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-News Articles/Editorials/Letters to the Editor-
10/22/2001
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Staring at gray brick walls forever doesn't sound appealing,
especially when residents consider the state plans about four
miles of soundwalls to separate Carson City neighborhoods from
the freeway. However, a gray or taupe mountain scene or tan rolling hills may be a little easier on the eye. To that end, the Nevada Department of Transportation is planning to feature one or two patterns of mountain scenes along the length of the freeway soundwalls. Carson City residents Wednesday will be asked to pick a pattern, perhaps two, and a color to grace the soundwalls. Carson Freeway Manager Jim Gallegos said the scenic pattern on the freeway soundwalls would be a first for Northern Nevada. He said plans for the freeway always included something to make the walls more attractive. A panel narrowed the three geometric themes to mountains, rolling hills and one called "free form," which looks like stylized mountains. "The idea is to go with native colors to blend the walls with the native environment," Gallegos said. The three final colors are gray, tan and taupe. There will be about two miles of soundwalls on each side of the 3.8-mile northern freeway section. Early next week, residents can log on to www.ccfreeway.com to vote on the soundwall color and pattern. The information meeting will also offer residents an updated look at freeway plans. Gallegos said Phase 1B plans will be ready for the May 2002 bid date. 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. Phase 1B, 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. "We could possibly advertise in the spring if everything goes well," Gallegos said. "The plans will be ready, but right-of-way acquisition is controlling the schedule." Before the state can finish purchasing the extra land for the freeway, Gallegos said officials must wait for approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on reducing Carson City's flood plain map. If the map is approved, less land will be needed to control flooding near the freeway Construction is expected to be finished on Phase 1A 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. 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. |
