Thursday, April 14, 2011 | 10:07 p.m.
CARSON CITY — A bill pushing a 14.5 mile toll bypass to eliminate traffic jams in Boulder City has been approved by the Senate Transportation Committee.
The bill calls for the state getting a partner to finance the $400 million project.
Sen. Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, emphasized that U.S. 93 through Boulder City would remain open and there would be no user fees. He said the state Transportation Board, headed by the governor, would oversee the project.
The committee vote was unanimous, but Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, complained there has not been adequate planning for highways. The state is $6 billion to $9 billion short on highway construction funds, he said.
Now, it is trying to find a “greedy partner,” he said.
The recently opened Boulder City bypass bridge, bringing traffic in from Arizona, has caused the snarls, which can slow traffic to a snail’s pace through Boulder City.
The state Department of Transportation has said an early estimate put the toll at 50 cents or $1. There are no tolls roads in Nevada now.
The bill now goes to the full Senate.
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