With winter season winding down, construction season is beginning. One such project out on USA parkway that started in 2017 is in its final stage. USA Parkway, an area that has seen huge industrial growth in the past couple of years, has also had a major increase of people on that roadway.
“This type of development is a positive for our area but it also brings a lot more vehicle traffic, and that's something that we continue to look at and be able to accommodate," said Meg Ragonese, Public Information Officer for NDOT.
And one of the ways NDOT is doing this is by widening the ramps leading to the I-80/USA intersections, as well as make the temporary stop light put in place last year a permanent one.
“What that traffic signal has been able to do is reduce traffic back-ups during peak travel times onto westbound interstate 80," said Ragonese.
This construction is scheduled for 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. until late June. Drivers are advised to use the alternate route at the Patrick interchange and take Waltham Way to USA. And even though it may be an inconvenience, locals seem to welcome the change.
"I think it's a good idea, and you just gotta be patient, and you just gotta go to work and leave early,” said Reno/Sparks resident Lucas Cunningham.
"I think it's great, I think they picked the right hours because it won’t interfere with people going to and from work, and right now it's a traffic jam because of so many people having to go out here," said Denise Telena, a Sparks resident.
But this isn't the only way NDOT plans to improve mobility to the region.
“We are actually beginning preliminary environmental and design review of a potential project to widen interstate 80 between Reno/Sparks and USA Parkway," said Ragonese.
Even though NDOT is fast tracking that potential project, it’s still in the early planning phase and could be 10 to 20 years out.
