INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and#8212; Almost six years since its inception, the roundabout at the intersection of Highway 431 and Highway 28 is finally coming to fruition. The benefits go far beyond the obvious ones of traffic flow and safety. Air pollution and fuel consumption will be reduced dramatically since cars will flow through the intersection instead of idling for long periods of time. The decrease in pollutants and particulates will also help to improve lake clarity. A major state highway erosion control project was tied in with the redevelopment of this intersection. And there are also aesthetic benefits to having this new gateway on the west side of our community that will showcase life-size bronze statues of the local fauna interspersed with natural boulders, native grasses and wildflowers.
From the standpoint of impact on the Incline Village real estate market, three different subdivisions will immediately experience a positive effect. The Ponderosa, Lower Tyner and Woods Subdivisions are closest in proximity to the normal traffic patterns affected by the Highway 431/ Highway 28 intersection. Residents of Ponderosa and Lower Tyner will no longer feel the need to use McCourry Blvd. as a route through the Woods Subdivision to get to and from the center of the Village. Residents of the Woods Subdivision will benefit from the significantly lower volume of traffic and improved safety on their streets. And with these particular residential streets seeing a significant decline in traffic, the need for repairs and maintenance will decrease accordingly. Property values in these three subdivisions should experience a slight positive net benefit after the roundabout is completed.
While we have been watching the initial phases of the roundabout construction during the past several weeks, by the time you read this article the roundabout could very well have made its debut. Even though the construction of the entire intersection is not fully completed, I was informed last week by the work crew that the goal is to start flowing traffic through the roundabout around August 6. The rest of the project including the balance of the roadwork, landscape architecture and the installation of the bronze statues will take place as the summer progresses. A ribbon cutting ceremony is anticipated for some time in the fall after everything is completed.
The private fundraising effort for the bronze statues of a bear, bobcat, mule deer, coyote, two squirrels, raccoon and stellar jay has achieved about two thirds of its goal. The Incline Gateway Committee (of which I am a member) is seeking to raise $30,000 as quickly as possible during the first half of August so we can complete the raccoon and the mule deer. We would like to exceed our goal so that we can have funds in reserve for future expenses related to insurance on the statues, enhanced landscaping, etc.
Local sculptor June Brown has generously donated her time and done a fantastic job sculpting the clay models of the bear, bobcat, coyote and squirrels which will be used to make the bronze castings at the foundry in Utah. I spent last Thursday at the project site assisting the landscape architect and the construction crew with the positioning of the boulders for the bronze statues. This project is a great example of what can happen when local citizens work cooperatively to create a public/private partnership with a governmental agency like the Nevada Department of Transportation, that will benefit residents and visitors alike.
I would like to encourage everyone who has not yet made a donation to the roundabout project to help by making a contribution so that all of the bronze statues can be completed and installed in time for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Donations are welcome at any level, are tax deductible and will be funded through the Incline Village Public Art Project via the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization. Contributions over $1,000 will be publicly recognized on a permanent monument that will be constructed in the future to honor all of the substantial donors to the project.
Please send your contribution to: Incline Village Roundabout Art Project and#8211; PO Box 6616 and#8211; Incline Village, NV 89450.
and#8212; Don Kanare is a Realtor at RE/MAX Premier Properties. Read his blog and weekly stats on his website at www.InsideIncline.com.
