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-News Articles/Editorials/Letters to the Editor-
10/23/2001
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State officials are considering breaking construction of the
northern leg of the Carson City freeway into smaller portions. The first phase was split in two, but right of way concerns control the schedule of the freeway's construction and could cause the project to be further dissected. While construction should start on Phase 1B next summer, the construction of the freeway from Lakeview Hill to Highway 50 could be split into smaller construction phases like Lakeview to College Parkway and later College to Fifth Street. "There are a whole bunch of things to be studied," said Jim Gallegos, Carson City freeway project manager. "We want to look at other options to keep the project moving if we run into obstacles." The first half of the freeway from Lakeview Hill to Highway 50 East, scheduled to be finished in February 2005, fills in the road between the bridges under construction and includes a bridge over Highway 50 East. The next part, estimated at $136 million, is 75 percent designed with a few right of way acquisitions, including acreage across the Lompa Ranch between Highway 50 East and Fairview, left before design can be finalized. Gallegos said the state is hiring consultants to begin designing the freeway's second phase from Highway 50 to the Spooner Summit Junction. Those consultants will look at phasing options for both sections of the freeway, he said. State officials are hosting a public meeting Wednesday to update residents on the freeway design progress. Residents are also being tapped to pick a design and color for the soundwalls that will grace the edge of 4 miles of freeway through the capital. Residents will pick among three geometric themes -- mountains, rolling hills and one called free form, which looks like stylized mountains -- and three colors, gray, taupe or tan. Log on to www.ccfreeway.com to vote on the soundwall color and pattern. Construction is expected to be finished on the first phase by the end of the year. The $14 million project includes drainage construction and the construction of bridges over College Parkway, Emerson Drive, Northgate Lane and Arrowhead Drive. Arrowhead Drive should reopen in January with roundabouts flanking the east and west sides of the future freeway interchange. Officials hope the operational roundabouts will cut down on traffic to Arrowhead's residential area. If you go: What: Carson City freeway information meeting When: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday Where: the Community Center's Sierra Room, 851 E. William St. For information on the Carson City freeway, call 828-4797 or head to the Web at www.ccfreeway.com. |
