Commission awards Lamoille Canyon wall repair contract; full road closure planned after Labor Day

The Elko County Board of Highway Commissioners awarded the Lamoille Canyon wall reconstruction contract to Great Basin Engineering Contractors, with the low bid recorded as $870,200, and discussed timing and closures required for the work.

Why it matters: Lamoille Canyon Recreation Road is a seasonal, high-use route; repair and wall construction require removing an existing road segment to replace a culvert and rebuild a road section, so the county and the U.S. Forest Service coordinated to limit full closures and protect the recreation season.

County Road Superintendent Dennis Price told the board the work will likely occur next year but the contractor must obtain a manufacturer design for the chosen wall system and the forest service has allowed a total of four weeks for a full road closure. Logan Jensen (Dow/Forest Service) said the county and federal partners are targeting a closure window starting after Labor Day; the contractor will be expected to limit the closure duration and provide ample public notice. The county plans to allow pedestrian access where possible and to coordinate hunter access around the project schedule.

Bid and contract details: Commissioners approved the $870,200 award; staff noted engineering, testing and inspection contingencies are included and that work timing will consider weather and short construction seasons. The county discussed opportunities to shorten closures and to consider one-way traffic where feasible, but the full road removal and culvert replacement will require a defined closure to complete the work safely.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the contract with Great Basin Engineering Contractors and issue public notification of closure dates and detours once the contractor and the Forest Service set specific start and completion dates.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A with Dennis Price (Elko County Road Superintendent) and Logan Jensen (Forest Service) at the county meeting. Ending: Commissioners said the schedule aims to protect visitation while completing the necessary infrastructure replacement during the narrow mountain construction season.