While the Nevada Department of Transportation is still awaiting its environmental approval for the widening of Interstate 80 between Sparks and the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, it has received federal grant funding for the project, according to an NDOT spokesperson.
NDOT Assistant Director of Planning Rebecca Kapuler told the Lyon County Commission at its July 17 meeting that construction on the widening of I-80 from Vista Blvd. in Sparks to USA Parkway is scheduled to begin in 2027.
“It’s going to be a design-build project, which will help us be more efficient and get that done quicker,” Kapuler said. “But the good news is we got a $270 million grant for that, so that is a priority. Our director has told us it’s one of our number one priorities.”
Commissioner Rob Jacobson told Kapuler that many Lyon County residents commute on I-80 and are affected by the traffic congestion. He said it recently took him an hour and a half one way between Reno and Fernley.
“The safety of I-80 is brutal,” Jacobson said. “It’s a death trap.”
“It is, and it’s shift working, so having to figure out the best time to do construction is stuff we’re looking at now,” Kapuler said.
Kapuler was speaking to the Commission as a follow-up to a workshop held last year and she highlighted several projects in the county that have been completed or that are in short-term, intermediate or long-term plans.
She said NDOT relocated the stop bar for northbound trucks at the intersection of U.S. 95A and Main St.
“Now those turning movements seem to be a lot smoother and safer,” she said.
Kapuler said one of NDOT’s current projects is a crosswalk across 95A in front of Fernley High School.
“The problem is that speeds are very high, 65 to 70 miles per hour,” she said. “Basically, a solution would be for the city to create an ordinance to have a reduced speed zone there for the school zone.”
Once that’s done, she said NDOT would be able to collaborate with the city for students to cross the road safely.
As part of a corridor study NDOT is currently conducting within the city, Kapuler said NDOT is looking at traffic congestion where Farm District Road meets U.S. 50A, and also a potential roundabout at 95A and Cottonwood.
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