Work begins Monday on freeway bridges

Work will start on the next phase of the Carson City freeway project starting Monday, said Scott Magruder, a spokesman for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

This phase of construction, which does not include an extension of the freeway, will include erecting bridges on Clearview Drive and Koontz Lane, which will eventually carry cars over the freeway.

Also, a portion of Colorado Street between Blue Haven Lane and Edmonds Drive will be permanently closed to make way for the final leg of freeway that will eventually connect to Highway 50 on South Carson Street. A cul-de-sac will be constructed on Colorado Street at Blue Haven Lane.

Construction on the bridges is expected to start this summer, first on Clearview Drive, Magruder said. Once that phase is complete, then work on the Koontz Lane bridge will begin.

The $7.5 million project, awarded to Q&D Construction of Reno in March, will not include an extension of the actual freeway, which currently ends at Fairview Drive. Construction on the final leg of the freeway isn't expected to start until 2014.

Construction on this phase of the project will take about two years to complete, Magruder said.

Funding for it comes from federal and state gas tax revenue.