Laramie outlines busy 2026 construction season: 26 projects, traffic impacts and notification plan

City engineering briefed the council on April 14 on the city's 2026 construction program, listing 26 capital projects planned for the summer and early fall and describing expected impacts and outreach approaches.

Director Eric Yapp said the projects are displayed on a public construction map on the city website and encouraged residents to contact engineering@cityoflaramie.org or 721‑5250 with questions. “This map...is available on the engineering website,” he said, and staff will post schedules and contact information for each project.

Major street projects include full reconstruction of 15th Street (phase two) and 4th Street from Grand to Iverson along with a multi‑road 2026 street rehab program (mill and overlay) covering heavily used corridors. The city described coordination with the University of Wyoming on timing around student move‑in and said it is working with public‑safety partners on access for fire stations and critical routes.

Water and sewer work includes a 41T3 well piping and treatment project, Corthell sewer connection surface restoration, a Bill Nye/Third Street traffic signal, priority sewer rehab on Custer Street, and a north‑side outfall and transmission pipeline project (delayed while easements are finalized). Utilities projects also include a Zone 1 tank replacement design and other operations work.

Parks and trails projects described include LaBonte Park path/fitness upgrades, Spring Creek Trail phase two, and a West Laramie shared‑use path. WYDOT's Grand Avenue project was noted as a non‑city project affecting traffic.

Outreach and impacts: staff said the contractor will door‑knock affected blocks prior to full road closures and that the city will use social media "newsflash" notices to communicate lane closures and detours. For the larger 2026 street rehab, staff said some short full‑closures (for paving) are expected, with most closures lasting no more than a week in any one location. For major projects the city will provide additional neighborhood notifications and will coordinate schedules where possible.

Public commenters asked for better bike‑lane striping and widened bike lanes on Sheridan Street and 22nd Street and suggested reallocating under‑used left‑turn lanes to bike lanes to improve downtown access. Engineering staff said they will try to post more detailed start dates on the public map and to coordinate a schedule for council to share with constituents.

Next steps: engineering will continue to refine construction schedules, coordinate traffic control plans with contractors and public‑safety partners, and increase public notification through the city's notify‑me/newsflash system and door‑to‑door outreach in affected neighborhoods.