The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration are in the process of studying the Interstate 80 (I-80) East Widening Project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. The study process will lead to decisions through NEPA that will guide the final design and, ultimately, construction of the I-80 East Widening Project.
The purpose of the widening project is to provide additional capacity on I-80 to reduce travel time delays and accommodate traffic volumes associated with past and currently planned growth in the region. It will also enhance safety features such as wider shoulders, truck parking, and wrong-way driver detection. Currently, the corridor meets capacity needs, but crashes cause gridlock. Approval of the NEPA study is expected in summer 2025, which will allow the project to advance to the final design phase. Construction could begin as early as 2027 and take three to four seasons to complete.
The NEPA study area includes the interchanges at Vista Boulevard, Lockwood (including the Union Pacific Railroad bridge), Mustang, Patrick, and USA Parkway. Both Vista Boulevard and USA Parkway will undergo minor interchange modifications. Some immediate safety changes have already been implemented at the Lockwood interchange to provide traffic with more room to merge onto I-80 westbound. Capacity studies have shown that widening is not warranted from USA Parkway east to Fernley.
There are physical constraints within the project area that must be avoided, including the Truckee River, Union Pacific Railroad, and locations of environmental concern. The NEPA process considers resources and impacts. Key NEPA studies for this project include biological resources, cultural resources, water quality, traffic noise studies (particularly for the community in Lockwood), recreational and visual resources, and consultation with resource agencies. Avoidance of environmentally sensitive areas will be prioritized to minimize potential impacts. For water quality, treatment facilities will be built to treat runoff before it enters the Truckee River.
This project is complex. There will be three lanes of traffic, a 10-foot inside shoulder, and a 12-foot outside shoulder in each direction. Slopes on the north side of I-80 will be cleared to accommodate additional lanes and shoulders. Retaining walls and separated elevations will be constructed for eastbound and westbound traffic lanes. Increasing the number of lanes and shoulder width is intended to improve traffic flow, especially in the event of an accident.
For more information, please visit www.i80eastnv.com.
Comment
Comments