State plans to rehabilitate a 13.5-mile stretch of Highway 160 passed a routine hurdle before the county commission last week.
Nye County commissioners approved a no-cost cooperative agreement between the Nevada Department of Transportation and Nye County for the purpose of improvements from Basin Avenue north to Bell Vista Avenue.
Commissioner Lorinda Wichman said the agreement is “routine” and said the county does similar agreements with other agencies.
“It means that we will stay out of their way and help them where we can,” she said about the agreement with NDOT.
The $12.5 million state-funded project will include drainage upgrade, geometric improvements at Bell Vista Avenue, approach enhancements, and intersection lighting at Irene Street, East Mesquite Avenue, East Blosser Ranch Road and Bell Vista Avenue.
NDOT spokesman Tony Illia said the agreement outlines reciprocal project responsibilities between the county and the department of transportation.
“We use agreements on most projects, detailing detours, traffic management and county review of plans within a certain time frame, among other responsibilities,” he said. “Plans call for milling or grinding away built-up layers of deteriorated asphalt down to a specific depth, thereby making room for a fresh coat of blacktop. The end result will be a smooth, safe, and durable driving surface.”
Illia said officials are expected to advertise for construction bids on Sept. 15. No timetable was given for construction.
Additionally, Illia said there is a future $700,000 project to flatten slopes, resurface pavement and widen shoulders at the U.S. Highway 95 junction to Highway 160, which would create an expanded turn pocket. The project will advertise for construction bids in late November.
The agreement between Nye County and NDOT will go into effect in late October and continue through July 28, 2018.
Contact reporter Daria Sokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77