The spring fashion for downtown Gardnerville will be helmets and reflective safety vests during reconstruction of Highway 395 this summer.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
After a very brief break for Carson Valley Days, work to repave Highway 395 through Gardnerville begins in earnest on Monday.
The highway known as Main Street through the town will be down to two lanes with the southbound lanes being all the way down from Mill Street to Waterloo Lane.
“It’s going to get bad,” said Main Street Gardnerville Director Jen Nalder, who’s been regularly meeting with the Nevada Department of Transportation and SMC Construction.
“Every time there is a new traffic pattern our Google analytics spike for our page,” she said of the mainstreetgardnerville.org project updates. “It’s a source of information.”
Just under two miles of Highway 395 between Waterloo Lane and First Street in Gardnerville will be completely reconstructed and repaved through September.
“Drivers should anticipate shifting traffic control and 24/7 travel delays through the work zone as semi-permanent barriers are placed in work areas for driver and worker safety,” Nevada transportation spokeswoman Meg Ragonese said on Tuesday. “At least one lane in each direction and one access to each business will remain available during construction. Access will be maintained but may include metal plates over driveways.”
Ragonese urged residents to support local businesses during the construction and to find alternate routes traveling through town.
“Left-hand turns and travel across intersections will periodically be prohibited as intersections are reconstructed and new road surface placed,” she said. “Expect reduced speeds through the work zone and provide extra time to reach destinations.”
There will be marked pedestrian detours and bicycle access during the work.
The construction schedule depends on weather and is subject to change, Ragonese said.
Residents may receive text notifications on the project by texting “DOWNTOWN” to 866-540-8466, or by calling (775) 379-8777.
Work is also continuing on Highway 395 through the Pine Nut Mountains south of Gardnerville and near Sonora Junction in Mono County.
