I-80 Carlin Tunnel Project

[andy3175]

http://www.nevadadot.com/Projects_and_Programs/Road_Projects/Carlin_Tunnels_Project-_Interstate_80.aspx

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will improve Interstate 80 through the Carlin Tunnels area in northeastern Nevada. The approximately $31 million project will improve close to two miles of Interstate 80 through the Carlin Canyon, located approximately seven miles east of Carlin and 14 miles west of Elko.

I found this to be interesting, since at this location Old US 40 remains a state-maintained bypass around the Carlin Tunnels in order to allow hazardous materials carrying vehicles to drive around the tunnels:

Detours will be set up to provide the quickest and safest travel through the project. While work is conducted in one tunnel, westbound traffic will be detoured to the adjacent old highway (U.S. 40) bypassing the under-construction tunnel area. Meanwhile, eastbound traffic will continue to travel through the tunnel in which construction is not underway.

While I was hoping the project would somehow widen the tunnels to allow for wider shoulders (imagine how costly that would be), the project does have worthwhile benefits:

Inspection shows that the Carlin Tunnels are in good structural condition, although some deterioration is taking place, primarily to the road surface within the tunnels. The roadbed through the tunnels will be reconstructed, including roadway drainage and concrete around the tunnel entrance, and waterproofing and joint sealer will be replaced on the tunnels' concrete access covers. In addition, the tunnel lighting system will be completely renovated with new light-emitting diodes (LED). The new lighting will utilize a sophisticated lighting control system which monitors and gradually dims or brightens lighting to best match outside ambient conditions. The new first-in-Nevada system will provide drivers enhanced visibility while transitioning from outside lighting to light conditions within the tunnels. The enhanced visibility is projected to increase safety as drivers will remain more self-assured of the road ahead and less likely to unnecessarily slow or brake.

The project is also slated to rehabilitate and seismically retrofit 8 nearby bridges on I-80 through Carlin Canyon.

The webpage indicates that the project would begin in May 2013 and continue through September 2014, with eastbound lanes being improved first.

Regards,
Andy

[roadfro]

It says the tunnel lighting is a "first" for brightening/dimming light at entry based on outside conditions. I believe the McCarran Airport connector tunnels in Las Vegas have this already, and they were constructed in 1995. (However, I'm not sure whether the airport tunnel system always works, and that part of the connector is county-maintained, not NDOT).

[NE2]

I found this to be interesting, since at this location Old US 40 remains a state-maintained bypass around the Carlin Tunnels in order to allow hazardous materials carrying vehicles to drive around the tunnels:

And for bikes.

[roadfro]

I found this to be interesting, since at this location Old US 40 remains a state-maintained bypass around the Carlin Tunnels in order to allow hazardous materials carrying vehicles to drive around the tunnels:

Actually, I'm fairly certain the old US 40 was kept only as a construction/maintenance bypass for the tunnels. See this Street View link which shows the old US 40 closed and blocked off. There is also the issue that there is no access to or from the eastbound direction on the old highway.

You can see how westbound traffic would veer off on the old road while there is a permanent median crossover that eastbound would use when work closes the eastbound tunnel.

[andy3175]

You can see how westbound traffic would veer off on the old road while there is a permanent median crossover that eastbound would use when work closes the eastbound tunnel.

I think that particular crossover is how they plan to close off one tunnel, as described on the NDOT project page. I had not realized it existed as a permanent feature, but I think it's a good idea to keep that connection available for inevitable maintenance that is required of the tunnel. A similar relatively unused non-tunnel bypass does not exist at the Interstate 80 Green River tunnels in Wyoming without having to pass through town on the business route.

Regards,
Andy