WYDOT District 1, contractor begin crack-sealing on US-287 across Albany County

Crews began crack-sealing work on US-287 north of Rawlins on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, with operations moving east across Albany County toward Laramie County. The work, reported to involve Wyoming Department of Transportation District 1 and contractor Highway Improvement Inc., will affect travel along the highway and on nearby state routes as crews maintain pavement integrity ahead of spring traffic.

“Crews will begin work on US 287 north of Rawlins, progressing east across Albany County, and completing the project in Laramie County,” a local dispatch reported. WYDOT has warned that crews will move between locations based on weather and equipment or material availability, meaning work windows and exact locations may change day to day.

Motorists should expect traffic control and brief interruptions. “Motorists should expect flaggers and potential short delays as crews work. Stay alert and be prepared to slow down if driving in any of the project locations in the coming weeks,” WYDOT advised. Flagging will be used to protect crews and motorists during crack sealing, a preventive maintenance step that seals pavement fissures and extends roadway life without full resurfacing.

Details in agency and local notices differ on contractor names, routes and timelines. A WYDOT release identified Z and Z Seal Coating, Inc. as a contractor and said crews would start on Wyoming Highway 230 at mile markers 33-42, adding that the project “is expected to be complete by the end of the month.” By contrast, local reporting and a District 1 summary named Highway Improvement Inc. as the road contractor for the Feb. 11 start and cited an expected finish “by the end of April.” Readers should note that WYDOT and related agencies sometimes issue multiple seasonal contracts and separate procurement actions for highways and for airports, which can produce overlapping statements.

The Wyoming Aeronautics Commission has separately awarded an airport pavement contract to Montana-based Z&Z Coating Inc. for work at airports in Laramie, Albany, Carbon, Goshen and Platte counties. That contract, valued at approximately $563,038, covers repairing spalled concrete and sealing asphalt and concrete cracks and joints and carries a completion date of Aug. 31. That airport project is funded primarily by state dollars and was awarded under the commission’s January business meeting.

For Albany County drivers, the immediate impact is straightforward: expect short delays on US-287 and on other district routes while crews work. Work hours, lane closures and precise locations may change with weather and material deliveries, so plan extra travel time for commutes and commercial trips. WYDOT posts updates on its social channels and provides project notices through district channels; motorists should monitor those outlets for schedule changes and follow flagging instructions when crews are present.

The crack-sealing work aims to prevent larger, more disruptive repairs later in the season. For now, motorists should slow down in work zones, obey flaggers, and allow a few extra minutes when traveling through Albany County until crews complete the program.