Carson City drivers should expect serious traffic jams along major routes starting in July when the city closes portions of Roop Street as workers widen the busy road.
Large sections of Roop will close to traffic for more than two months beginning July 1. The section between Beverly Drive and Winnie Lane is expected to cause the most traffic problems, as cars will be detoured to already overloaded intersections on Carson Street.
Engineers struggled to devise a plan for the $4.4 million project that avoided closing the street to through traffic, but skyrocketing costs and safety issues became a priority.
"I don't see any other way to do it," said Supervisor Richard Staub, chairman of the Regional Transportation Commission. "As much as I hate to close this road down, I think economics of the situation dictate we do it in this fashion."
The city's plan is to widen Roop Street to five lanes from Washington Street to Beverly Drive and four lanes from Beverly to Winnie Lane near Lone Mountain Cemetery. The city will install a traffic signal at Winnie and place utilities underground. Workers will also replace aging water and sewer pipes and install new storm drainage facilities.
Originally expected to cost $3.6 million, the city is already facing a cost overrun on the project of $860,000. By closing the street to traffic at times during the one-year project, the city will save money and time, said consultant Ken Dorr of Capital Engineering.
"We're going to disrupt the public whatever we do," Dorr said. "Let's bite the bullet and get this project done."
Drivers should expect Roop Street to close from East Robinson Street to Highway 50 East for 65 days beginning July 1. Traffic will be detoured onto Stewart Street and back to the highway.
At the same time but only lasting nine weeks, Roop will close to traffic from Beverly to Winnie.
During the full closures, workers will complete all improvements, including utilities, widening the roadway, curb and gutter work, and lighting.
Before the two ends of the roadway project are completed, another partial closure will start between Highway 50 East and Beverly Drive for the installation of utility conduits and vaults to underground utilities. One lane of traffic will be open in each direction, and left turns will be discouraged, Dorr said.
The bulk of the utility work and surface improvements will take six months after that.
By closing the street to traffic, the cost to provide flaggers and traffic control will be less, the timeline will be shorter, and materials won't need to be hauled in from other areas. If not closed to traffic, drivers would be facing up to 30-minute delays as equipment operates, Dorr said.
"If we can separate the traveling public from the contractor, there will be a huge reduction in liability to city and contractor," Dorr said.
Local access to homes, businesses and a funeral parlor will remain open during construction.
Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
