Cathleen Allison / AP
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval announces that Nevada was chosen as the new site for a $5 billion Tesla Motors car battery factory, during a press conference at the Capitol in Carson City, Nev., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, left, also spoke about the gigafactory his company will build east of Reno, bringing an estimated 6,500 jobs. (AP Photo/Cathleen Allison)
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014 | 11:32 a.m.
CARSON CITY – The state transportation board has been briefed on a proposal to speed up a road construction project to connect with the planned Tesla factory — but the money for the job is still unsettled.
Building the highway from U.S. 50 near Dayton in Lyon County to U.S. 80 east of Reno at the Tesla proposed site was not planned to begin until 2018 at the earliest.
But under a schedule outlined by Transportation Director Rudy Malfabon to the board Monday, the construction would be completed in 2018. According to documents supplied by Gov. Brian Sandoval, annual battery production would start in 2020.
The board did not take any action on the planned speed-up since it was not on the agenda for approval or denial.
Lance Gilman, owner of the industrial park east of Reno where Tesla will be build, has agreed to sell right of way for $43 million to the state. That is in addition to the $61 million construction cost. Malfabon said it is still under review where the $61 million would come from.
This is part of the deal to lure Tesla to Nevada and the Nevada Legislature will examine the deal in special session starting Wednesday.
Sandoval is expected to issue his formal call later today for the Legislature to meet Wednesday in special session.
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