Freeway construction brings unwanted neighbors for some

Until two years ago, the lives of Norm and Karen Pedersen on Arrowhead Drive were the same as many other Carson City homeowners.

Their views have changed, however, in two years since the state bought and tore down their neighbor's house to build a freeway overpass.

First came the empty paint cans, hard hats and burger wrappers that began to appear in their yard.

Then, after the state tore down the house and cleared the land of grass and vegetation, in came plumes of dust and rolling tumbleweeds that fly into Norm Pedersen's yard and under his cars, pelting his windows.

Since the overpass construction began, the couple has repaired $4,100 in damages to the paint and windows of their vehicles, installed fencing to fend off tumbleweeds, and collected dirt and debris. The project was finished in April 2001.

"You get tired of cleaning up after them every day," Karen Pedersen said. Her husband agreed. "Who wants a neighbor like this? We have to go around and do all their dirty work."

The biggest problem is strong wind gusts that travel unheeded over the bypass and through the state's cleared lot. Because wind is an inherent part of Nevada life, their claims to the state were denied when investigators found the damage was caused by "an act of God."

Ben Hammack, who owns a home across the street from the Pedersens, said he is equally frustrated. He said piles of dirt accumulate on his patio, and his darkroom has been unusable because of dust.

"I'm not a happy camper with (the state) as a neighbor," Hammack said. "I had no tumbleweeds there before. There was some dirt, but not like it is now."

Hammack said his concern is that when the freeway project starts again, which is expected in the fall, people will have to get an attorney and fight the state to resolve the dirt-and-dust problems.

Nevada Department of Transportation officials say they have diligently kept up with neighbors' concerns. When the overpass was being constructed, the state regularly had water trucks spray down the dust.

At the end of construction, as complaints rolled in from Arrowhead Drive and other neighborhoods adjacent to the freeway route, the state sprayed chemicals on the dirt ground, at a cost of $20,000 to $30,000.

The chemicals create a film to hold down dirt and dust, said Scott Magruder, NDOT public information officer.

"We're trying to do the most we can," Magruder said. "We want to be good neighbors."

NDOT officials have met with Norm Pedersen to resolve the problems. The overpass was fenced to discourage recreational use by motorbikers, Magruder said. The state also gave the Pedersens orange construction fencing to help corral tumbleweeds.

After Tuesday's strong winds, though, the temporary fencing fell apart as tumbleweeds and winds pummeled it from the west.

NDOT is accustomed to getting complaints from people who seek restitution from the state, Magruder said. The state Attorney General's Office regularly investigates claims from broken windshields and other damage occurring on state roads.

The same procedure applies to those affected by freeway construction, Magruder said. Property owners are asked to make claims with the Attorney General's Office. Investigators in the NDOT building make determinations on a case-by-case basis.

When construction begins again, road workers will water down the dirt piles and dusty areas, Magruder said.

Magruder and project manager James Gallegos visited the Pedersens' property Friday after their latest complaints. Magruder said they may look into applying another layer of chemicals and possibly close off Ruby Lane so motorists discontinue using it as a connector road.

Once the freeway is installed, landscaping will be done and the dust should no longer be a problem, Magruder said. In the meantime, residents can call him directly about any concerns at 888-7777.