Phase 2B-2 of the Carson City Freeway project (http://www.nevadadot.com/Projects_and_Programs/Road_Projects/Carson_Freeway/CCFreeway.aspx) was completed earlier this summer. That phase consisted of grading, drainage improvements and construction of the Snyder Avenue overcrossing in the area just east of the south junction of US 395 and US 50.
Here's a view of the project area. The cars at lower right are coming down US 50 from Lake Tahoe and joining US 395 at that signal.
(Edit: Image posted on Photobucket deleted)
Standing in the future median, more or less, and looking east toward the Snyder Avenue bridge.
(Edit: Image posted on Photobucket deleted)
Looking west from near the bridge, you can see the mound which will become the approach to the overcrossing of US 395 and the adjacent off-ramp. That overcrossing will be constructed in Phase 2B-4. At the completion of Phase 2B-3, all traffic will be diverted off the freeway to that off-ramp, and drivers heading up to Lake Tahoe will still have to pass through a signal to get to the Spooner Grade portion of US 50.
(Edit: Image posted on Photobucket deleted)
The facing of the bridge has a Native American motif as a nod to the Stewart Indian Community which is just to the southeast. Apparently "USEWE? WAT'A" is an approximation of "Snyder Avenue" in the Washo language.
(Edit: Image posted on Photobucket deleted)
Nothing has happened for three years or so on the segment more to the northeast, paralleling South Edmonds Drive. The bridges and drainage facilities over there were constructed a few years ago. That section of the freeway, which runs through a semirural residential area, will run below grade. There were some pretty decent mudflows off that nearby hill to the east in a recent severe thunderstorm; I hope their drainage work can handle those events.
(Edit: Image posted on Photobucket deleted)
What year will all of I-580 be completed?
Rick
The remaining construction work is supposed to start roughly spring of 2015 with opening of the freeway expected in early 2017. That doesn't include construction of the SPUI at the south junction of US 50 and US 395, which has been broken off into a separate phase...and once the roadway is open and traffic is bypassing the streets of Carson City, I don't know where the SPUI will rank on the list of funding priorities. So the freeway will just end at a four-way grade level intersection for some indefinite period.
Right now the I-580 signage ends at the junction of US 50 East (so no signage between there and the present south end of the freeway at Fairview Drive). Upon completion of this next segment, the I-580 signage will be extended along the entire route to that junction at the bottom of Spooner Grade. As for the future...Douglas County would love to see US 395 upgraded to full freeway all the way down to Minden, another 15 miles or so. Optimistically, that's probably a project for the 2025-2030 time frame.
Thanks for the reply Gone! It would be sweet to see all of 395/I-580 be freeway/expressway from California to Reno some day.
Rick
Gonealookin, thanks for posting these pics. I haven't been down that way for a while and haven't read any updates on the progress. I am glad they split the final 2B phase into several subphases in order to keep the overall project moving forward...with the way NDOT had been pushing phase 2B back before splitting into subprojects, I'm not sure they would have ever built this. Even with the final bridge connection to US 50 west missing, the essential bypass function will be completed with the next construction phase (2B-3).
Haven't heard much chatter about extending freeway down US 395 south of Carson City. Although at one point, I recall a mention of a potential flyover ramp at Spooner Junction (US 50/395 southern intersection) for traffic staying on US 395 south that would bypass the signal at the SPUI (although this would have been constructed much later after completion of the bypass). This concept would seem to support potential southern freeway expansion, but there would be some obstacles in dealing with access to all the commercial properties that are adjacent to US 395 just to the south of Carson City line. Beyond that, US 395 is divided highway most the way into Minden and could easily support freeway conversion if traffic volumes warranted. Freeway beyond Minden/Gardnerville into California is pretty unlikely though, as it is currently two lane and has some challenging terrain that would make widening difficult.
Public meeting tonight (Sept. 17) on the next phase of this project, which will complete the freeway to the south 50/395 junction but only at a signalized intersection for now.
Here's the Nevada DOT info packet (pdf), with drawings, timelines, etc.:
http://www.nevadadot.com/uploadedFiles/NDOT/Public_Involvement/Meetings/Documents/CCFreewayPhase2B_3_PublicInfoMeeting_9_12_2014.pdf
The apparent winning bid for construction of the remaining 4-mile stretch of freeway to Spooner Junction at the south end of Carson City (Project Phase 2B-3) is $42 million. Construction should start in June with opening of the freeway slated for roughly spring of 2017.
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/15903585-113/carson-city-freeway-bids-back-for-final-phase (http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/15903585-113/carson-city-freeway-bids-back-for-final-phase)
The construction of the interchange at that south junction of US 50 and US 395 "is expected to advertise for construction in the mid to late 2020's", according to Nevada DOT's web page on the project...so talk about being pushed on to the back burner.
Thanks for the update Gone! Bummer on the decade-plus wait to put the final piece in place though.
Rick
At least the full bypass route will be done in a couple years though. The final piece (scheduled for the distant future) is just converting the southern US 50/395 intersection from what will be an intersection in the current project into a SPUI.
Having a temporary intersection at the south end is a small price to pay for having a freeway grade facility that removes about 6-7 signals from the current surface street temporary alignment. This phase will shave even more time off of the Reno—South Lake Tahoe drive through Carson City, which is most important in the grand scheme of through-traffic movement and allows Carson City to start making other improvements to Carson Street in downtown.
It's worth noting that if Carson City hadn't agreed to take over most of the former NDOT state routes in the city and help raise revenue through a city gas tax increase, the little interim projects in Phase 2B (utility/drainage work, the few bridges previously built along the alignment, etc.) probably wouldn't have kept moving forward and we'd probably be even further out from having this project get done.
I'll update this old post to keep my construction photos in one thread. Work is progressing nicely and it looks like an opening in the first part of 2017 is reasonable. Here are a few of my July 2016 pictures:
The first two show the area of the south junction of US 50 and US 395. You can see that there will be a direct ramp from northbound US 395, merging onto the freeway near the Snyder Avenue overpass, so traffic coming from Minden/Carson Valley won't have to go all the way to the signal at the end of the freeway.
(Edit: Image posted on Photobucket deleted)
(Edit: Image posted on Photobucket deleted)
This is at the southeast corner of the project where the freeway makes its 90-degree turn to complete its route around Carson City. The next few photos give you an idea how much dirt had to be moved to put the roadway below grade on the east side of town; that seemed to take forever.
(Edit: Image posted on Photobucket deleted)
(Edit: Image posted on Photobucket deleted)
The major area of work this week appeared to be at the north end, where they are still adding riprap on the section south of Fairview Drive. This shot is fairly distant, from the Koontz Lane overpass, and doesn't depict very well how busy the work around there is.
(Edit: Image posted on Photobucket deleted)
Here's a recent blog entry (not mine) which has more photos:
http://aroundcarson.com/2016/06/09/carson_city_freeway_construction-6/ (http://aroundcarson.com/2016/06/09/carson_city_freeway_construction-6/)
Thanks for posting these pic updates! I haven't had a chance to go down to Carson lately to see the progress.
Quote from: gonealookin on July 08, 2016, 07:11:56 PM
The first two show the area of the south junction of US 50 and US 395. You can see that there will be a direct ramp from northbound US 395, merging onto the freeway near the Snyder Avenue overpass, so traffic coming from Minden/Carson Valley won't have to go all the way to the signal at the end of the freeway.
From previous construction drawings I've seen, this ramp is part of the final configuration for the planned SPUI interchange that will be constructed in future Phase 2B-4. This direct NB US 395 > I-580 North ramp will be separate from the SB Carson St > I-580 North ramp that will be put in with the SPUI.
The first layers of asphalt are going down now, but there are still soundwalls and, especially, the realignment of the south junction of 50 and 395 at the end of the freeway, needing to be completed. The latest article in the Carson City newspaper implies opening of this final 4-mile stretch of I-580 in late spring or early summer of 2017.
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/23671414-113/carson-city-freeway-project-crosses-halfway-point# (http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/23671414-113/carson-city-freeway-project-crosses-halfway-point#)
Question to those in the know: Given the growth of the Gardnerville/Minden area south of Carson City along US 395, are there any NV DOT plans -- even long-range in nature -- for any new-alignment facility (freeway and/or expressway) connecting Carson City and I-580 with the areas to the south (as opposed to incremental "improvements" of the existing facility)? And if so, where would be the connection point to the currently under-construction route? Obviously the deployment of the planned SPUI at the 50/395 junction -- which positions US 50 as the principal through route -- is intended to facilitate a stream of traffic from Lake Tahoe to Carson City and on to Reno (the main "recreational" regional corridor) with southward US 395 points as effectively "secondary" destinations/traffic generators. Essentially what I'm asking is if NV DOT intends the emphasis on the recreational corridor to be a permanent regional priority or if the growth to the south will prompt similar planning efforts to serve that area as well -- or even if they have projected a level of growth that would be sufficient to warrant enhanced facilities.
The most recent major study on improvements to the US 395 corridor from Carson City down to Minden and Gardnerville was done in 2007. Go to this page and download the "2007 US 395 Southern Sierra Corridor Study" which is a 90-page PDF.
https://www.nevadadot.com/Content.aspx?id=1377 (https://www.nevadadot.com/Content.aspx?id=1377)
The most direct answer to sparker's question is on pages 54-59 of the PDF (pages 40-45 of the document). Generally it anticipates a possible need by 2030 for US 395 to be upgraded to full freeway on down to the northern end of Minden, and there would be a direct freeway-to-freeway connection from what's being built now to that new US 395 freeway. This is why I don't think the final phase of the current Carson City Bypass Freeway project, construction of the SPUI at the end of the freeway, will ever be built (its status right now is "indefinitely delayed"). I believe that will remain as an at-grade signalized intersection until such time as the southbound US 395 freeway upgrade is seriously considered for construction, at which time that will be redesigned as an interchange connecting the US 395 through freeway with US 50 leading up to Tahoe and South Carson Street heading back north into Carson City; i.e. I think it will eventually look like "Figure 5.5 U.S. 395 Scenario B".
Note that the alternatives also include an east-side bypass of the Carson Valley, connecting to the now under construction freeway at the southeast corner of Carson City near the State Prison and at its south end to US 395 just south of Gardnerville. There is no anticipation of any improvements to US 395 from Gardnerville to the CA state line except for maybe some added truck lanes. Both the US 395 freeway upgrade and the east-side bypass are also shown in Douglas County's General Plan documents.
That NDOT study is nearly 10 years old and predated the Great Recession, but we're seeing a resumption of growth in the Minden/Gardnerville area so I think the general concept will eventually be implemented with timing depending mostly on funding.
Quote from: gonealookin on August 31, 2016, 12:45:14 PM
Note that the alternatives also include an east-side bypass of the Carson Valley, connecting to the now under construction freeway at the southeast corner of Carson City near the State Prison and at its south end to US 395 just south of Gardnerville. There is no anticipation of any improvements to US 395 from Gardnerville to the CA state line except for maybe some added truck lanes. Both the US 395 freeway upgrade and the east-side bypass are also shown in Douglas County's General Plan documents.
That NDOT study is nearly 10 years old and predated the Great Recession, but we're seeing a resumption of growth in the Minden/Gardnerville area so I think the general concept will eventually be implemented with timing depending mostly on funding.
Thanks for the research and the document cite! It makes sense that facility improvements plans would, for the time being, only extend down to the Gardnerville area; a sizeable portion of US 395 traffic diverges onto NV/CA 88 in order to reach central CA without having to slog through Tahoe and US 50 traffic. It's been my experience that US 395 traffic south of Gardnerville is relatively sparse (although with a seemingly high proportion of trucks).
To update status of this project:
Major realignment work of the intersection of US 50/US 395/South Carson Street at the end of the freeway has been underway for a while and will continue into May.
This article (http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/local/lane-shifts-on-u-s-50-in-south-carson-city-to-happen-friday/) indicates that the freeway will open "in late summer". That matches up with everything I have read on the project recently. Earlier reports had the freeway opening in late spring or early summer, but I guess there have been some delays including those due to the unusually wet winter.
The gantries and overhead BGS at that south end of the freeway went up a couple weeks ago. Some of the signs are visible, some are covered up, depending on whether they relate to the freeway or the current three-way intersection configuration. The exposed signs just have US 50 and US 395 shields and do not have I-580 shields since the I-580 designation currently ends at US 50 East (East William Street) a few miles north; they leave a blank space for those shields to be added when the freeway opens.
Quote from: sparker on August 31, 2016, 01:28:28 PM
It makes sense that facility improvements plans would, for the time being, only extend down to the Gardnerville area; a sizeable portion of US 395 traffic diverges onto NV/CA 88 in order to reach central CA without having to slog through Tahoe and US 50 traffic. It's been my experience that US 395 traffic south of Gardnerville is relatively sparse (although with a seemingly high proportion of trucks).
But gawd, is it slow
through Minden and Gardnerville.
Quote from: pderocco on April 15, 2017, 12:13:21 AM
Quote from: sparker on August 31, 2016, 01:28:28 PM
It makes sense that facility improvements plans would, for the time being, only extend down to the Gardnerville area; a sizeable portion of US 395 traffic diverges onto NV/CA 88 in order to reach central CA without having to slog through Tahoe and US 50 traffic. It's been my experience that US 395 traffic south of Gardnerville is relatively sparse (although with a seemingly high proportion of trucks).
But gawd, is it slow through Minden and Gardnerville.
It's likely that the only solution would be a bypass of not only Minden and Gardnerville but also of Dresslerville, which has grown to be almost as large as the other two towns. Where to site such a facility is the question; it would have to be well east or west of existing US 395 to avoid the various housing tracts that have popped up in the past decade or so due to the area's attractiveness to retirees (relatively cheap housing, reasonably clean air, and a climate that, while a bit chilly in wintertime, still is rather benign). Could be around the west side and paralleling 88 for a while before turning east back to 395 -- but speculation beyond these generalities is a subject for the fictional realm.
A few photos, taken today. I wasn't planning on this, so apologies for the crappy phonecam.
Westbound approaching the 50/395 junction:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fr0Hmrl6.jpg&hash=e7eb46032645bf3d3ae976b722ce32e2473e77f8)
Northbound from the Clearview overpass:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4FOYAPT.jpg&hash=7b60bf046379219cb86e1cbc4387d9287865ba2d)
This is where I really needed a real camera. Off in the distance, that's an actual 580 shield along with 395 and 50.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F49Biqls.jpg&hash=b3ee95b5074afbe50d8812570eeef1f6fcb4c233)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FRyezHOx.jpg&hash=4cd9db2a0918a816fed28a456d95579e3e44b4a7)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F8ObifMe.jpg&hash=1b29fee77148b8097f62874c6c354b4d0bcbb014)
Looking east from the Snyder overpass:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FrfWwaZu.jpg&hash=378859ec5a1617752f4afbbf40dce9dc320c452a)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FCsoszqB.jpg&hash=05464acab74544165e48cd2003f6451f99dbf924)
That left arrow on the 50 West sign in the bottom picture bugs me. There will be a second one added when the intersection is complete because there will be two left turn lanes there (only one for now). However, it will be 90-degree left turn, whereas that arrow seems to imply a gentler turn as you would have if it were an SPUI.
Quote from: gonealookin on April 28, 2017, 03:43:13 PM
That left arrow on the 50 West sign in the bottom picture bugs me. There will be a second one added when the intersection is complete because there will be two left turn lanes there (only one for now). However, it will be 90-degree left turn, whereas that arrow seems to imply a gentler turn as you would have if it were an SPUI.
The gantry looks identical to what was in the preliminary Phase 2B plans that were posted on an older version of the Carson City Freeway website, except for several of the arrows being missing/covered. Recall that the original plan was to build a SPUI at the S. Carson St junction instead of the interim intersection that is being constructed now (with plans to convert to SPUI later on when funds become available much later on). So it's possible that this sign structure and arrows are from the original plans and are being installed permanently. (Note also that the I-580 shield isn't placed on the rightmost sign–those plans also show this sign without the I-580 shield but designed to add one later.)
We have a tentative opening date (range) for the final stretch of I-580. (http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/local/carson-city-bypass-to-open-first-week-in-august/) :clap:
QuoteCrews are putting the final polish on the last stretch of freeway that will complete the Carson Bypass.
Tentative plans are to open for a run-walk and bike tour for area residents July 22. The final stretch won't open to traffic until the first week of August. But once it does, Carson City, after decades of dreaming, will have a freeway bypass all the way from the northern edge of Eagle Valley to Spooner Junction.
NDOT Press Release confirming the July 22 fun run/walk/bike event. (https://www.nevadadot.com/Home/Components/News/News/1036/395)
Quote
The Nevada Department of Transportation is inviting community members to take part in a free fun walk, run and ride celebrating the upcoming opening of the last leg of the Interstate 580 Carson City Freeway.
The new section of freeway is scheduled to open in August. Before it opens to vehicle traffic, community members are invited to walk, bicycle or run the new roadway Saturday, July 22 between 9 a.m. and noon. A brief welcome ceremony featuring NDOT, federal and local representatives will take place at 9 a.m., but participants can arrive any time between 9 and 11:30 a.m. for a self-paced walk, bike or run of the new freeway. ...
Looks like I'll miss the walk/bike event by a week since I'll be in the area on the 29th. That would have been cool to run (legally) a brand new freeway.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 09, 2017, 01:03:17 PM
Looks like I'll miss the walk/bike event by a week since I'll be in the area on the 29th. That would have been cool to run (legally) a brand new freeway.
And flaroads is going to miss it by a week as well. He inquired about it and the event includes the entire length of the new section, meaning you could "clinch" it all on foot or bike.
Been working on some needed Nevada page updates on the site, and read that NDOT plans to open the last section of I-580 to traffic during the first week of August.
Quote from: Alex on July 15, 2017, 02:47:02 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 09, 2017, 01:03:17 PM
Looks like I'll miss the walk/bike event by a week since I'll be in the area on the 29th. That would have been cool to run (legally) a brand new freeway.
And flaroads is going to miss it by a week as well. He inquired about it and the event includes the entire length of the new section, meaning you could "clinch" it all on foot or bike.
Been working on some needed Nevada page updates on the site, and read that NDOT plans to open the last section of I-580 to traffic during the first week of August.
Did they have a specific date for August yet? Kinda sucks to miss not only the run/walk/bike but also the grand opening to vehicle traffic.
Surprisingly I haven't hit Nevada this year at all, this will be the first foray coming up...albeit in a small portion. I'll be clinching NV 207 this trip and like photo clinching the "Loneliest" section of US 50 in October.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2017, 03:11:15 PM
Quote from: Alex on July 15, 2017, 02:47:02 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 09, 2017, 01:03:17 PM
Looks like I'll miss the walk/bike event by a week since I'll be in the area on the 29th. That would have been cool to run (legally) a brand new freeway.
And flaroads is going to miss it by a week as well. He inquired about it and the event includes the entire length of the new section, meaning you could "clinch" it all on foot or bike.
Been working on some needed Nevada page updates on the site, and read that NDOT plans to open the last section of I-580 to traffic during the first week of August.
Did they have a specific date for August yet? Kinda sucks to miss not only the run/walk/bike but also the grand opening to vehicle traffic.
Surprisingly I haven't hit Nevada this year at all, this will be the first foray coming up...albeit in a small portion. I'll be clinching NV 207 this trip and like photo clinching the "Loneliest" section of US 50 in October.
There's no specific date set yet. It would be announced on the NDOT Press Releases page (https://www.nevadadot.com/doing-business/news/news-releases). I don't imagine they'll be certain until several days before they're ready to go. I'll be taking my bike down next Saturday for the ride.
Planning a hotel stay and being there for the 22nd.
For the last Carson City Freeway section opening (US 50 to Fairview), I hadn't seen a freeway opening date before going to the community fun run event. At the event, they threw up the opening date on the DMSs...
Maybe they'll do that again this time? I'm planning to go to the event as well.
Unfortunately, my construction photos from 2014 and 2016 from the first page of the thread have been lost forever, but here are some shots from today's NDOT walk/run/bike event.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FiGs1mQy.jpg&hash=64282eca35fde06ee30748db9e874153114b56fd)
That whole "drive onto the freeway and park in the left lane" thing looked like a pain in the rear. I parked a bit off the freeway and rode my bike from there and was glad I did. Note that the VMS is blank, so roadfro's idea of revealing the opening date that way didn't happen.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6gU4IBF.jpg&hash=c3259834529e360ffab2a4f9fbe939b014d19c42)
Those views of Jobs Peak and Freel Peak from the sweeping curve at the southeast corner of Carson City are the scenic highlight of this stretch. That looks very nice right after a snowstorm. There is still a little bit of smoky haze from the Mariposa CA fire but nowhere near what we had earlier in the week.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0iPI8RV.jpg&hash=72e349c0551ad203227b0f7820a5ceebad7e6655)
It's not very scenic through the sunken stretch along the east side of town; feels like driving down a bowling alley.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbK3O6eG.jpg&hash=02767bf52fe12da75d56599ecb7a742e878694e3)
Mileposts reference I-580 starting from the south junction of I-580/US 50/US 395
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FU4f8Vpi.jpg&hash=3977fbf98588955e93efebc5739a952454cd9182)
...however the exit numbers reference US 395, starting from the south entrance from California at Topaz Lake.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F8Vx6VsC.jpg&hash=5a32469e0638a484df12e32754bda567b8874bf2)
This is the only Clearview you will see.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F3DYbnng.jpg&hash=4f4a17ed217d861ed481c0227b22fbbe033320a7)
Artwork representing a Basque sheepherder. The posts are supposed to be tree trunks and they don't quite work for me.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F7dTN2y6.jpg&hash=e8bcd0b8df733aa5a1dd18b24797d96bcaea41c8)
I'm not sure where they intend on installing this eagle sculpture but it's pretty nice.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F25oBC7y.jpg&hash=9c45ccd930a806ca3f9feb546081cb5cc710f8cb)
That "Freeway Ends" sign will be there for quite some number of years.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FpRuyU4c.jpg&hash=e3734fa8011b478a89b5aa61cc12259eb1344db7)
The last few hundred yards of the southbound lanes are concrete, because of all the trucks that will be coming to a stop for the light there.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fp3LClmH.jpg&hash=e8212e6b2c15f09fd1142a487e51456dc432bc86)
Reward yourself with some free NDOT swag!
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FNw9sFJn.jpg&hash=fb5246b221cc119e0cdb9f01465f3be3b9a60236)
Quote from: gonealookin on July 22, 2017, 04:29:52 PM
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FiGs1mQy.jpg&hash=64282eca35fde06ee30748db9e874153114b56fd)
The Californian in me just can't get used to seeing 580 signed as a North-South freeway... LOL :-D
Also, Series B on the I-580 route shield?!? IIRC, the shields on the already-opened sections of 580 all use the more standard Series D numerals.
Was there this morning, took a road video, drove down to make it home to work on time at 2 PM.
Quote from: gonealookin on July 22, 2017, 04:29:52 PM
I'm not sure where they intend on installing this eagle sculpture but it's pretty nice.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F25oBC7y.jpg&hash=9c45ccd930a806ca3f9feb546081cb5cc710f8cb)
Found this out while doing research to update the I-580 page on Interstate-Guide (http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-580_nv.html) last week.
I haven't updated the photos yet, but the write-up is done.Carson City Bypass to open first week in August (http://www.nnbw.com/news/carson-city-bypass-to-open-first-week-in-august/#)
QuoteThe prize decoration he said, will be the metal sculpture of an eagle with wings held high – some six feet tall and weighing more than 800 pounds – that will soon take its tree-shaped, concrete roost at the south end of the freeway. The eagle brings to the new terminus of the freeway the same metal eagle symbol that has adorned the north end of the bypass at Arrowhead Drive for a decade now.
Quote from: myosh_tino on July 22, 2017, 05:47:07 PM
Quote from: gonealookin on July 22, 2017, 04:29:52 PM
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FiGs1mQy.jpg&hash=64282eca35fde06ee30748db9e874153114b56fd)
The Californian in me just can't get used to seeing 580 signed as a North-South freeway... LOL :-D
Also, Series B on the I-580 route shield?!? IIRC, the shields on the already-opened sections of 580 all use the more standard Series D numerals.
Try 101 as an E/W route on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula!
Rick
That really looked like a fun event, sucks that I missed out. I'll try to grab some stuff while I'm in Carson City next Saturday but it obviously isn't going to top being able to walk/bike/run the freeway.
I was there today as well. Walked 6 miles taking it all in and getting some pics.
I'll comment more later.
Quote from: nexus73 on July 22, 2017, 08:59:22 PM
Try 101 as an E/W route on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula!
Rick
Yep, that would be just as odd. :-D
Some great pics ... thanks for sharing and for the road opening update!
Quote from: gonealookin on July 22, 2017, 04:29:52 PM
Artwork representing a Basque sheepherder. The posts are supposed to be tree trunks and they don't quite work for me.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F7dTN2y6.jpg&hash=e8bcd0b8df733aa5a1dd18b24797d96bcaea41c8)
They should have at least painted the columns brown -- or simply pre-colored the concrete mix to achieve the same result.
Depends on the type of tree. (https://www.google.com/search?q=birch+tree&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwqK62saLVAhUJjz4KHeYIBLwQ_AUICigB&biw=1150&bih=771)
Right, they are supposed to be birch trees. But, at best, they are decapitated birch trees. I didn't think they looked very good from a short distance at bicycle speed, and at 65 mph I think it will be a case of "what are those poles doing there?".
Quote from: gonealookin on July 24, 2017, 01:44:57 PM
Right, they are supposed to be birch trees. But, at best, they are decapitated birch trees. I didn't think they looked very good from a short distance at bicycle speed, and at 65 mph I think it will be a case of "what are those poles doing there?".
Right -- it's an abstraction that doesn't really work! Wonder how long after the freeway's opening that comments about the "weird poles" will start coming in to local papers or even NVDOT!
I don't see a press release yet, but it looks like we now have an opening date (http://www.carsonnow.org/story/07/31/2017/ndot-open-last-leg-carson-city-freeway-wednesday).
QuoteThe Nevada Department of Transportation is scheduled to open the last leg of the Interstate 580 Carson City Freeway to traffic beginning Wednesday, August 2.
Beginning as early as 10 a.m. August 2, access from the southern end of the freeway will be open and drivers will be able to travel the southern three miles of freeway which has been under construction since June 2015. As part of a phased opening, the new freeway ramps between Fairview Drive at the northern end of the new Carson City Freeway will open later that afternoon or on August 3.
Opening this morning:
https://twitter.com/nevadadot/status/892753356120219648
Another preview of the new section:
https://twitter.com/nevadadot/status/892762201504718848
I find it interesting that the final phase of the project, constructing the interchange at 50/395 south of Carson City, probably won't be built for another decade. Granted the current setup, using a signal to control the intersection, should be more than sufficient for quite some time.
The Reno Gazette-Journal has posted dashcam video of the new segment, but northbound only (thus missing the Sierra views):
http://www.rgj.com/videos/news/2017/08/04/its-finally-done-take-drive-completed-carson-city-freeway/104298882/
Quote from: myosh_tinoI find it interesting that the final phase of the project, constructing the interchange at 50/395 south of Carson City, probably won't be built for another decade. Granted the current setup, using a signal to control the intersection, should be more than sufficient for quite some time.
I wonder what kind of interchange will be built or is being planned. I don't know if there is quite enough room at the US-50/US-395/I-580 intersection to build a fully directional freeway to freeway interchange. But could make a good case for short freeway upgrades along both US-50 and US-395.
A US-50 improvement would only need to go a mile beyond the current end of I-580, just to get freeway traffic to clear that big intersection efficiently. It's not practical to upgrade US-50 all the way to Lake Tahoe due to all the existing scenic overlooks. But certain intersections, like US-50 and NV-28 could probably be turned into freeway style interchanges.
One could make a good case for extending I-580 a few miles farther South along US-395. There is a good amount of commercial and residential development growth there. US-395 has enough ROW to be upgraded into a freeway (exept for a couple of tight spots, such as a trailer park just South of Plymouth Drive). Ultimately I could see a freeway bypass for Minden and Gardnerville.
US-395 is mostly a 2 lane road from Gardnerville down to the California border. Even if I-580 is carrying exit numbers that coincide with the distance to Topaz Lake I just don't see I-580 getting extended that far. And then there's the more long term issue of any possible extension of I-11 North from Las Vegas. There is no "elegant" or easy way to get I-11 into the Reno & Carson City area thanks to 2 large mountain ranges between the US-95 and US-395 corridors.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on August 06, 2017, 12:30:29 PM
A US-50 improvement would only need to go a mile beyond the current end of I-580, just to get freeway traffic to clear that big intersection efficiently. It's not practical to upgrade US-50 all the way to Lake Tahoe due to all the existing scenic overlooks. But certain intersections, like US-50 and NV-28 could probably be turned into freeway style interchanges.
US 50 is already almost freeway, most with a continuous concrete divider, west to Spooner Summit, which is most of the way to NV 28. There's a kind of interchange at Golf Course Rd. (really two RIROs connected by an underpass), and an at-grade intersection with only the westbound lanes of US 50 before the summit.
As someone caught in last Friday afternoon's getaway traffic from I-580 south to US 395, with lots of traffic coming south from downtown Carson City on Business US 395 as well, I would welcome some kind of interchange sooner rather than later. At least US 50 traffic wouldn't have to wait for a stoplight, and get in the way of SB 395 and Business 395 traffic.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on August 06, 2017, 12:30:29 PM
Quote from: myosh_tinoI find it interesting that the final phase of the project, constructing the interchange at 50/395 south of Carson City, probably won't be built for another decade. Granted the current setup, using a signal to control the intersection, should be more than sufficient for quite some time.
I wonder what kind of interchange will be built or is being planned. I don't know if there is quite enough room at the US-50/US-395/I-580 intersection to build a fully directional freeway to freeway interchange. But could make a good case for short freeway upgrades along both US-50 and US-395.
The future 580/395/50 interchange is supposed to be a SPUI with US 395 traffic having to negotiate the signal lights.
Quote from: myosh_tino on August 06, 2017, 02:03:48 PM
Quote from: Bobby5280 on August 06, 2017, 12:30:29 PM
Quote from: myosh_tinoI find it interesting that the final phase of the project, constructing the interchange at 50/395 south of Carson City, probably won't be built for another decade. Granted the current setup, using a signal to control the intersection, should be more than sufficient for quite some time.
I wonder what kind of interchange will be built or is being planned. I don't know if there is quite enough room at the US-50/US-395/I-580 intersection to build a fully directional freeway to freeway interchange. But could make a good case for short freeway upgrades along both US-50 and US-395.
The future 580/395/50 interchange is supposed to be a SPUI with US 395 traffic having to negotiate the signal lights.
The SPUI is the formal plan, but Minden and Gardnerville have room to grow and there are some plans for growth to happen down there. I think the SPUI will be an obsolete idea in 10 years, and we'll have at minimum a flyover ramp from southbound 580 to southbound 395; there's definitely space available to do that.
Quote from: gonealookin on August 06, 2017, 02:49:18 PM
Quote from: myosh_tino on August 06, 2017, 02:03:48 PM
Quote from: Bobby5280 on August 06, 2017, 12:30:29 PM
Quote from: myosh_tinoI find it interesting that the final phase of the project, constructing the interchange at 50/395 south of Carson City, probably won't be built for another decade. Granted the current setup, using a signal to control the intersection, should be more than sufficient for quite some time.
I wonder what kind of interchange will be built or is being planned. I don't know if there is quite enough room at the US-50/US-395/I-580 intersection to build a fully directional freeway to freeway interchange. But could make a good case for short freeway upgrades along both US-50 and US-395.
The future 580/395/50 interchange is supposed to be a SPUI with US 395 traffic having to negotiate the signal lights.
The SPUI is the formal plan, but Minden and Gardnerville have room to grow and there are some plans for growth to happen down there. I think the SPUI will be an obsolete idea in 10 years, and we'll have at minimum a flyover ramp from southbound 580 to southbound 395; there's definitely space available to do that.
I recall there being some formal talk of adding a southbound flyover later on, but I don't know if that's still in the long-range plan or not. NDOT has other priorities in the north to address before working on that (namely a revamp of the Reno Spaghetti Bowl and addressing traffic/capacity concerns on US 395 north of Reno).
Quote from: roadfro on August 06, 2017, 03:46:20 PM
NDOT has other priorities in the north to address before working on that (namely a revamp of the Reno Spaghetti Bowl and addressing traffic/capacity concerns on US 395 north of Reno).
Glad to hear that NDOT is finally realizing the inadequacies of the Spaghetti Bowl (ironically the same term applied to the central freeway interchange in Vegas!); a stack would be nice, but if land acquisition's an issue, a turbo would be fine. Was up there around Easter, and the traffic on EB 80 definitely ground down to a crawl while some hesitant folks negotiated that interchange! Came back from Reno via 395 and CA 70, and
did notice a significant traffic increase in the north part of town compared to a few years previously -- so NDOT seems spot on regarding their project choices (Caltrans, take notes!).
Quote from: sparker on August 06, 2017, 11:45:11 PM
Quote from: roadfro on August 06, 2017, 03:46:20 PM
NDOT has other priorities in the north to address before working on that (namely a revamp of the Reno Spaghetti Bowl and addressing traffic/capacity concerns on US 395 north of Reno).
Glad to hear that NDOT is finally realizing the inadequacies of the Spaghetti Bowl (ironically the same term applied to the central freeway interchange in Vegas!); a stack would be nice, but if land acquisition's an issue, a turbo would be fine. Was up there around Easter, and the traffic on EB 80 definitely ground down to a crawl while some hesitant folks negotiated that interchange! Came back from Reno via 395 and CA 70, and did notice a significant traffic increase in the north part of town compared to a few years previously -- so NDOT seems spot on regarding their project choices (Caltrans, take notes!).
It's interesting that NDOT is still dumping money into that interchange. I get that I-80 is an important national route, but at the end of the day, we are talking about a metropolitan area of less than 500,000 people.
I took a drive to Carson City yesterday to see the new freeway. I really liked it. Very easy to get on the freeway from northbound US 395. Got off the freeway at US 50 so I could get downtown and see the road diet on Carson ST. The road diet looks better then I thought but I still question the decision to make it single lane in each direction. I wonder if city officials will regret that decision in the future.
Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on August 07, 2017, 07:03:57 PM
Quote from: roadfro on August 06, 2017, 03:46:20 PM
NDOT has other priorities in the north to address before working on that (namely a revamp of the Reno Spaghetti Bowl and addressing traffic/capacity concerns on US 395 north of Reno).
It's interesting that NDOT is still dumping money into that interchange. I get that I-80 is an important national route, but at the end of the day, we are talking about a metropolitan area of less than 500,000 people.
Well, it
is the connecting point for the major E-W and N-S corridors in the region -- and if it's getting congested during off-peak hours, that points to a design that is inadequate for the traffic flow. Since N. Nevada is a relatively fast-growing area (within Reno metro as well as the various exurbs to the east and south), attending to chokepoints before they become more of a problem than they currently are seems to be an appropriate use of available funds; the "band-aid" approach applied to the interchange in the past clearly hasn't cleaned up the issues. If the funds are indeed available, better to utilize them in short order rather than wait until inflation eats away at their purchasing power -- particularly with a project that requires multiple structures.
Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on August 07, 2017, 07:03:57 PM
Quote from: roadfro on August 06, 2017, 03:46:20 PM
NDOT has other priorities in the north to address before working on that (namely a revamp of the Reno Spaghetti Bowl and addressing traffic/capacity concerns on US 395 north of Reno).
It's interesting that NDOT is still dumping money into that interchange. I get that I-80 is an important national route, but at the end of the day, we are talking about a metropolitan area of less than 500,000 people.
With that mentality, why did NDOT bother dumping money into a freeway around Carson City when it only serves a metro population of less than 60,000?
Quote from: sparker on August 08, 2017, 12:42:38 AM
Well, it is the connecting point for the major E-W and N-S corridors in the region -- and if it's getting congested during off-peak hours, that points to a design that is inadequate for the traffic flow. Since N. Nevada is a relatively fast-growing area (within Reno metro as well as the various exurbs to the east and south), attending to chokepoints before they become more of a problem than they currently are seems to be an appropriate use of available funds; the "band-aid" approach applied to the interchange in the past clearly hasn't cleaned up the issues. If the funds are indeed available, better to utilize them in short order rather than wait until inflation eats away at their purchasing power -- particularly with a project that requires multiple structures.
The "still dumping money into that interchange" comment is questionable... That interchange was originally built circa 1970, and is substantially the same now as when it was originally built. The only real improvements have been braiding the westbound I-80 ramps between 4th St and US 395 in the mid 2000s (previously a VERY short merge) and splitting the northbound US 395 ramp to I-80 into two during the northbound 395 widening project circa 2010.
Sparker is correct in that the Reno area population is expanding, particularly in the north valleys (up US 395 towards Stead and Cold Springs, as well as out the Pyramid Highway corridor) and most of that traffic funnels through the Spaghetti Bowl. The interchange has design flaws that don't allow address current traffic demands. Southbound backups during morning commute as lanes drop through and downstream of the bowl, and northbound backups happen through the bowl due to weaving. I-80 eastbound has backups in both morning and evening rush hours (as well as other off-peak times). It needs a revamp now–NDOT is just beginning the scoping phase and aren't even projecting to finish environmental review until 2020...
Quote from: roadfro on August 08, 2017, 02:37:11 AM
Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on August 07, 2017, 07:03:57 PM
Quote from: roadfro on August 06, 2017, 03:46:20 PM
NDOT has other priorities in the north to address before working on that (namely a revamp of the Reno Spaghetti Bowl and addressing traffic/capacity concerns on US 395 north of Reno).
It's interesting that NDOT is still dumping money into that interchange. I get that I-80 is an important national route, but at the end of the day, we are talking about a metropolitan area of less than 500,000 people.
With that mentality, why did NDOT bother dumping money into a freeway around Carson City when it only serves a metro population of less than 60,000?
Quote from: sparker on August 08, 2017, 12:42:38 AM
Well, it is the connecting point for the major E-W and N-S corridors in the region -- and if it's getting congested during off-peak hours, that points to a design that is inadequate for the traffic flow. Since N. Nevada is a relatively fast-growing area (within Reno metro as well as the various exurbs to the east and south), attending to chokepoints before they become more of a problem than they currently are seems to be an appropriate use of available funds; the "band-aid" approach applied to the interchange in the past clearly hasn't cleaned up the issues. If the funds are indeed available, better to utilize them in short order rather than wait until inflation eats away at their purchasing power -- particularly with a project that requires multiple structures.
The "still dumping money into that interchange" comment is questionable... That interchange was originally built circa 1970, and is substantially the same now as when it was originally built. The only real improvements have been braiding the westbound I-80 ramps between 4th St and US 395 in the mid 2000s (previously a VERY short merge) and splitting the northbound US 395 ramp to I-80 into two during the northbound 395 widening project circa 2010.
Sparker is correct in that the Reno area population is expanding, particularly in the north valleys (up US 395 towards Stead and Cold Springs, as well as out the Pyramid Highway corridor) and most of that traffic funnels through the Spaghetti Bowl. The interchange has design flaws that don't allow address current traffic demands. Southbound backups during morning commute as lanes drop through and downstream of the bowl, and northbound backups happen through the bowl due to weaving. I-80 eastbound has backups in both morning and evening rush hours (as well as other off-peak times). It needs a revamp now–NDOT is just beginning the scoping phase and aren't even projecting to finish environmental review until 2020...
It seems to me that they've been re-aligning that interchange since the 1980s. Fairly sure that I-580 south of there was, at one point in the 2000s, the widest freeway in Nevada. I mean, at a certain point, develop a plan and implement it, sure. But I could easily see another 80/395 project spiraling into a multi-billion-dollar Project Neon-type behemoth... for a city of a half-million people.
As for the comparison to the Carson City Freeway, I think that's apples and oranges. Clearly, there's a need for the West to catch up on mobility in its formerly-rural corridors, and 395 is high on that list. I guess I'm just saying that as far as Nevada's spending needs goes, a $1 billion or $2 billion could be better spent improving rural safety, extending 580 to Gardnerville, improving access to Spanish Springs Valley, or even building 100 miles of high speed rail between Reno and Las Vegas than reducing congestion at the 80/395 interchange.
Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on August 08, 2017, 12:08:20 PM
..................or even building 100 miles of high speed rail between Reno and Las Vegas than reducing congestion at the 80/395 interchange.
If anyone thinks the
California HSR proposal is pie-in-the-sky optimism manifested, a Vegas-to-Reno equivalent would be
pie-in-outer-space! And it certainly would be well over 100 miles of track;
that wouldn't even get you out to Beatty! And there don't seem to be any planning efforts -- or calls for such -- to extend I-580 beyond its present southern terminus. The Reno interchange is an existing facility that is functioning in a substandard fashion; it's entirely appropriate for NVDOT and the local MPO to want to address that situation before committing funds for speculative ventures.
Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on August 08, 2017, 12:08:20 PM
It seems to me that they've been re-aligning that interchange since the 1980s. Fairly sure that I-580 south of there was, at one point in the 2000s, the widest freeway in Nevada. I mean, at a certain point, develop a plan and implement it, sure. But I could easily see another 80/395 project spiraling into a multi-billion-dollar Project Neon-type behemoth... for a city of a half-million people.
As for the comparison to the Carson City Freeway, I think that's apples and oranges. Clearly, there's a need for the West to catch up on mobility in its formerly-rural corridors, and 395 is high on that list. I guess I'm just saying that as far as Nevada's spending needs goes, a $1 billion or $2 billion could be better spent improving rural safety, extending 580 to Gardnerville, improving access to Spanish Springs Valley, or even building 100 miles of high speed rail between Reno and Las Vegas than reducing congestion at the 80/395 interchange.
Nope. NDOT hasn't really touched the Reno Spaghetti Bowl much at all–nothing realigned or worked on other than what I mentioned previously. And I-580 has never been the widest freeway in Nevada–that title belonged to US 95 west of Vegas' Spaghetti Bowl as of 2005-ish, and currently is I-15 near the 215 interchange (with the C/D roads).
There is definitely a need to increase mobility in the greater Reno-Sparks/Northwestern Nevada region (FYI: Washoe RTC has been planning for a Pyramid-395 connector, a freeway to improve access to Spanish Springs, for a while now). To me, when you look at putting transportation dollars towards improving mobility, updating the Reno Spaghetti Bowl makes far more sense than extending 580 to Minden-Gardnerville. And to upgrade the Reno Spaghetti Bowl will not be a billion-dollar undertaking of Project Neon proportions–depending on what the design is, we're probably talking a couple hundred million.
We're getting some complaints regarding near-crashes on the northbound 395 approach to the freeway because a right-turn-only lane at the previous intersection (Clear Creek Road) appears to lead directly to the freeway on-ramp lane. Watch the driver who recorded this video cross into the lane too early and illegally proceed straight through the intersection:
https://twitter.com/RecordCourierNV/status/893647239972765697
That's an expensive fix if they have to move that right turn lane a few feet to the right, because of the positioning of the traffic signal on that corner.
Quote from: gonealookin on August 10, 2017, 02:58:15 PM
We're getting some complaints regarding near-crashes on the northbound 395 approach to the freeway because a right-turn-only lane at the previous intersection (Clear Creek Road) appears to lead directly to the freeway on-ramp lane. Watch the driver who recorded this video cross into the lane too early and illegally proceed straight through the intersection:
https://twitter.com/RecordCourierNV/status/893647239972765697
That's an expensive fix if they have to move that right turn lane a few feet to the right, because of the positioning of the traffic signal on that corner.
They'll probably need to install an overhead sign assembly indicating (1) the fact that the right-turn lane does NOT take one to NB US 395/I-580 (2) the lanes that DO work for US 395 continuation, and (3) the correct lane(s) for any other movements at either of the intersections. I can see problems with the present arrangement possibly resulting in attempts to advance the schedule of the 50/395/580 interchange on this site to sooner rather than later.
I drove northbound 395 yesterday and I completely understand why drivers get into that right turn lane and go straight through the intersection. It's because the overhead BGS positioned just past the intersection is screaming at you to "Get in the right lane now if you want to get on the freeway!!" When I was stopped at the light, four cars lined up in that right-turn-only lane; #1 and #3 made the right turn, while #2 and #4 illegally went straight through.
Here's the intersection from above:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1156268,-119.772655,445m/data=!3m1!1e3 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1156268,-119.772655,445m/data=!3m1!1e3)
Obviously not quite up to date but it's enough to illustrate the point.
My idea is to put in a right turn lane to the frontage road as close to the self-storage place as they can, i.e. move it back away from the signalized intersection. Then rip out the right turn lane at the signal and post "No Right Turns" there. That way, the extra lane onto the freeway does not appear until after the intersection. The way it is now, they are begging for rear-end collisions in that right-turn lane.
The easiest, cheapest, and best solution is to make that right turn lane at Clear Creek an option lane. $3 worth of paint and the collision issue goes away.
Quote from: Occidental Tourist on August 12, 2017, 11:59:33 AM
The easiest, cheapest, and best solution is to make that right turn lane at Clear Creek an option lane. $3 worth of paint and the collision issue goes away.
I'm not keen on an option lane on a 50-mph roadway with most traffic focused on getting on the freeway just ahead. I think a dedicated right-turn lane is needed there. Your $3 paint job doesn't make the collision issue go away; what it does is make the action that causes collisions legal.
I think that's intentional in order to speed up getting the money to put in an interchange there.
Quote from: gonealookin on August 12, 2017, 07:50:02 PM
Quote from: Occidental Tourist on August 12, 2017, 11:59:33 AM
The easiest, cheapest, and best solution is to make that right turn lane at Clear Creek an option lane. $3 worth of paint and the collision issue goes away.
I'm not keen on an option lane on a 50-mph roadway with most traffic focused on getting on the freeway just ahead. I think a dedicated right-turn lane is needed there. Your $3 paint job doesn't make the collision issue go away; what it does is make the action that causes collisions legal.
Problems
will occur -- if the option lane were implemented -- if there's a relatively heavy flow of 50 mph traffic and one car in the line slows down to make the turn onto Clear Creek -- that situation would be a rear-ender waiting to happen (and it probably would affect the adjoining lane at that speed). I still think proper signage and lane delineation would be the way to go!
Still not on Google Maps. :(
Google Maps imagery has been updated in this area and shows the freeway built. Exciting! I can't wait to drive on it soon!
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on October 31, 2017, 07:11:43 AM
Google Maps imagery has been updated in this area and shows the freeway built. Exciting! I can't wait to drive on it soon!
Interesting to see Photo Spheres are being used for surface images until the GSV rolls through.
The aforementioned eagle sculpture has finally been installed (https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/local/the-eagle-has-landed-at-southern-end-of-carson-city-freeway/) so I look forward to seeing it next time I'm down on that side of the hill.