The closure of a state highway between Carson City and Virginia City has reopened a debate about the impacts of new digging for gold and silver around the historic mining town.
Nevada Department of Transportation and Storey County officials said Wednesday that regardless of the cause of the damage, the repair of Highway 342 is a top priority. They're hopeful traffic will be moving again within a month.
Critics insist mining in a nearby pit by Comstock Mining may be at least partially to blame.
The highway built over an old mine shaft was closed after heavy rainfall Feb. 8.
A state engineer told the Reno Gazette-Journal there's no way to know for sure if modern mining contributed to the problems that have existed long before Comstock Mining started its work in 2012.
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