Project on U.S. 93 in Clark County among biggest proposed for state

By Cy Ryan

Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

CARSON CITY — A $35.4 million construction project on U.S. 93 in Clark County is one of the biggest state road construction jobs proposed for next year by the Nevada Department of Transportation.

The agency is suggesting that $447.8 million be spent on 92 projects in Clark County with completion stretching out four years. The costs range from $20,000 to the $35.4 million.

On Tuesday, the state Board of Transportation will consider approving a statewide road building program of $893.9 million for next fiscal year, which starts July 1.

Gov. Jim Gibbons, the chairman of the board, will conduct the meeting from a wheelchair at a Reno hospital where he is recovering from a pelvis fracture after he was thrown from a horse.

The governor is going through rehabilitation to get out of bed and into a wheelchair or to use a walker. He is also practicing getting into a car from the wheelchair.

The biggest project in the state next year will be a $71.2 million design and build on Interstate 80 in Washoe County. The department is suggesting spending $210.3 million in Washoe and $56.1 million in Elko County.

The U.S. 93 job in Clark County calls for preliminary engineering and right-of-way acquisition toward construction of a new freeway from near the junction of U.S 93 and U.S. 95 to Foothills Road.

It would be the first phase of the Boulder City bypass financed by mainly by federal funds.

A $31.2 million project would widen Cactus Avenue to six lanes from Silverado Ranch Boulevard to Sunset Road and building an interchange at I-15. It also would be financed by federal money.

Another major project in Clark County envisions $24.5 million for reconstruction and intersection improvements on Boulder Highway from Horizon Drive to downtown Las Vegas. It would include construction of bus shelters and is locally financed.