A motorist uses a pass to cross the barricade at the top of Kingsbury Grade on May 1, the first day Kingsbury Grade was closed for construction.
Kingsbury residents and Carson Valley tourism businesses have something else to be thankful for this holiday season.
Originally scheduled to continue through next summer, the Nevada Department of Transportation announced today work on State Route 207 from Highway 50 to Daggett Summit is “substantially” done.
“These traffic closures helped us complete work in half the time we would otherwise be able to,” said NDOT Project Manager Pedro Rodriguez. “We know that a traffic closure like this impacts drivers and residents, and we want to thank each and every Kingsbury Grade motorist, resident and business, and the entire Tahoe and Carson Valley communities, for their understanding. The professional, expeditious work of the contractor, Q&D Construction, and the understanding of the community truly led this to be a successful project. Thanks to the community’s understanding, we have been able to complete this project ahead of schedule.”
The $15 million project required Kingsbury Grade to be closed at the summit for a month in May and another in September this year. The state previously announced that a proposed closure next May wouldn’t be necessary.
Since the project’s start in May, nearly four miles of roadway were reconstructed, including excavation of approximately 24,000 cubic yards of old road and placement of 24,000 tons of new asphalt. More than 6,000 feet of storm drain pipe, 3,300 feet of sidewalk and 8,700 feet of curb and gutter were also installed as one part of the project’s safety, accessibility and drainage improvements.
To help expedite project work, two closures to through traffic took place: one in May and one in September/early October. By limiting the amount of traffic on Kingsbury Grade, crews were able to increase the amount of work they were able to complete.
The project used the construction manager at risk process, which brings project designers and contractors together from the start of the project.
The project rebuilt pavement on portions of Kingsbury Grade to a 13-inch depth, which will help prevent continuing pavement deterioration from natural springs below the roadway.
The project also made drainage, safety, curb and gutter, sidewalk, lighting and other improvements.