Roads to Virginia City remain open despite detour

Virginia City tourism and county officials are reminding attendees of the 24th annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry on Saturday that Virginia City can still be accessed on State Route 342, also called the truck route, a detour that has been in place since Feb. 18.

Access to the Virginia City Inn, Comstock Motel and the Gold Hill Hotel and Bar and other businesses located along the detour are made by traveling past the detour sign located at the south end of Virginia City. There are three ways to get to Virginia City: Geiger Grade, State Route 341 from Reno; Six Mile Canyon from Dayton; and State Route 341’s Truck Route from Carson City’s U.S. Highway 50. Each route is fully operable and provides access to Virginia City.

State Route 342 is being realigned around the pit and historic Silver Hill shaft that caused the detour in mid-February. The realignment is scheduled to occur over two phases. Phase 1 completion is expected to take 10-12 weeks with the State Route 342 by-pass opening on or before June 6, pending weather and unforeseen conditions. During Phase 2, there will be a brief road closure during December in order to finish connecting the new alignment to the existing road. The Nevada Department of Transportation will continuously monitor the realignment with oversight and collaboration continuing between NDOT, Storey County and Comstock Mining, Inc.

For more information about Virginia City events, go to VisitVirginiaCityNV.com, or call 775-847-7500.