Beach Boy Mike Love celebrates opening of first roundabout at Lake Tahoe
Submitted by editor on Wed, 10/17/2012 - 3:41pm
In a symbolic gesture to Lake Tahoe's first roundabout, Beach Boy Mike Love and local dignitaries celebrated how locals and visitors can "Get Around" North Shore's intersection of Mount Rose Highway and State Route 28 at the dedication, Oct. 17.
“For these past 50 years you could say that I ‘Get Around,’" laughed Mike Love, lead singer and co-owner of the Beach Boys. “With the music I created along with the other Beach Boys it has taken me all over the world. If you ask me it’s pretty cool that thanks to the efforts of a whole lot of good people I get a Roundabout – it’s beautiful.”
Love, as a long-time Incline Village resident and environmental proponent, along with transportation agency officials, dignitaries and approximately 200 invited guests commemorated the roundabout. The $2.4 million public/private partnership was designed to promote safety, protect Lake Tahoe's famed water clarity and air quality, and to celebrate local public art. The dedication also highlighted the early completion — by four years, of a major erosion control project between Incline Village and Crystal Bay.
“In addition to providing a transportation and safety solution for the area, the roundabout will provide a sense of arrival,” said Carl Hasty, Director of the Tahoe Transportation District. “Roundabouts are safer than other intersections and are estimated to reduce injuries in car accidents by 76 percent.”
“The environmental benefits to the project are great,” said Rudy Malfabon, Nevada Department of Transportation. “The Incline Roundabout will reduce erosion and runoff into Lake Tahoe.”
Three construction projects were completed near the vicinity of State Route 28 and 431 from May to September 2012: Erosion Control on SR 431 for $5.3 million; Erosion Control on SR 28 for $5.6 million; plus the Roundabout. All three were completed by Q&D Construction under contracts with the Nevada Department of Transportation.
The Incline Roundabout is one of Northern Nevada’s largest and more artistic traffic icons spreading 80 feet in diameter and wrapped with life-sized bronze animals designed and created by renowned bronze sculptor June Towill Brown. Upon receiving the bid she decided to donate her time to the project. Local residents have donated more than $100,000 to support the artwork’s materials, maintenance and insurance. Donations are still being accepted through the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation: www.parasoltahoe.org, 775-298-0100.
“I am honored to be involved with an elegant Gateway that will be a new treasure to enjoy at Lake Tahoe for generations to come,” said Brown.
The Public Art Project was an unexpected addition to the Roundabout’s initial plans. “Our community knew that the Gateway’s significant location deserved something special,” said Incline Gateway committee member Don Kanare. “We hosted public meetings that determined the indigenous animals theme.”
Project partners include the Nevada Department of Transportation, Q&D Construction, Tahoe Transportation District, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Incline Gateway Committee, Incline Village General Improvement District, Washoe County, artist June Towill Brown, Incline Village Roundabout Public Art Project Fund and the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation.
For more information on the Roundabout, visit www.tahoetransportation.org or call (775) 589-5500.
For information on NDOT projects contact Scott Magruder, Public Information Officer, at smagruder@dot.state.nv.us or (775) 888-7777.
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