NDOT awards preconstruction services agreement for I-80 East Widening Project

The Nevada Department of Transportation has awarded a preconstruction services agreement and is currently in the final design phase for the project to widen Interstate 80 between Sparks and the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.

Preconstruction work includes locating underground utilities, conducting geotechnical investigations to better understand earthwork constraints, performing extensive site investigations, and developing final design elements, according to the project description.

Heavy traffic during morning and afternoon commute times often brings traffic to a crawl. The I-80 East Widening Project aims to provide reliable travel times by reducing delays and accommodate traffic associated with past and planned growth in the region.

The project will include widening I-80 to three lanes in each direction between Vista Blvd and USA Parkway, median barrier rails, wider inside and outside shoulders, and wrong-way driver detection. It will also include interchange improvements at Lockwood, Mustang and Patrick.

During a public meeting in Lockwood last June, Senior Project Manager Chris Kuhn said there has been an approximate increase in traffic of 70% on that stretch of I-80 in the last 10 years.

“Obviously a lot of congestion because of that and a lot of crashes and operational issues,” Kuhn said.

NDOT reports an average of 144 crashes per year on this stretch of I-80 and estimates that the proposed improvements could reduce total crashes by about 20% compared to making no changes.

While final designs will be completed during the design phase, the Preferred Alternative presented by the Nevada Department of Transportation and approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) include three 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, a 10-foot inside shoulder and 12-foot outside shoulder.

Alternatives Analysis and National Environmental Policy Act studies and the project has received environmental approvals from FHWA.

Final design is scheduled to be completed in September 2027 with construction beginning in late 2027.