Work set to begin on Muller Lane Parkway

DOUGLAS COUNTY - Work is starting on the county's portion of Muller Lane Parkway, with the approval of a $463,500 contract to Stantec Consulting Inc. for engineering services.

County officials expect the new road to provide relief along Highway 395 in the Minden/Gardnerville business districts, where traffic volumes reached an average of 32,500 daily trips in 2005, according to information from the Nevada Department of Transportation.

When completed, the road will skirt Minden and Gardnerville to the east, from the Highway 395 and Muller Lane intersection to Pinenut Road.

Landowners, including Park Cattle Co., Nevada Northwest LLC and H&S Construction Inc., have provided the rights-of-way and will build a portion of the road along their proposed developments.

Before its approval by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners in 2004, residents argue the road would encourage unwanted development and affect the quality of life in the Carson Valley.

"I was adamantly opposed to construction of Muller two years ago, but we have to move forward," said County Commission Chairman Doug Johnson. "Hopefully, the bids (for construction) don't come in too high."

Douglas County will shoulder an estimated $5.3 million for this 15,300-foot stretch of the road. Park Cattle and H&S Construction will provide another $10.4 million, according to estimates in Douglas County's five-year transportation plan.