Cave Rock projected finished ahead of schedule; All travel lanes open

All lanes of US 50 through the Cave Rock tunnel are now open to traffic, almost a month ahead of schedule on the $6 million traveler safety and roadside water quality project.

Since May, drivers have had to utilize a single lane of traffic in each direction through one side of the tunnel.

The contractor, Q&D Construction, will earn an extra $300,000 for completing early. Their contract gave them $15,000 for each day prior to the deadline they completed early, with a maximum of $300,000, which they earned.

"We know that road construction can have an impact and associated travel delays on the public, and this is one way we work to complete important road improvements most efficiently," said Meg Ragonese of Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT).

The project extended the westbound, lakeside Cave Rock tunnel entrance with a 60-foot long and 27-foot tall structure that will provide safety by catching rock fall before it reaches the roadway. The tunnel extension replicates natural colors, patterns and textures to match the existing rock face.

Other features:

- Lighting and white paint were added inside each tunnel for better visibility

- Two new radar-activated overhead signs installed to automatically notify drivers of bicyclists or potentially icy conditions in the tunnels

- U.S. 50 lanes through both tunnels and the roadway median between Cave Rock and the Cave Rock State Park boat launch entrance were also paved

- Water quality improvements such as enhanced roadside drainage inlets and sediment filtration systems were installed along U.S. 50 from one mile to four miles north of Cave Rock

During the winter of 2014-2015, heavy rains loosened boulders from the rock face above the Cave Rock tunnel, with some of the boulders reaching the roadway. Rock fall reduction and slope stabilization experts removed rock debris above the tunnel and a temporary netting was installed to help catch potential rock fall. The new tunnel extension will help further ensure motorist safety by reducing rock fall onto the roadway.