The city of Casper is facing a $7.5 million shortfall for fiscal year 2009 construction projects, according to a Gary Clough, the public services director.

A combination of increased construction costs and unexpected projects caused the city to be over budget, Clough said.

"The last four to five years have been higher than normal inflation costs in the construction industry," he said. "Concrete and steel have gone up probably higher than other issues, but the construction industry in general has gone up."

There are several key factors that go into increased construction costs, said Joa Sasser, one of the owners of Grizzly Excavating & Construction LLC.

Material prices are increasing every month, he said, from plumbing pipe to the price of fuel.

"Employees will be costing more, so if you want the good ones you will be paying more," Sasser said. Increasing health insurance costs are also impacting the industry, adding to a company's overhead and consequently inflating the cost of construction.

Sasser said he doesn't see the prices going down. "If you hire an employee making $18 to $20 an hour, you can't drop his wage, but a lot of the problems are just coming from not enough help."

Clough said as bidding for some of the 2009 projects nears, out-of-town companies may help lower overall costs.

An out-of-state company would not be brought in for a project less than $100,000, but for the million and multi-million dollar projects, Clough said Colorado companies are beginning to come to Casper.

Ultimately, Clough said the city staff is working to prioritize the projects, and if construction bids remain high and more funding is not found, some projects may be dropped.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com

Money wanted

Total amount for city projects that are currently unfunded

FY 2009: $7,491,000

FY 2010: $5,556,000

FY 2011: $4,665,000

FY 2012: $3,290,000

FY 2013: $5,765,000

To-do list

City projects planned for 2008 and 2009 are listed below in no particular order. All projects are subject to change; unless noted, years are in fiscal terms which run July 1 to June 30.

City is responsible for entire project

Project Cost Date

Trevett Lane drainage channel improvements $10,000 Summer 2008

Paradise Drive improvements $3,800,000 2009-10

Miscellaneous bridge repairs $50,000 2009

David Street extension, Midwest to Collins streets $1,150,000 2009

Parkway Plaza drainage ditch improvements $50,000 2009

Marathon Building structural repairs $100,000 2009

City parking garage elevator replacements $800,000 2009-10

Traffic signal upgrades $216,078 2009-11

Pavement management systems priorities $7,075,000 2009-13

Replacement of inductive loops and cameras $240,000 2009-13

Center Street improvements $1,300,000 2010-11

East 2nd Street concrete repairs $150,000 2010

East 2nd Street landscape islands $200,000 2010

Inlaid traffic markings $200,000 2010

School zone improvements $160,000 2010

Robertson Road improvements, phase II $2,400,000 2012

15th and Beverly streets, intersection improvements $275,000 2012

Paid for by a Local Assessment District (city and landowners share cost)

Project Cost Date

Weed and Seed, concrete infrastructure improvements $975,000 2010

Pineview area residential sidewalk improvement $2,750,000 2012-13

Natrona County is paying for all or part of the project

Project Cost Date

Courthouse expansion, pedestrian crosswalk $20,000 2009

A developer and WYDOT are paying for all or part of the project

Project Cost Date

Pheasant Drive/CY Avenue traffic signal improvements $1,000,000 2012

Valley Drive/CY Avenue intersection improvements $1,000,000 2013

A developer is paying for part or all of the project

Project Cost Date

Plaza Drive traffic signal $450,000 2009

Plaza Drive turn lane $190,000 2009

Talon Drive traffic signal and turn lanes $600,000 2009

Eagle Drive traffic signal and turn lanes $600,000 2009

East 21st Street extention, Missouri to Rustic Ridge $1,226,000 2009

East 21st Street extention, Kingsbury to Rustic Ridge $646,000 2009

Newport Village storm drainage improvements and Waterford/Donegal intersection channelization $400,000 2009

East 2nd Street and Landmark Drive traffic signal $350,000 2009

Hylise Drive turn lanes $75,000 2010

Fairgrounds Road/Casper Street drainage improvements $360,000 2010

Casper Mountain Road/9 Iron Estates intersection improvements $200,000 2010

East 2nd Street/Wyoming Boulevard intersection improvements $850,000 2011

East 2nd Blackmore traffic signal $350,000 2010

15th and Missouri streets traffic signal $310,000 2010

The Wyoming Department of Transportation is paying for all or part of the project

Project Cost Date

West Yellowstone reconstruction, David to Spruce streets $6,307,229 2009

Walsh Drive extension $1,000,000 2009

CY Avenue and Poplar Street intersection improvements $3,000,000 2012

CY Avenue/Wyoming Boulevard traffic signal and lane geometry upgrades $3,500,000 2013

Poplar Street improvements, I-25 to W. Yellowstone Highway $13,695,000 2013

Poplar Street improvements, W. Yellowstone Highway to CY Avenue $10,00,000 2013

I-25 landscaping enhancements $600,000 2013

Bryan Stock Trail Bridge replacement $3,500,000 2013

Natrona County School District is paying for all or part of the project

Project Cost Date

Oak Street improvements, CY Avenue to Collins Street $950,000 2010