The Local Lens – Gateway Roundabout Improvements

I have exciting news to share. Incline Village Main Street has approval from NDOT to install the Gateway Roundabout improvements!  IV Main Street is the IVCBA program that addresses revitalization in our community. Improving the roundabout enhances the entrance to both Incline Village and Crystal Bay, the gateway to Lake Tahoe from Reno. Beautification projects like this are what I call “low-hanging fruit”. It is a placemaking project that unites the community around a common cause. 

This is the second time the community has rallied around the roundabout. The first time was in 2012 when NDOT installed the original roundabout. A traffic circle was needed, and the community supported it. Bronze animal sculptures designed by local artist June Brown were funded by key community members. Native perennials were planted to complement the sculptures. Over time, invasive plants have overrun the roundabout; the lack of irrigation has prevented the flowers from fully reaching their potential to bloom. The low-mounding design of the roundabout led to cars accidentally crashing into it, rendering the bronze sculptures an “endangered species”. Hence, the need for improvements 14 years later.

Gateway Roundabout Improvements

Improving esthetics to reflect the natural beauty of the East Shore and safety are the goals of the planned improvements. Iconic granite boulders, fir, and aspen trees, along with a succession of perennials, are part of the new design. Irrigation will be installed to support the new plantings. The entire traffic circle will be mounded higher to improve visibility. The bronze animal sculptures will be repositioned on the roundabout. 

Community input was gathered through Main Street focus groups and stakeholder meetings. Incline Village Main Street design team, led by Steve Porten and Christine Karnofsky, coordinated public input for the initial sketch. Dale Smith, Smith Design Group, Larry Wodarski, IPM are also on the design team. LA Studio Landscape Architects provided the final design. Structural and engineering plans were developed by Lefrancois Engineering, which is also the project manager. Mike has worked closely with NDOT, Washoe County, IVGID, and TRPA to get the plans permitted for installation this spring. 

To learn more about the history of the roundabout, please read the article in today’s SnapShot ‘History of “The Gateway to Lake Tahoe” Roundabout.’ To learn more about Incline Village Main Street and to donate to the Gateway Roundabout, go to our website IVCBA.org. The Sierra Giving Circle is managed by our partner, Incline Tahoe Foundation to provide charitable donations to beautification projects. 

I will be providing more information about Incline Village Main Street in subsequent Local Lens blogs.

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