Fairview Drive fixes considered

Carson City officials will consider altering traffic patterns at Fairview Drive and Carson Street to ease traffic jams on Fairview and allow better access to Lowe's Home Improvement Center, Office Depot and Petsmart.

A store manager from Office Depot called city officials recently, saying traffic is often blocked from entering the store's parking lot. Manager Eric Sterchi said he couldn't comment on the situation because of corporate policy.

Mayor Ray Masayko said he agreed it was too difficult for customers to access the shopping center.

"That situation at Fairview is definitely in need of attention," Masayko said.

The plan could include adding another turn lane on Fairview Drive, allowing two lanes to turn left going southbound on Carson Street, to ease traffic jams.

Adding a turn lane would leave lanes at just over 10 feet wide in either direction and might cause safety issues for trucks, said city Transportation Manager John Flansberg.

"We're looking at options to make that work," Flansberg said. "Anything we can do to make traffic flow better ... as long as we're safe."

Also, the city is asking for permission from the Nevada Department of Transportation to allow drivers to make a U-turn at the intersection to allow drivers who are southbound to turn around and use the west access on Carson Street.

Signs will also be posted asking drivers not to block the driveways at the shopping center, Flansberg said.

Fairview Drive is becoming increasingly useful for truck traffic and drivers and will see heavy use after the Carson City Freeway is completed with an off-ramp.

The Regional Transportation Commission is expected to consider permanent changes on Fairview Drive at its June meeting.

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.