Asphalt down in front of Capitol and Legislature

Q&D Construction crews put down the base layer of asphalt on Carson Street in front of the Capitol and Legislative building.

The street was closed to traffic Monday from Robinson Street to Fifth Street as trucks hauled in tons of hot, black asphalt for the paving machines to spread, closely followed by steamrollers compacting the new roadbed.

In addition, crews to the north where the first layer of paving is already in place were planting new trees in the concrete planters next to the widened sidewalks.

Q&D officials planned to finish the base paving by the end of the day and reopen at least part of the route to traffic Tuesday.

Crews also finished installing the pavers at the entrance to Bob McFadden Plaza at Third Street over the weekend.

When completed, Carson Street will be cut from four to two lanes with a center turn lane, bike lanes on each side and wider sidewalks with benches and planters from William Street to Fifth Street. The project will also add about 20 parking spaces along Carson Street.

Q&D is required to complete the work by Nevada Day except for the decorative crosswalks.

For most of the project there have been up to 40 people and nearly two-dozen pieces of heavy equipment on the job.

Q&D expects all the work on the $8.1 million contract will be done by Thanksgiving.