Plans are moving ahead to widen U.S. 50 between Fallon and Fernley, with the first phase of the project beginning next month.
By the end of 2007, the entire road should become a four- lane highway to ease congestion and improve safety for commuters and other users.
Scott Magruder, public information officer for the Nevada Department of Transportation, said work on the railroad overpass in Fernley where U.S 95A and U.S. 50A meet will begin mid-May. The overpass is the most common route used by motorists wanting to enter Interstate 80.
NDOT will replace the bridge, and align and widen the intersection. The $12.5 million project is expected to take a year to complete.
"We have to do that work before we can widen the highway to four lanes," Magruder said.
While the bridge project is in construction, the next phase of the widening will begin.
Late this year, Magruder said, widening between Fernley and the Churchill/Lyon County line will begin. The road will go from two to four lanes with center turn lanes for 7.7 miles. That part of the project will cost $24 million, of which $22.8 million comes from federal funds.
"NDOT is fairly confident it's going to happen by the end of this year," Magruder said. "That phase will take a year or longer, possibly into 2007."
Sometime next year, he said, NDOT will advertise for bids on the final section of the widening, from the Churchill County line to Letteville Junction. That final phase is expected to cost $25 million for almost eight miles of highway.
The first two miles will expand the highway from two to four lanes with center turn lanes. The final six miles will consist of a divided highway that includes a new 36-foot road south of the existing road that will carry eastbound traffic.
"The final phase is scheduled to start in late 2006 and should be completed in late 2007 or could go into early 2008, depending on what kind of winters we have," Magruder said.
Traffic studies have shown about 10,000 cars a day coming into Fallon at Letteville Junction. That is up from about 6,600 in 1994.
The study estimates Churchill County's population will jump to 38,000 by 2010 and to 50,000 by 2020, bring more vehicles to the highway.
Magruder said the main impetus to widen U.S. 50A is safety.
"Not only will it improve traffic flow, but it's mainly a safety project," he said. "People take chances out there and pass. This is a major project by NDOT."
n Marlene Garcia can be contacted at mgarcia@lahontanvalleynews.com.