RIVERTON, Wyo. (AP) _ The Wyoming Department of Transportation is spending another $100,000 on a bridge over the Little Wind River because negotiations to move the old bridge dragged on too long.

The department negotiated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the contractor to provide the bridge to Glen and Carolyn Smith so they could access an island on another part of their property.

Foster Construction Co., of Riverton, was awarded a $1.9 million project last May to replace the bridge, rebuild about a mile of highway and rebuild an intersection at Wyoming 136 and Wyoming 135.

The project will now cost a total of $2 million.

”It was a department accommodation to avoid a breach of contract, and to keep the bridge replacement project from being delayed,’ said Bruce Burroughs, a department spokesman in Cheyenne.

”Whenever we remove or demolish a structure, the contractor usually acquires it for disposal. It’s a regular business practice,’ he said.

Because the negotiation involved the Bureau of Indian Affairs, on behalf of the landowners, it took longer than normal. Meanwhile, rather than waiting, the department awarded the contract to Foster.

”We ended up with two contracts for the bridge, so in order to solve the problem, we offered this alternative to pay the landowner,’ Burroughs said. He also said moving a bridge would have cost the state considerably.

”It was the best way out,’ he said.

Foster Construction now owns the old bridge. Burroughs called the situation ”an unfortunate one’ and said he could not recall of any similar occurrence. He said the project is on schedule to be done this spring