Six Mile Canyon Road could be open by spring

If all goes well, Six Mile Canyon Road could open by April, according to Storey County Commissioner Greg "Bum" Hess.

"We're trying to get it open as fast as we can for the Storey County folks down in Mark Twain," he said. "We'll deal with Lyon County on other issues later."

Storey County Public Works Director Richard Bacus said county officials will be meeting Tuesday with Federal Emergency Management Agency and Nevada Department of Transportation officials to find out how much the county can expect in funding.

On Feb. 3, President Bush declared areas of Northern Nevada affected by the New Year's Eve flooding a disaster area, allowing for federal and state grants to repair damaged infrastructure. The declaration included Douglas, Lyon and Storey and Washoe counties, Carson City and Reno.

The road is a major route for Dayton residents who commute to Reno and for Virginia City residents who shop at Smith's in Dayton.

The county has received seven bids on repairing Six Mile Canyon, Bacus said, with the low bid being about $306,000 and the highest bid being about $556,000. He said all of the contractors submitting bids were from Northern Nevada.

"The way I got it from NDOT is you have 180 days from the day of the flood (to repair the damage) if you get money from the feds," Bacus said. "That would put it, at the latest, June 30."

The road has been closed since New Year's Eve, when flooding from heavy rains caused the culverts to become clogged and the asphalt to crumble in about six places.

Storey County Sheriff Jim Miller said people are still trying to use the road.

"They drive over those rocks and berms," he said. "People just need to be patient."

Miller said the fine for driving on a closed road was $152 and he has cited about 25-30 people since the road was closed.

"It's so hard to get emergency vehicles down there," he said. "If someone has a wreck, they could be lying out there hurt and we won't be able to get to them."

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