Only a shell of an A&W

Carson City's last A&W Restaurant, a fast-food franchise that had operated in Carson City for more than 40 years before closing in February, was leveled Monday in preparation for the eventual widening of Clearview Drive.

The city bought the restaurant from Carson City Supervisor Pete Livermore early this year for $600,000 so the street could be widened, allowing for simultaneous left turns from either direction of Clearview onto South Carson Street. Dollar Loan Center had also expressed interest, but acquiesced to the city.

Although the old A&W is gone, the Clearview Drive widening won't begin until spring. Engineers still have about two months to design the new turn lanes and signals for the Clearview-South Carson Street intersection.

The widening will be bid as part of a massive repaving project to include Saliman Road from Long Street to Fairview Drive.