Starting next month, Sparks Boulevard will be reduced to one lane in each direction from Springland Drive to Baring Boulevard until approximately January 2026.

Traffic will be shifted to outside lanes while construction continues on retaining walls.

The $86 million project is expected to be fully completed by 2027. 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 

On Monday, the City of Sparks and RTC officially began phase 2 of their Sparks Boulevard Project.

This second phase will continue to improve the infrastructure of the road and its connecting roads.

The project is happening along the I-80 westbound ramps to Baring Boulevard, with additional roadway improvements included from Baring Boulevard to Shadow Lane.

These will not only improve roadway capacity by constructing a six-lane road with three lanes in each direction, but also improve multi-path access for pedestrians. 

The project's $86 million price tag is 95% funded by government grants, which RTC spokesperson Josh MacEachern says they apply for.

That leaves 5% to be funded through local funds in return. MacEachern says, 

"The Sparks Boulevard Project is focusing on not only improving capacity but also safety," said MacEachern. "You see a lot of traffic on that road. And we want to make sure that we can improve capacity and create multi-use facilities for people who are on bicycles or potentially walking, and just kind of generally improve safety while widening it from a four-lane road to a six-lane road." 

These changes will improve intersection operations to enhance safety, add sidewalks, improve the pedestrian multi-use path, construct barrier rails, incorporate sound walls at select locations, and upgrade drainage systems to create a more robust infrastructure.

"Anyone who has used that corridor knows that it's pretty busy," said MacEachern. "And so, the big thing for us is not only increasing capacity, but increasing safety. We want to make sure if you're a car user, if you're a bicycle user, if you're an assistive mobility device user, that you have the options to get up and down through that area." 

Drivers can expect lane and shoulder closures, detours, sidewalk detours, and intermittent RTC transit disruptions.

Business access will be maintained, and construction operations will mostly take place from 5 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the northbound direction and 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. in the southbound direction, Monday through Friday.

RTC also informs us that weekend work is anticipated. 

Drivers should be prepared for delays, give themselves more time than normal, and always be aware to follow detours around construction zones.

With safety as the top priority, it is important to drive safely, especially near construction and pedestrians. 

The project is expected to be fully completed by 2027.Â