Hey Answer Girl --

Why is there no walkway over the railroad overpass on Poplar? There's no place for people to walk there.

-- Karen

Here comes way more information about Poplar Street than you ever wanted to know. But you asked (sort of).

The part of Poplar with the overpass was constructed in the 1950s. At that time, according to Jeff Goetz of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, that area of Casper was industrial-based; thus, not a lot of foot traffic on the road.

Now, however, that's not the case, with hotels and restaurants and businesses galore on or near Poplar. So WYDOT has developed a plan to address the not-so-pedestrian friendly street.

In 2012, the CY Avenue/Poplar Street intersection will be the first part of the road to be fixed, at a reconstruction cost of about $3 million.

Then, in 2014, Poplar will be reconstructed from Interstate 25 to Collins Street.

Originally scheduled for 2009, that project was pushed back thanks to a huge lack of funding for WYDOT. While the project would have cost about $11.5 million had it gone on as scheduled, it's now estimated that the project will cost $25.7 million.

The railroad overpass will receive a new deck, new abutments, and sidewalks, and will be expanded to five lanes with a center lane for left turns. The bridge over the North Platte River -- the one with no sidewalks and no room for pedestrians or bikers to travel without being hit by oncoming traffic or pushed into the river itself -- will also be redone to include sidewalks and an extra lane.

Finally, in 2016, Poplar Street will be reconstructed from Collins Street to CY Avenue, at an estimated cost of $3.2 million.

As always with WYDOT projects, anything scheduled could, and very well may, be pushed back to later fiscal years thanks to funding shortages or other delays.

Contact reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0589 or megan.lee@trib.com.

Ask Answer Girl

Answer Girl tackles your questions about Casper, the universe and everything else. Submit your questions by email to megan.lee@trib.com, or call Megan Lee at 266-0589. You can also write to Answer Girl, Box 80, 170 Star Lane, Casper, WY, 82602.