Seven Planned Reno - Sparks Road Projects

[andy3175]

http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/04/02/road-projects-coming-sparks/70798974/

The Regional Transportation Commission and Nevada Department of Transportation are working on some big projects to improve traffic, public transit and road appearance throughout Sparks and beyond.

1. THE CONGESTED PYRAMID-MCCARRAN INTERSECTION WILL EXPAND

Scheduled for completion in 2017, this frequently-congested intersection will soon undergo construction to widen Pyramid Way by one lane in each direction and add turning lanes to both McCarran Boulevard and Pyramid Way. The project will also provide sound walls and privacy screens for remaining residents, as well as improved bike and pedestrian walkways.

2. PYRAMID WAY AND U.S. 395 WILL EVENTUALLY CONNECT

Though years away, the RTC is in the early planning stages of creating a connection between Pyramid Way and U.S. 395 close to Spanish Springs. This project would also involve widening Pyramid Way up through Spanish Springs to ease traffic. See http://pyramidus395connection.com/.

3. THE USA PARKWAY WILL CONNECT I-80 TO U.S. 50

This construction project is admittedly not in Sparks, but NDOT is planning to improve the USA Parkway, which is about 10 miles east of the Reno-Sparks area, by providing a valuable connection between I-80 and U.S. 50. The roadway will be 18 miles long, and will help with accessibility between Lyon and Storey Counties. Construction completion is projected for December 2017. See http://www.nevadadot.com/Projects_and_Programs/Road_Projects/USA_Parkway_-_I-80_to_U_S__50.aspx [and also the thread on Nevada 439]

4. THE SOUTHEAST CONNECTOR WILL PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE BETWEEN RENO AND SPARKS

This stretch of roadway will be an alternative route to the U.S. 395 by connecting Sparks and Reno along the east side of the valley. Phase 1 of the project, a roadway and bridge from Greg Street to Clean Water Way, has been completed. Construction on Phase 2 will begin once the RTC receives a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit. Once construction begins, the RTC will create a roadway from Clean Water Way to South Meadows Parkway. See http://www.southeastconnector.com/.

5. 4TH STREET AND PRATER WAY WILL UNDERGO TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS

The RTC has been awarded $16 million in federal grants to develop a rapid bus transit service connecting Reno and Sparks, according to http://www.4thprater.com. "The project involves new bus stations, possible public art along the street, enhanced transit service with four new electric buses, wider sidewalks, improved streetscaping, safer crossings and new bike lanes," said Joe Harrington, public information officer for the RTC.

6. SPARKS BOULEVARD MAY SEE SOME LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS

The RTC recently completed a study of Sparks Boulevard, which focuses on planning future accommodation for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit and traffic. It also considers whether future widening of Sparks Boulevard would be needed. If the RTC moves forward with the project, then "it would be very unlikely that homes would need to be acquired or demolished, as the right-of-way would likely provide plenty of space," according to Harrington.

7. PRATER WAY WILL SEE SOME NEW AMENITIES

RTC is working on some minor street enhancements along the north side of Prater Way between 22nd and 20th Streets. Improvements include bringing the overheard utilities underground and then constructing sidewalk, landscape planters, trees and lights along the back of the sidewalk. These enhancements are part of a project that will mirror what was done along the south side of Prater Way.

[andy3175]

1. THE CONGESTED PYRAMID-MCCARRAN INTERSECTION WILL EXPAND

Scheduled for completion in 2017, this frequently-congested intersection will soon undergo construction to widen Pyramid Way by one lane in each direction and add turning lanes to both McCarran Boulevard and Pyramid Way. The project will also provide sound walls and privacy screens for remaining residents, as well as improved bike and pedestrian walkways.

I located a project webpage for the intersection of McCarran (Nevada 659) and Pyramid Way (Nevada 445) at http://www.pyramidmccarran.com/.

A separate article contains more information about this project: http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/03/31/congested-sparks-intersection-begin-construction-soon/70745854/

The Pyramid-McCarran intersection project began in 2005 and now, 10 years later, the end is finally in sight.

Following the demolition of now-vacant homes, businesses and a church along the two major arteries, Washoe County's Regional Transportation Commission will begin construction by the end of 2015 or early 2016. The expansion will include adding one new lane in each direction on Pyramid Way and dedicated turning lanes on both McCarran Boulevard and Pyramid Way.

The intersection has long been a point of frustration for Sparks residents. Congestion in the intersection can be immense, with around 60,000 cars traveling through it every day. Many of the cars are driven by Spanish Springs residents who want to turn onto McCarran Boulevard to make their way over to U.S. 395 or downtown Reno. As a result, Pyramid Way is frequently backed up with traffic.

To complete the expansion, the RTC has had to purchase a total of 69 homes and non-residential properties along Pyramid Way and McCarran Boulevard with two parcels remaining to be acquired.

Residents of the homes have so far received the high end of a fair market price for their homes, which, for some residents, has helped those who were underwater on their home payments.

[andy3175]

2. PYRAMID WAY AND U.S. 395 WILL EVENTUALLY CONNECT

Though years away, the RTC is in the early planning stages of creating a connection between Pyramid Way and U.S. 395 close to Spanish Springs. This project would also involve widening Pyramid Way up through Spanish Springs to ease traffic. See http://pyramidus395connection.com/.

The maps linked at http://pyramidus395connection.com/pdfs/Preferred%20Alternative.pdf and http://pyramidus395connection.com/pdfs/Study_Alternatives_Overview_5-12.pdf show the proposed alignment and studied alternatives for connecting US 395 and Nevada 445/Pyramid Highway north of Reno. The connector route -- along with a portion of existing Nevada 445/Pyramid Highway -- is shown as a freeway in the map. The Record of Decision is expected spring 2015. 

[andy3175]

4. THE SOUTHEAST CONNECTOR WILL PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE BETWEEN RENO AND SPARKS

This stretch of roadway will be an alternative route to the U.S. 395 by connecting Sparks and Reno along the east side of the valley. Phase 1 of the project, a roadway and bridge from Greg Street to Clean Water Way, has been completed. Construction on Phase 2 will begin once the RTC receives a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit. Once construction begins, the RTC will create a roadway from Clean Water Way to South Meadows Parkway. See http://www.southeastconnector.com/.

A good map and project update for the Southeast Connector (a portion of which was built in 2014) can be found at http://www.southeastconnector.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/12085-SEC-FactSheet_JAN2015_Final.pdf.

The first phase of work, at the northernmost end of the project, began in February 2013 and was completed in July 2014 — six months ahead of schedule. This first phase included the construction of the Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Truckee River and built the roadway from Greg Street to just south of Clean Water Way, including a bridge over Clean Water Way. Design of the second phase was completed in July 2014 and will build the new roadway from Clean Water Way south to the existing Veterans Parkway/South Meadows Parkway intersection (approximately 4.5 miles). Phase 2 construction is pending the review and approval of the RTC's application for a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit which is currently under review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

[Alex]

The Southeast Connector (Veterans Parkway) at Sparks opens tonight (July 6):

RTC Scheduled to Open Long-Awaited SouthEast Connector Friday

The long-awaited SouthEast Connector is scheduled to open on Friday, July 6th. They plan on opening it around 9 p.m. after a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier in the day.

The SouthEast Connector will be called Veterans Parkway when it opens to traffic on July 6. The road is three lanes in each direction and has a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. It has two new signalized intersections and a multi-use path for recreation.

Planning on driving it next week when we're in the area to reclinch Interstate 580.

[roadfro]

The Southeast Connector (Veterans Parkway) at Sparks opens tonight (July 6):

RTC Scheduled to Open Long-Awaited SouthEast Connector Friday

The long-awaited SouthEast Connector is scheduled to open on Friday, July 6th. They plan on opening it around 9 p.m. after a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier in the day.

The SouthEast Connector will be called Veterans Parkway when it opens to traffic on July 6. The road is three lanes in each direction and has a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. It has two new signalized intersections and a multi-use path for recreation.

Planning on driving it next week when we're in the area to reclinch Interstate 580.

I went to the Southeast Connector/Veterans Pkwy community fun run/walk/bike event last Saturday (walked the whole 5.5 miles of new highway).

It's a good project. The new section is expressway grade and almost seems like it should be a state highway. It's unfortunate that the existing Veterans Pkwy (south of South Meadows Pkwy) is only two lanes each way and is surrounded with residential neighborhoods. (I have a coworker that lives off that section who complains about the traffic and speeding along Veterans; it's likely to get worse now.)


EDIT: Here's a couple recent articles about the Southeast Connector from the Reno Gazette-Journal:
Southeast Connector opens next week, could save 14 minutes on your Reno-Sparks commute, 6/28/18
Six years after the first shovel, Southeast Connector opens to traffic, 7/6/18 (includes drone video of the new construction, recorded about 10 days before opening to traffic)

[Alex]

I went to the Southeast Connector/Veterans Pkwy community fun run/walk/bike event last Saturday (walked the whole 5.5 miles of new highway).

It's a good project. The new section is expressway grade and almost seems like it should be a state highway. It's unfortunate that the existing Veterans Pkwy (south of South Meadows Pkwy) is only two lanes each way and is surrounded with residential neighborhoods. (I have a coworker that lives off that section who complains about the traffic and speeding along Veterans; it's likely to get worse now.)

EDIT: Here's a couple recent articles about the Southeast Connector from the Reno Gazette-Journal:
Southeast Connector opens next week, could save 14 minutes on your Reno-Sparks commute, 6/28/18
Six years after the first shovel, Southeast Connector opens to traffic, 7/6/18 (includes drone video of the new construction, recorded about 10 days before opening to traffic)

Posted photos we took along Veterans Parkway northbound on a new page on the site just now.