Mound House road work part of V&T bridge NDOT reinstated speeds and decreased length of construction zone Staff Report BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Commuters can expect reduced speeds for about a month on Highway 50 East between Lyon County and Carson City while crews erect a concrete pillar to hold the V&T Railway bridge that will span Highway 50 East. Road construction related to the V&T Railway was causing headaches for commuters through Mound House, but corrections have been made to ease the congestion. A 35 mph speed limit went into effect Friday night for the middle of Mound House to the bottom of Dump Hill so crews could install a concrete suppport for a train bridge that will cross Highway 50 East. Traffic was congested throughout the weekend and Monday. But on Monday, Nevada Department of Transportation officials reduced the eastbound construction zone to 2,000 feet beginning just east of Pick-n-Pull and ending at Linehan Road. The 35 mph zone is reduced to one lane of travel for about 100 feet. Westbound, the 35 mph construction zone now runs from west of Linehan Road through the construction work area, before going back to 55 mph. NDOT Spokesman Scott Magruder said the zone should be in place for at least a month. The bridge could be in place by January. The 48-year-old Union Pacific Railroad’s Boulder Branch Bridge was formerly in Las Vegas before being purchased and moved north. The 18-mile tourist railroad will run from Virginia City to Carson City and is modeled after the original 18th-century track. About six miles of track has been completed from Gold Hill to outside Mound House. The recycled bridge saved the foundation $300,000. The additional costs of building concrete abutments on the new site, guardrails, bridge modifications, moving and setting the bridge will be more than $500,000.
more progress V&T bridge in Mound House slated to be done by March Nevada Appeal Staff Report ENLARGE Q & D Construction workers continue to work on the V&T bridge over Highway 50 East in Mound House on Wednesday. Kevin Clifford/Nevada Appeal Construction on a bridge across Highway 50 East in Mound House for the V&T Railway is expected to be completed by March, with the bridge being installed in two parts in the coming weeks, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation. Spokesman Scott Magruder said work to install the footings for the salvaged bridge has been going well. The center support column is completed, and crews from Q&D Construction are working on the two end support pieces. “The complete project will be done in August, but the bridge will be in place in about two months,” he said. Once construction on the end support columns is completed, crews are expected to reduce traffic to one lane each direction to install one portion of the bridge. “Any closures will be at night and will not affect the daily commute or rush hour traffic,” he said. Contractors also are debating whether to illuminate the bridge, he said. Currently there are reflectors at the foot of the center column, but because there are no street lights in the area, the columns are difficult to see at night. The 48-year-old Union Pacific Railroad’s Boulder Branch Bridge was in Las Vegas before being purchased and moved north. The 18-mile tourist railroad will run from Virginia City to Carson City and is modeled after the original 19th-century track. About six miles of track have been completed from Gold Hill to outside Mound House. The additional costs of building concrete abutments on the new site, guardrails, bridge modifications, moving and setting the bridge will be more than $500,000. The public commission in charge of the project needs to raise additional funds to bring the rest of the track through the Carson River Canyon. The entire project is estimated to cost at least $55 million.
V&T Railroad bridge to be in place by March By Tim Anderson • Special to the Reno Gazette-Journal • February 9, 2009 Another milestone in the long campaign to rebuild the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad between Gold Hill and Carson City, aimed at making the route a regional tourism magnet, is about to be reached. Officials for the $55 million project said a railroad bridge crossing U.S. 50 East in Mound House is expected to be in place sometime in March. "The latest phase of construction is well under way. We're making good progress, and we're right on schedule," project engineer Ken Dorr told the Nevada Commission for Reconstruction of the V&T Railway at its January meeting. Work on building concrete supports for the 48-year-old railroad bridge began in December after ground was broken in November on the newest phase of construction. The former Union Pacific Railroad bridge previously was used to cross a busy freeway in Las Vegas and was donated to the state a few years ago. Dorr said rehabilitation of the bridge, which includes repainting the structure, will be undertaken soon. The current $6.6 million phase of work -- assisted by unusually warm weather this winter -- involves clearing land and laying track about 5.5 miles north and south of the highway. Dorr said the work, under the supervision of general contractor Q&D Construction, should be completed by June. After the tracks are laid, officials are hopeful of completing an arrangement with the V&T Railroad Co., which has operated a seasonal train for a number of years along a 2.5-mile segment linking Gold Hill with Virginia City, to run cars on an interim basis as far as Mound House. Commissioners, in negotiations with company owner Tom Gray, said the trips would provide good exposure for the project until future segments can be built. Railway board member Dwight Millard of Carson City said he wants a major community event calling attention to the progress of the project after the rail line is completed to Mound House. "What about a Fourth of July celebration? We could put a locomotive on the bridge and just blow smoke at everybody," Millard said, also proposing updated signs along the highway to let motorists and others know the railroad is coming. Although the state board is working with the Gray family to provide initial trips between the Comstock and the highway, the Oakdale, Calif.-based Sierra Railroad Company has been selected as permanent operator once the line is completed to the east end of Carson City. The ambitious rail-building project, years in the making, has been made possible through federal grants and a portion of local sales and room taxes. But proponents, who envision a boom in tourism with completion of the line, suffered a setback in the general election last fall when Carson City voters soundly rejected an advisory question to raise sales taxes another one-eighth of one percent. Such a plan, if adopted by city officials, could have generated an additional $10 million. This would have cleared the way for construction of the rail line through the scenic Carson River Canyon and on to the proposed depot site on Drako Way. With additional local and state funding possibilities at a standstill because of the recession, commissioners said they hope for additional assistance through the federal government. Funding would be provided as part of a massive federal effort to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Carson City's package of infrastructure requests included $12 million for the railroad. But local officials and others involved with the track rebuilding plan said they have no illusions about success since there will be competition among thousands of other communities seeking help on construction projects. Former Carson City Mayor Marv Teixeira, who didn't seek another term last year and lost his seat on the state V&T board, has been a staunch supporter of the railroad project. He was involved in initial plans to put together the community's list of priorities for possible federal assistance and pushed for funds for the rail line. Teixeira told commissioners in December the rail construction meets the criteria of a project that's been engineered and is under way. "But there are maybe a billion such proposals throughout the country. Our chances could be slim to none but at least it's in the hopper," Teixeira said. Pursuing funds Mayor Bob Crowell, who replaced Teixeira on the board, has pledged to pursue the search for potential sources of funds for the project. Carson City and Storey County stand to benefit in a major way from tourism dollars when the line is completed and in operation. Construction on the tourism railroad, modeled after the original short line built to move ore, freight and passengers during the 19th-century silver mining boom, began in 2005. Early work included the challenging tasks of crossing the Overman Pit near Gold Hill and restoring the section of track through Tunnel No. 2. About 6 miles of rail south of Gold Hill have been completed. State commission officials want to rebuild 17.5 miles of track. Engineering and negotiations to acquire rights-of-way for the final phase, through Carson River Canyon, are continuing as proponents search for additional funding. Still unresolved is future use of track between Gold Hill and Virginia City. Ultimately, commission officials said they're hopeful an arrangement with the Gray family can be reached, possibly through acquisition of the company. In 2006, commission officials were committed to a goal of completing the rail line in 2010. But with today's political and financial realities, officials and supporters said that's not possible.
Should be a few traffic slowdowns here when done. Hope there is plenty of room for people to pull off the highway. Boxcab E50
In the sea of bad economic news from Washington, it is great to hear that this project is moving right along. Thanks for keeping us updated on this!
Next Week!!! V&T bridge goes up next week at night Nevada Appeal Staff Report The bridge that will carry the V&T Railway across Highway 50 East in Mound House is slated to be raised onto its footing next week. Scott Magruder, spokesman for the Department of Transportation, said that crews are planning on installing the recycled bridge March 25. Since the bulk of the work will be done overnight, traffic in the area will be affected after 7 p.m., he said. The bridge should be in place by the following morning’s commute. Construction began in November on the pillars to hold the 48-year-old Union Pacific Railroad bridge near the Carson City and Lyon County border. The bridge was in Las Vegas before being purchased and moved north. The V&T Railway, an 18-mile tourist railroad, will run from Virginia City to Carson City and is modeled after the original 19th-century track. About six miles of track have been completed from Gold Hill to outside Mound House. The additional costs of building concrete abutments on the new site, guardrails, bridge modifications, moving and setting the bridge will be more than $500,000. The public commission in charge of the project needs to raise additional funds to bring the rest of the track through the Carson River Canyon. The entire project is estimated to cost at least $55 million.
Thought I had a web site bookmarked, which showed the hoped for stages of this project on a map. I can't find it in my files. Sound familiar to anyone? Boxcab E50
I think I put up a link or two in earlier threads. Might try searching them. I believe I know what site you are refering to but I don't have it bookmarked either.
Provided to the Reno Gazette-Journal The first section of bridge goes in Wednesday over Highway 50 at the Lyon County line. The bridge will become one of the last steps for the V&T Railway's completion linking Carson City and Virginia City again. Crews install V&T Railway bridge across U.S. 50 By SANDI HOOVER • shoover@rgj.com • March 26, 2009 Workers using a large crane Wednesday night began raising a 48-year-old Union Pacific Railroad bridge across U.S. 50 East in Mound House. "The theme of this phase has always been, 'A bridge from the past to our future,'" said Gary Luce of Geocon Consultants, who is geotechnical engineer, environmental manager to construction, and testing and inspection manager on the project. "We're very excited. We're about two-thirds of the way closer to getting up and running. It's just one more thing they said we would never do." Building concrete supports for the bridge began in December after ground was broken in November. The span had crossed a busy freeway in Las Vegas and was donated to the state a few years ago and moved north. Bridge construction costs are estimated at about $500,000. The most recent $6.6 million phase of the campaign to rebuild the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad between Gold Hill and Carson City involves clearing land and laying track about 5.5 miles north and south of the highway, expected to be completed by June. "The timeline is funding-dependent, but if all funding were in place, we'd expect the project to be completed in 2011 or 2012," Luce said. "There are only about 4-1/2 miles left of 17." Proponents said the project is intended to make the route a regional tourism magnet. Officials are hopeful of completing an arrangement with the V&T Railroad Co., which has operated a seasonal train for years along a 2.5-mile segment linking Gold Hill with Virginia City, to run cars on an interim basis as far as Mound House. Members of the Nevada Commission for Reconstruction of the V&T Railway, who negotiated with company owner Tom Gray, believe the link will provide exposure for the project until future segments can be built. The ambitious rail-building project, years in the making, has been made possible through federal grants and a portion of local sales and room taxes. But those who envision a boom in tourism from the line, suffered a setback in the general election last fall when Carson City voters soundly rejected an advisory question to raise sales taxes another one-eighth-cent that could have generated $10 million. That would have cleared the way for construction of the rail line through the scenic Carson River Canyon and on to the proposed depot site on Drako Way. ---------------------------------------------------- Up goes the bridge A semi truck passes under the V&T bridge construction zone on Highway 50 Wednesday night in Mound House. Q&D Construction and Nevada Department of Transportation crews worked to install the first half of the railroad bridge. Crews closed one side of the road as they put up the first half then closed the other side as they completed the bridge. Work started at about 8 p.m. Wednesday and was expected to continue into early this morning. The bridge is part of the V&T Railway, an 18-mile tourist railroad, which will run from Virginia City to Carson City and is modeled after the original 19th-century track. Work on 11 miles of track is scheduled to be done by this summer. Total cost for the bridge and putting it in place was near $500,000. Amy Lisenbe/For the Nevada Appeal
V&T railroad rides into Carson By Dave Frank dfrank@nevadaappeal.com Workers lay railroad tracks across the V&T bridge near the Lyon County-Carson boarder on Thursday. Dave Frank/Nevada Appeal MOUND HOUSE — V&T Railway track reached Carson City on Thursday as railroad work started on the bridge crossing Highway 50 East near Lyon County. About 7.5 miles of the 18-mile tourist railroad from Virginia City to Carson City will be finished when track work on the bridge is done in about a month, said Gary Luce, a project engineer. Workers installed the V&T bridge about a month ago. About half the railroad will be done around June, he said. The commission will bid about another mile of railroad work after that with $2 million to $3 million in federal stimulus funds. This will bring the railroad to the Carson River Canyon. Luce said chances are “minimal” for summer train rides. The V&T commission and the V&T Railroad Company had discussed a draft agreement this year to let the company run summer rides on the completed track. The Virginia City-based private company runs 2.5-mile train rides from Virginia City to Gold Hill. Commission Chairman Bob Hadfield said he wants to keep working on negotiations with the Gray family, who run the V&T Railroad Company. “It continues to be a difficult to come to a win-win situation for everyone, but we haven’t given up,” he said. The Grays could not be reached for comment Thursday. Commissioner John Tyson said the commission should use an engine it owns to start rides on the new track. The commission would have to buy railroad cars, but it would be worth it to showcase the historic remodel, he said. Tyson said he’ll push for the plan at the commission next meeting May 4. The project that started construction in 2005 is expected to cost at least $55 million and be done around 2012.
I hope they can somehow get things settled with that Gray family. Until that roadblock is gone, this effort can never reach it's full potential. Boxcab E50
I have a friend who lived in Carson City, now here, headed for there today. I hope he gets some pix of this progress. :tb-biggrin:
