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INTERSTATE 580 FREEWAY EXTENSION

PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of this project is to construct a new freeway from the terminous of the US-395 (Interstate 580) freeway at the Mount Rose interchange. This freeway will continue southward to the Bowers Mansion Cutoff. This freeway will remove major traffic congestion from the existing US-395 highway which is now an undivides 4 lane highway with some two-way left turn lanes. The highway passes through the communities of Pleasant Valley and Washoe City, an area that has many driveways connecting to the highway and many residences and businesses in close proximity to the highway. Once completed this project will provide a seamless freeway link between the Tahoe region and Reno. This freeway is also part of the I-580 project to create a interstate quality freeway from I-80 in Reno to US-50 south of Carson City.

PROJECT STATS

Basic Information:
Project Priority HIGH
Project Length Approx. 8.5 Miles
Project Area:
West of current US-395 alignment between Mt. Rose Highway and Bowers Mansion Cutoff.
Status Construction - Bridges phase
Estimated Project Completion Fall 2009

PROJECT BACKGROUND

US Highway 395 is the main route that travels between Carson City and Reno and is a route of major importance for the eastern Sierra front. This highway connects Reno to Carson City, Tahoe, Minden, Gardnerville and Fallon. these routes are heavily traveled and place a large amount of traffic on a substandard 4 lane highway in Pleasant Valley and Washoe City. Parts of this highway are in close proximity to congested residential and commercial areas and there are many driveways and access pionts along the highwya increasing the chances of traffic collisions and causing safety concerns for pedestrian and cyclists as well. The new freeway is a logical step in addressing these problems and creating a faster and safer way to move traffic through the region.

TENTATIVE DETAILS

The first part of construction is underway of this freeway project. Several bridges are being built along the route including the largest, a pair of concrete arch bridges that span the Galena Creek. There are a total of eight bridges being constructed to build this project.

VISION FOR INTERSTATE 580

Looking to the future of the interstate system, this new interstatte link could become part of a new interstate highway between several major southwest cities. This project and Interstate 580 could become part of a greater project to build an interstate highway from Reno to Las Vegas and on to Phoenix as a possible Interstate 7. If this ever becomes a reality it would create a transportation link along the easter sierra front and connect Nevada to the southwestern United States. In future expansion the corridor could eventually be extended north of Reno into Oregon and Washington, if necessary.



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Updated 09/17/2008