This double arch bridge carries Business U.S. 395/Virginia Street over the Truckee River in downtown Reno, near the intersection with First Street. Photo taken 07/21/09.
Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430/Virginia Street north
Northbound Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430/Virginia Street crosses the Truckee River on the 1905 Virginia Street bridge. Crossings of the river at this location go back to 1860, when the first toll bridge was built here. The current 1905 bridge is the fifth bridge at this location; plans call for its replacement in coming yeras due to flood concerns through downtown Reno. Photos taken 07/21/09.
Even the trash cans in downtown Reno reference the "Biggest Little City in the World" logo. Photo taken 07/21/09.
After crossing the Truckee River, northbound Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430/Virginia Street meet First Street at this traffic signal. Photo taken 07/21/09.
Northbound Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430/Virginia Street meets Second Street. Photo taken 07/21/09.
At Commercial Row (former railroad track crossing), northbound Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430/Virginia Street pass under the famous Reno arch (see the southbound section below for more information on the arch and its history). Photo taken 07/21/09.
Leaving downtown Reno, northbound Nevada 430 and Business U.S. 395/Virginia Street meet Interstate 80 at this interchange. This sign has since been replaced: the Interstate 80 now lists Sacramento as a destination city, and the Business U.S. 395 North designation has been replaced with northbound destinations of North Virginia Street, University of Nevada-Reno, and the Planetarium. The University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) is located just beyond this intersection, and the pedestrian bridge in the distance is related to this educational facility. The University of Nevada at Reno is one of two major educational institutions in Nevada, the other being the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Most signs that say "Business U.S. 395" have been removed. Photo taken by Mike Ballard in 8/99.
Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430/Virginia Street south
Southbound Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430 (Virginia Street) signage at Junction Interstate 80 eastbound. This sign has since been replaced: the Interstate 80 sign now lists Sparks and Elko as destination cities, and the Business Loop U.S. 395 shield was removed in favor of South Virginia Street and Downtown Reno. Photo taken by Mike Ballard, 8/99.
Crossing over Interstate 80 just north of downtown Reno, southbound Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430/Virginia Street approaches the left turn onramp to Interstate 80 east to Sparks and points east via Maple Street. Photo taken 07/21/09.
Old wooden guardrail along Virginia Street (Business U.S. 395/Nevada 430) overcrossing at Interstate 80. This guardrail is reminiscent of that found on older bridges in California, where white painted, wooden guardrail was the standard in the first half of the 20th century. Photo taken by Mike Ballard, 8/99.
At the Maple Street traffic signal, turn left for Interstate 80 east or continue straight on Virginia Street south into downtown Reno. Photo taken 07/21/09.
The next intersection along southbound Virginia Street is with Seventh Street. Photo taken 07/21/09.
Reaching Sixth Street, we start to see some of the popular hotel-casinos of downtown Reno. The first major casino is on the right - Circus Circus, with its huge clown marquee. On the left is the Golden West Motor Lodge, with its old neon sign still intact. Photo taken 07/21/09.
Southbound Business U.S. 395/Virginia Street next meets Fifth Street. The Silver Legacy Resort Casino sits at the southwest corner of this intersection and covers the west side of Virginia all the way to Fourth Street (Business I-80 and U.S. 40). This major casino is distinctive for its silver dome visible in the Reno skyline from a distance. The casino first opened in July 1995 and remains one of the main draws for tourists into Reno. Photo taken 07/21/09.
The next block along southbound Business U.S. 395/Virginia Street brings us to the historic intersection of U.S. 395 and U.S. 40/Fourth Street in downtown Reno. Today Fourth Street is designated as Business Loop I-80; the next major casino on the southeastern corner of this intersection is the El Dorado (opened in 1973). Photo taken 07/21/09.
One block further south on Business U.S. 395 (Nevada 430)/Virginia Street is the world-famous Reno arch. This arch, which states "Reno - The Biggest Little City in the World" is the official, modern iteration. An older version sits on nearby Lake Street a few blocks southeast of here. The original arch was first erected in 1926 in honor of the Nevada Transcontinental Highways Exposition of Summer 1927. This exposition celebrated the completion of U.S. 40, the Victory Highway, and U.S. 50, the Lincoln Highway. The arch was reconfigured after the event was over, and in 1935 this arch took its current form. The older arch was moved off Virginia Street in 1963 and found its way to its current location on Lake Street in 1995 near the National Automobile Museum and the Siena Hotel Casino. Another arch was in place between 1963 and 1987; it was moved to Willits and placed along U.S. 101 in Mendocino County. This arch was dedicated in 1987, with a brief history provided in the dedication plaque. For much more on the Reno arches, visit New to Reno: The Reno Arch. Photo taken 07/21/09.
Meeting Second Street, southbound Virginia Street meets Club Cal Neva Hotel and Casino (southeastern corner) in downtown Reno. Upon meeting First Street, Business U.S. 395/Virginia Street crosses over the Truckee River. Photos taken 07/21/09.
An END Business U.S. 395 shield is posted next to a Nevada 430 south reassurance route marker on southbound Virginia Street (at Exit 57A). This END shield is likely temporary, as U.S. 395 will be relocated onto the Interstate 580 freeway once it is completed over Galena Creek by 2011. At that time, it seems that the business route designation would be extended south toward Washoe City to cover the future former alignment of U.S. 395. Photo taken 07/23/09.
Traffic from U.S. 395 south merges onto southbound Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430 from the right. The next left is the onramp to U.S. 395 and Interstate 580 north to Reno and Sparks. Click here to continue south on Temporary U.S. 395. Photo taken 07/23/09.
Scenes Pertaining to Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430/Virginia Street
The 1905 Virginia Street bridge over the Truckee River is a double-concrete arch bridge; this view looks east from the Sierra Street bridge. This bridge carries Business U.S. 395 and Nevada 430 over the river. Plans call for replacement of the Virginia Street bridge (along with the Sierra Street and Lake Street bridges over the Truckee River) in the 2010s as part of the the Truckee River Flood Project due to flooding issues in downtown Reno (a devastating flood struck the area in 1997). For more on the Virginia Street Bridge including history and bridge replacement proposals, see City of Reno webpage and On-Line Nevada. Photo taken 07/21/09.
Looking east from the 1905 Virginia Street bridge over the Truckee River, decorative railing lines this historic double-concrete arch bridge. The second picture looks north toward First Street. Photos taken 07/21/09.
