Curiosity draws 80 to walk freeway corridor

Warm afternoon sun and a dose of curiosity drew a crowd of 80 to walk the corridor of what will become the Carson City freeway Tuesday evening.

Led by Supervisor Robin Williamson and Ralph Kellogg, a project manager with freeway contractor Frehner Construction, the group walked through construction, dust, mud, sagebrush and wetlands in an attempt to better understand the impact the freeway's first phase will have on the neighborhoods through which it runs.

Kellogg said people are generally discouraged from walking in the right of way because it is a construction site.

Frehner Construction supported the walk, he said, to help raise awareness of the project.

"I think it's good when people know what's happening," he said. "If they don't know what's going on, their chances for input are fewer. People don't realize how imposing this project will be."

Many of the 80 walkers live in the northeast Carson neighborhoods where freeway construction is under way. A chance to wander through the neighborhood intrusion gave many residents a better understanding of how large the freeway will be.

"We live a block from here on Ruby Drive," Dan Culbert said. "We've seen pictures for years and years and years. I wanted to get some perspective on how it would look and how it would affect us."

Carolyn Garrett walked mostly in support of Gardeners Reclaiming Our Waysides, a local group advocating a freeway landscaped with native vegetation. Garrett pointed out her back yard on Mark Way, a stone's throw from the future freeway.

"When I moved here 30 years ago, nobody said anything about it being in my back yard," Garrett said. "I wouldn't have moved here if I'd known. I'm not happy about it, but by being in support of GROW, maybe it will be halfway decent."

With the construction on Phase 1A, the freeway corridor is easier to locate. A dirt road used by trucks to transport materials cuts from Bonanza Drive across Arrowhead Drive and through the freeway right of way.

The $136 million first leg of the freeway extends 3.8 miles from Lakeview Hill across Bonanza and Arrowhead drives into residential areas spanning Northgate Lane and Emerson Drive, past College Parkway to Highway 50 East. Construction under way now includes bridges over College Parkway, Emerson Drive, Northgate Lane and Arrowhead Drive.

"I've seen maps, but I'm a visual person. It definitely helps to see this to learn about it," said LouAnn Tucker, who brought sons Cody, 7, and Gehrig, 5 on the walk.

Water trucks patrol the dirt road continuously in an attempt to keep dust in the project at a minimum.

Freeway construction also includes almost $6 million of drainage work that will be the first step in the implementation of the city's storm drainage plan.

The drainage system will be an extensive construct of several water detention basins, channels and drains. Without the drainage system, the freeway would act as a dam keeping water from the Carson River. Construction workers are working in trenches building 6-foot-tall concrete and steel box culverts which will eventually carry water. The drainage work, which starts near Northgate Lane and ends at the wetlands near the Northridge subdivision, is the most noticeable work being done on the freeway.

Many walkers said they were surprised by the amount of work that had been completed. Others were surprised that the freeway will eventually run through wetlands near Lompa Lane.

"I wanted to see where this is going," mayoral candidate Tom Tatro said. "You can see it in a different way if you can visualize it, and it's a whole different view when you walk it."

Walk organizers were surprised by the number of people who showed up for the walk.

"Eighty people coming out to walk the freeway alignment - that's a statement," Tatro said. "That shows that people care about what's going on in their community."

"It's about six times more people than I expected," said Anne Macquarie, president of Muscle Powered, a local walking/biking group. "This shows that people are interested in walking and are also curious about this project."

Many walkers noted their support of the proposed freeway multi-use path.

"I have this nice vision that one day I'll be able to walk and bike this path to the V&T depot and ride the train to Virginia City," Carson resident Mark Paloolian said.