NDOT says it's close to finding cash needed to complete Carson Bypass

The Nevada Department of Transportation is close to finding the money needed to finish the Carson Bypass, a spokesman says.

The bypass stretches from U.S. 395 at the north end of town to Fairview Drive. South of that, NDOT owns the necessary right-of-way but hasn't had the money to complete the road to the U.S. 395 south/Spooner Summit junction.

NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon is "very close to working that out," agency spokesman Scott Magruder said.

"We want to get this freeway completed," he said.

This summer, he said, the Snyder overpass and some utility work will be done for about $10 million. In 2015, he said, plans are to prepare the roadbed from Fairview to the south end - a contract worth about $22.5 million.

The final phase, building the road and the interchange connecting it with U.S. 395 and Highway 50 to Spooner Summit, is scheduled to start in 2016.

That phase is estimated to cost $63.3 million.

The Carson Bypass is one of two major projects Malfabon has identified as priorities in Northern Nevada, Magruder said. The other is repaving and other work on I-580 from the Spaghetti Bowl in Reno south to Moana Lane. That project is estimated to cost $60 million, he said.

"It's looking better, securing the funding for those projects," Magruder said.