Kingsbury Grade improvements overbudget, overdue
By Brooke Boone, KRNV-TV
STATELINE — A road construction project in South Lake Tahoe moving into its fourth year is costing tax payers millions and giving neighbors’ headaches.
“It’s really been a burden on our community from day one,” says longtime Kingsbury Grade Resident Linda Bronken. “A lot of people have moved off because never ending construction.”
The erosion control project along Kingsbury Grade began in 2009. It was slated for two years. Now in its third year the project remains incomplete.
According to Construction Manager Greg Frehner, they were unable to follow the schedule from day one due to unforeseen problems. What were those problems? “It’s an old road. There are a lot of things under there,” says Frehner. “The first year only ten percent complete.”
According to state law, Nevada Department of Transportation has to go with the lowest responsible bidder. Out of eight, Las Vegas based Peek Construction Company came in with the lowest bid at $6.8 million dollars.
And what penalties did the State impose on the contractor for overrunning budget and falling behind schedule? Maybe they hired the South Lake Tahoe city people who negotiated the TAHOLE agreements and therefore there are no repercussions for not doing what you said you would do.