A $1.2 million road project to reduce erosion, preserve water quality and enhance storm drains along Highway 50 in south Carson City and west along Spooner grade will begin this month, the Nevada Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.
Plans include replacing more than 50 storm drains and drop inlets, as well as enhance roadside slopes and curb and gutter on Highway 50 from the South Carson Street at Spooner junction to Tahoe Golf Club Drive, around 4.5 miles west along Highway 50.
Multiple drainage channels from the highway will also be improved with additional drainage pipes or rock work to reduce erosion. Some of the drainage systems were originally constructed when the highway was built more than 50 years ago, according to NDOT.
The drainage systems carry storm water into the Clear Creek Watershed on the south side of Highway 50. The project will also enhance roadway safety by replacing many storm grates from near the travel lanes, providing a smoother roadway surface and reducing potential roadway flooding risk.
The approximately $1.2 million project by contractor MKD Construction started this month. As the project progresses, single lane closures with minimal travel delays are to be expected on Highway 50. Motorists are asked to obey traffic controls and drive at posted construction speed limits, or slower as necessary for conditions. The project will complete this fall.
The improvements are one part of the Clear Creek Erosion Control Program, a cooperative agreement between NDOT and the Carson Valley Conservation District. Since 2005, NDOT has dedicated approximately $4 million to enhance U.S. 50 drainage into the Clear Creek Watershed, with approximately 20,000 feet of drainages downstream of U.S. 50 improved with earth and rock work to reduce erosion. Future projects are planned to further reduce erosion and preserve water quality in the upper Clear Creek Watershed.
NDOT has long been dedicated to storm water management. The department uses best management practices to reduce the amount of water quality impacts from construction projects, installs water quality systems to most efficiently channel and provide for the clarity of roadside runoff and more. NDOT has also installed award-winning facilities to treat water runoff collected during cleaning of Tahoe-area roadside drainage. More information is available at nevadadot.com/stormwater.