Edinburgh Street Reconstruction Underway, includes New Drinking Water Systems

Construction is actively underway on the Edinburgh Street Reconstruction Project, and the City of Rawlins is sharing its first project update as work progresses in the southern portion of the project.

Project Progress

To help residents track ongoing work, the City has introduced the Edinburgh Street Project Status Tracker, which provides a visual, block-by-block overview of construction activity.

The tracker divides the project into seven sections and monitors five key areas of work:

• Storm and groundwater mitigation

• Sanitary sewer

• Drinking water systems

• Street pavement

• Concrete work, including curb, gutter, sidewalk, driveway entrances and ADA-accessible ramps

Each section is labeled with its current status, including “In Process,” “Completed,” or “Scheduled" and the most recent version can be seen at www.rawlinswy.gov/Edinburgh

Safety Reminder

Construction activity includes two designated staging (laydown) yards. Due to street constraints, access to the northern yard requires construction equipment to travel a short distance against a one-way street. Motorists are asked to use caution, be prepared to pause briefly, and allow equipment to safely pass.

The City encourages all residents to remain alert, slow down, and follow posted signage in construction zones.

Construction Impacts and Public Notice

Construction will continue to progress in phases, with work occurring in sections to limit widespread disruption. Residents and businesses should expect:

• Advance notice via door hangers prior to construction beginning in their area

• Temporary access limitations, including local traffic only in active work zones

• Ongoing communication through the City’s website and notification system

The City appreciates the community’s patience as this work progresses. Detours will be marked on site and posted on www.rawlinswy.gov/Edinburgh

Project Team and Funding

The project was awarded to Lewis & Lewis, Inc., of Rock Springs with a base bid of $7,903,100. Professional construction administration and engineering oversight are being provided by WWC Engineering. Funding for the project includes:

• $7.5+ million from the voter-approved 2019 Specific Purpose “Sixth Penny” Tax

• $1 million from Chokecherry Wind Energy Impact Assistance Funds

To allow the project to move forward, the City’s general fund is temporarily covering a portion of the costs, to be repaid through future Specific Purpose “Sixth Penny” Tax revenues. This combination of funding sources has allowed the City to advance the project despite increased construction costs in recent years.

Project Background

Originally approved by voters in 2019, the Edinburgh Street Reconstruction Project has faced several challenges prior to construction, including significant cost inflation beginning in 2020, material shortages in 2021–2022, and additional design work as the project scope expanded.

Despite these challenges, the City advanced the project to address aging infrastructure and long-standing roadway and drainage issues that have impacted residents for years, recognizing that delaying the work would only result in higher costs and more extensive repairs in the future.

The project, which spans from Dunphail Street to Murray Street, is a full reconstruction of Edinburgh Street and includes replacement of underground utilities, installation of a new stormwater and groundwater mitigation system, and complete roadway and sidewalk improvements. Construction is expected to continue through fall 2026.

Stay Informed

Project updates and the Edinburgh Street Project Status Tracker are available at www.rawlinswy.gov/Edinburgh Residents can sign up for notifications via text or email at www.rawlinswy.gov/notifyme under “City of Rawlins News” For questions, contact the City of Rawlins Public Works Department at 307-328-4599.