By BEX Staff for NEVBEX
The Nevada Department of Transportation was awarded $275M in federal funding to widen Interstate 80 between USA Parkway and Sparks, a popular route for commuters from Sparks or Reno who work at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center.
The project includes an additional lane in each direction, the widening of road shoulders and the replacement of bridges.
An estimated 48,000 vehicles travel the interstate daily. Traffic in the area has seen a 61% increase during the last 10 years.
Approximately 155 crashes occur on that stretch of highway annually. Improvements are anticipated to reduce that amount by 25% over the next 25 years.
Funds Delivered as Residents Grew Concerned
The stretch of highway has been a concern for locals for quite some time.
Prior to the funds being awarded to NDOT, the Mayor of the City of Sparks, Ed Lawson, was trying to find a solution to the transportation troubles. He considered bringing a team of lobbyists to the Nevada State Legislature to try to legalize toll roads, with the intent of creating a toll road for commuters that could pay for itself.
Las Vegas reportedly receives 70% of annual NDOT funds, and the widening project was estimated to cost around $500M, roughly half of the annual NDOT road building budget.
