Roundabout to be installed at deadly Carson Valley intersection

The intersection of State Route 88 at Centerville Lane will receive a compact traffic roundabout, and construction on it begins Monday, April 23.

From April 23 to 27, daytime lane closures from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. will take place with a pilot car leading traffic in alternating directions through the intersection. An approximately 10-day full closure of the SR 88 and Centerville Lane intersection will then begin Monday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m., with nearby detour available via Mottsville Lane and Foothill Road.

There have been multiple accidents at that intersection including some deadly collisions inclusing a crash in October, 2017 involving former South Lake Tahoe resident Beverly Louise Phillips of Gardnerville and her granddaughter, Kimber Palma of South Lake Tahoe.

Following the full intersection closure, drivers will again see weekday daytime single lane closures until major construction wraps up directly before the Memorial Day holiday. Travel delays of up to 30 minutes are to be anticipated. Minor finishing elements of construction such as light pole installation will take place in future months.

A compact traffic roundabout is a smaller version of a modern traffic roundabout, the approximately 80-foot diameter compact roundabout will be slightly smaller in size than the existing SR 88 roundabout at Mahogany Drive. Sloping, raised concrete curbing will make up the roundabout’s 22-foot round middle island. Buses and freight and haul trucks will be able to slowly travel over the raised concrete median to travel through the roundabout. Concrete curbing will also be used to define the outside of the roundabout. The roundabout will not feature landscaping in the middle island. Traffic will enter and exit only through right turns and these type of roundabouts have the ability to reduce potentially deadly rear-end crashes which can occur at certain traffic lights by 80 percent.

When complete, the posted speed limits on State Route 88 will be reduced to 45 mph approaching the new roundabout, with an advisory speed of 20 mph through the roundabout.

In coming years, NDOT will evaluate the potential of purchasing neighboring land to expand the size of the roundabout.

The approximately $1 million project by contractor Granite Construction Company will enhance traffic safety for the as many as 10,000 drivers who travel near the intersection daily. Additional project information is available at www.nevadadot.com/SR88 or by dialing (775) 888-7000.