Road construction can often be a hassle for drivers and seems to always take longer than expected. However, that is not the case on Moana Lane in northern Nevada. General contractor Q&D Construction recently announced the completion date for the project is being pushed up more than five weeks, according to the Northern Nevada Business Weekly.
The Regional Transportation Commission commissioned the $36 million project in order to reduce traffic congestion between Baker Lane and Interstate 580, Fox Reno reports. In order to speed up the process without sacrificing quality, construction crews are working around the clock, utilizing the cool night air and reduced traffic to pour concrete.
"Concrete is real heat sensitive, so nighttime pours are much better. It allows it to be workable until it starts to generate its own heat," Kevin Linderman, vice president of engineering for Q&D told Northern Nevada Business Weekly. "As soon as the concrete cures down by Sportsman's Warehouse, we will flip all the cars onto the brand-new concrete and we will start [working] down by Sportsman's and meet in the middle. We are trying to accelerate the schedule by working two places at once."
Construction equipment such as bulldozers, steamrollers and cement mixers are getting a lot of use, as the company wants to finish the project in time for Black Friday (November 23). The one-day sales event typically sees businesses overrun with customers taking advantage of major discounts, and there are many stores on Moana Lane that have been difficult for consumers to reach during the construction project. The roadwork being done restricted business for stores like Reno Mountain Sports, Bobo's Ski-Board-Patio and Sportsman's Warehouse. However, the Sierra Marketplace Shopping Center had experienced a decline in business long before the construction project, but many hope that improving the road will help bring commerce back to the area.
"Ever since [Sierra Marketplace] emptied out, it has had an effect on the whole of Moana from Keitzke to South Virginia," Derek Dimitri, manager of Reno Mountain Sports, which is located across the street from the shopping plaza, told the news source. "That was a big staple over there. It was a real popular shopping center, and there has been a major decline in walk-in foot traffic. This is no longer a popular shopping area."
Many shops have vacated over the years, according to a separate report by the Northern Nevada Business Weekly. Shop owners hope the newly widened roads will help spur business growth and revitalize the area.
