Eagle still not in place at southern end of Carson City bypass

The eight-foot tall, 800-pound sculpture of an eagle that will greet drivers at the southern end of the Carson Bypass still isn’t in place.

NDOT spokesman Meg Ragonese said before they install the eagle atop a concrete and steel pillar designed to look like a tree stump, engineers want to make absolutely certain the connections between the concrete base, the pillar and the eagle are solid.

After all, the eagle has a 16-foot wingspan and will catch a lot of wind.

She said engineers are looking into a possible coating for those metal elements to prevent corrosion between the aluminum eagle and steel connection stop the pillar.

“They want just to do everything possible to keep that connection permanent,” she said.

Contrary to at least one report, she said it’s not like the connection is missing something and won’t work. It’s just that the entire structure has to be able to withstand wind and wet weather no matter how severe.

The eagle will be installed where the bypass meets U.S. 395 (South Carson Street) and Highway 50 at Spooner Junction.

The eagle continues the theme begun on the north end of the bypass just north of Arrowhead Drive where a metal sculpture of an eagle is attached to the overpass.