Transportation board approves $926 million in highway projects.

The state Transportation Board on Tuesday approved a $926-million construction program for fiscal 2004 that includes $9 million to widen Alternate Highway 50 between Fernley and Fallon.

More than 90 percent of the state and federal money -- $500 million -- will be spent in Clark County.

Nevada Department of Transportation officials said that doesn't mean the north is getting short-changed -- two large Northern Nevada projects are in the current 2003 construction budget.

The $69 million contract to complete the northern half of the Carson freeway is in the current budget. Ground breaking by Ames Construction is scheduled Oct. 15.

In addition, bids will be opened later this week on the first phase of construction for the I-580 freeway project between Reno and Carson City. The $82.2 million project will build structures needed for the freeway at Corey Canyon, Brown's Creek and Galena Creek.

In addition, the $53 million reconstruction of Reno's spaghetti bowl is underway.

NDOT spokesman Kent Cooper said the one of the largest Northern Nevada projects in the 2004 construction is widening Highway 50 East between Fernley and Fallon for about $9 million. Replacing the Union Pacific railroad bridge in Fernley and redesigning the adjacent intersection -- part of that same project -- will cost another $9 million. Both contracts will go to bid within the year.

Traffic safety experts say Highway 50 between Fernley and Fallon is one of the north's most dangerous and that widening it by adding new traffic lanes will help solve the problem.

The department scheduled 11 projects at Lake Tahoe over the next four years including a pavement overlay on Highway 50 West, a number of erosion control and water quality projects, rehabilitation of the Cave Rock tunnel and reconstruction of bin walls. The total for all the projects is about $44 million.

Most of the rest of the projects in the Carson City area are repaving and maintenance projects. But the plan to replace Deer Run Road bridge over the Carson River will begin this fiscal year. That project will cost a total of $3.2 million.

The biggest project on the statewide list is the continued widening of Highway 95 in Las Vegas. This will consume more than $220 million in state bond money before the end of the fiscal year. Another $82.2 million will pay to expand the I-515/I-215 interchange in Henderson. And a $100 million special federal appropriation is set aside for the bridge across the Colorado River downstream from the Hoover Dam.

Also outside the state's normal highway fund pot is the $114 million in bond money to lower the railroad tracks through Reno.

The budget includes $177.5 million for "preservation" -- which includes maintenance projects -- and $40 million for miscellaneous projects. NDOT Director Jeff Fontaine said the state must spend at least $163 million a year to maintain existing roads, bridges and other parts of the highway system.

The total budget for the year includes $543 million in state and federal funding. The rest of the money comes from a variety of sources including bond money, special appropriations, local government and private contributions.