Bypass on track to open in summer

Work on the $45 million leg of the U.S. 395 bypass from Highway 50 East to Fairview Drive is on schedule for completion this summer.

Jim Gallegos, project manager of the Carson City Freeway, said bridges taking traffic over Fairview Drive and Fifth Street will be done in two to three months.

"Things are going well considering it's the middle of the winter," he said.

Workers started construction on the phase in October 2007.

Work on the final part of the project connecting the bypass with Highway 50 West at the base of Spooner Summit leading to Lake Tahoe has been delayed until 2014 because of a lack of state funds.

Mayor Bob Crowell said he hopes the project will get some of the funds in the proposed federal stimulus package.

Much of the money is planned for infrastructure projects and will go to state departments to be spent. The question is how much the city can get from the transportation department to finish the bypass, Crowell said.

The city also hopes to get money for the V&T Railway, the Carson City Airport, sewer treatment upgrades and city streets.

Scott Magruder, transportation department representative, said the state hopes for money from the stimulus package to start the $140 million to $190 million last leg, but the current phase also will help the city when it is finished.

The project will help reduce traffic downtown.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.