Work begins on next section of Carson freeway

The push is on to build the next section of the Carson City freeway.

Monday was the first official working day out of 350 for the project, being done by Road and Highway Builders LLC, of Reno, which won the $44.9 million contract with the state.

"It will take about two years," said Scott Magruder, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

He said this section of the freeway construction will go from Highway 50 East past Gold Dust West Casino, west of the prison and end at Fairview Drive.

"Fairview will only be a partial interchange at this point," he said.

Carson City is in charge of widening Fairview Drive to four lanes, which will take traffic from the freeway west to Carson Street until the final phase of the project.

The final phase will connect the freeway from Fairview with Highway 395 south at the base of Spooner Summit. That section should go to bid in 2008, with completion expected in 2011.

Magruder said Fifth Street will eventually go over the freeway, with no exit, and will remain a two-lane road.

He said traffic problems will be minimal.

"From the state's point of view, we don't anticipate a lot of problems with traffic," he said. "We'll have some traffic control on Highway 50 and Fairview will have some minor delays.

He said this section was the third out of four phases of the freeway project, which has cost more than $120 million so far.

The first section of the bypass from Arrowhead Drive to Highway 50 East was completed in February 2006.

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 881-7351.