts a reality.
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