State transportation officials say they will wait an extra month before seeking contracts for the first phase of the Carson City freeway.

Contracts for bridge construction will be moved from Nov. 4 to the first week in December, Nevada Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Scott Magruder said.

The delay stems from a change to the design of the College Parkway interchange.

Magruder said the delay is minor and will not affect the beginning of bridge construction in early spring 2000.

"The spring date is pretty solid, even in light of a few more weeks," Magruder said.

The contractor will have a year from the time the project bid is awarded to finish the $14.5 million bridge construction project.

The design for the College Parkway interchange was changed from a normal diamond on and off ramp design to a single urban interchange which allow more traffic to flow through them. The new design also allows for better access to College Parkway businesses and takes less right-of-way. The intersections of Interstate 80 at Keystone and Interstate 80 at Pyramid Way in Reno are examples of single urban interchanges, Magruder said.

City and NDOT officials will update Carson supervisors Thursday on the delay and other plans for the freeway.

Supervisor and Regional Transportation Commission Chairman Jon Plank said he hoped delays will end and construction will begin on schedule.

"It's changing again, isn't it?" Plank said. "(The delay) doesn't put a smile on my face. We kept our part of the deal. Let's get this show on the road."

Magruder said the freeway project has no definite start date other than early spring.

Supervisors will also receive a preview of a freeway public awareness plan website presented by northern freeway designers PBS&J. The site will include maps of the freeway as well as construction and contact information. It should be up by the end of the month and will exist as a link from NDOT's site, www.nevadadot.com.

The northern leg of the freeway is a roughly $77 million project extending from Duck Hill to Highway 50 East. Construction of the northern leg should be completed by 2003. The state is still seeking funding for the second leg of the freeway, which is estimated to cost around $160 million.

If you go

What: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

When: Thursday, 8:30 a.m.

Where: Carson City Community Center Sierra Room, 851 E. William St., Carson City