NDOT to host ribbon cutting for USA Parkway Monday

Courtesy Nevada Department of Transportation

Officials will celebrate the upcoming opening of the Nevada Department of Transportation’s USA Parkway extension with an Aug. 28 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Beginning at 11 a.m. Aug. 28, Governor Sandoval and local government officials will make remarks before Tesla vehicles drive through a banner ceremonially signifying ribbon-cutting of the road extension project. The public is invited to attend, but parking is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The event will take place near the Storey-Lyon county line with event access available by traveling the USA Parkway from Interstate 80 and following event signage. No event access will be available via U.S. 50.

The $75.9 million project by design-build contractor Ames Construction to extend the parkway began in June 2016. Since that time, more than 12 miles of new four-lane state highway has been constructed, including major earthwork to create a pathway for the future road:

• Excavation – two million cubic yards of earth excavated for the new roadway
• Aggregate Roadway Base – 500,000 tons of aggregate used to provide the base of the roadway
• Asphalt – 566,000 square yards of hot mix asphalt paving installed, enough to cover 88 professional football fields
• Storm Drains – 12,000 linear feet of 18 to 60-inch diameter storm drain installed
• Fencing– 165,000 linear feet, or approximately 31 miles, of wildlife fencing installed
• Fiber Optic Conduit – 482, 534 linear feet, or approximately 91 miles, of fiber optic conduit installed

When open to traffic in early September, the NDOT project will extend the existing six-mile-long USA Parkway by more than 12 miles to reach U.S. 50 at Silver Springs, creating an approximately 18-mile-long, four-lane state roadway between Interstate 80 and U.S. 50. Known as State Route 439, the new roadway will further link the greater Reno/Sparks area with the U.S. 50 corridor, enhancing regional mobility and creating an additional route for commuter, freight and other traffic.

The road will also help support regional economic development and serve as another route in the event of emergency or weather-related road closures.

The project is projected to reduce travel times by as much as 38 percent for those traveling between U.S. 50 and I-80.is invited to attend, but parking will be limited and available o a first-come, first-served basis