NHP seeks lower speed limit on Highway 50A

After 11 accidents in January that left one person dead and five with serious injuries, the Nevada Highway Patrol is seeking to reduce the speed limit on a seven-mile stretch of Highway 50A through Fernley.

Eddie Bowers, NHP public-relations coordinator, said the highway patrol will formally ask the Nevada Department of Transportation to lower the speed limit from the junction of highways 50A and 95A to the Churchill County line.

The speed limit through the construction zone, being done to widen the highway from two lanes to four, would be reduced from 55 mph to 35 mph, if NDOT approves the change.

The action came after a recent meeting with officials of Q&D Construction of Sparks, which is doing the highway widening.

"Our workers are facing a variety of hostile and threatening drivers," said Q&D safety director Bruce Carl. "Motorists are speeding, shouting obscenities, tailgating our company trucks. It's the most dangerous job we've had in nearly 43 years of business. We are very concerned about the safety of our employees on this job, so we are hoping that lowering the speed in the construction zone will help."

Q&D Construction began the widening work in September, according to Sheila Hlubucek, the company's communication director. It expects to complete the work next September.

NDOT spokesman Scott Magruder said the department had not yet received the patrol's request.

"When we get the request, we will definitely work with the NHP," Magruder said. "This is a concern. We want to ensure that stretch to be as safe as possible."

Magruder said NDOT frequently lowers speed limits in construction zones, but added, "you want to make sure that's the best plan of action."

Carla Fowler, 26, a traffic-control laborer for Q&D, was struck by a vehicle in January while placing construction barrels in the roadway, leaving her with life-threatening injuries. NHP also said four people with serious injuries are still in critical condition.

In the fatal accident on Jan. 21, a 1998 Jeep driven by a 54-year-old Sparks man traveling east on Highway 50 swerved into the westbound lane and struck a Chevy SUV head-on.

Hlubucek said the company supported the speed-limit reduction out of concern for the safety of its employees.

"I can't tell you how worried we are about our employees," she said. "We've had one of our employees seriously injured, and we've had a number of close calls."

-- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.