FREEWAY DESIGN FEATURES - PHASE 2
Phase 2 of the project constructs the southern half of the Carson City Freeway, starting at the US 50 East Interchange, the southern terminus of the Phase 1 project and continuing south along a new alignment to the point where it connects to US 50 West at the existing US 50 West – Tahoe Junction / S. Carson Street Intersection. When constructed it will be a four lane freeway with accommodations for future widening to a six lane facility. Phase 2 will complete the Carson City Freeway
Due to funding considerations the Phase 2 Project will be split into two sub-phases.
Phase 2A: Construction of the Freeway from US 50 East to Fairview Drive
The construction package is scheduled for advertisement in Spring 2006. When complete, Freeway traffic will utilize the interim interchange at Fairview Drive until the Phase 2B project construction is complete. Carson City has their own project to improve Fairview Drive to two lanes in each direction between S. Carson Street and the Freeway. The Phase 2A portion of the Freeway will not open to traffic until the Carson City project is complete.
Major Roadway Features (described in more detail below):
• Completion of the single point urban interchange (SPUI) at US 50 East (constructing the southern ramps of the partial interchange constructed in the Phase 1 project).
• Partial interchange at Fairview Drive
• Grade separated crossing (no freeway access) at Fifth Street
• Cul-de-sac created at Colorado Street, west of the Freeway
• Linear Ditch Park Multi-Use Path realigned to cross the Freeway near the Fifth Street grade separation and connecting to Carson City's Multi-use Trail System at Butti Way ( more multi-use path info )
• A portion of the storm drainage system, including the Southern Water Quality Basin south of Fifth Street and the H Tributary Channel ( more drainage info )
• Soundwalls ( more soundwall info )
Phase 2B: Construction of the Freeway from Fairview Drive to US 50 West / S. Carson Street
Construction is scheduled to be complete by late 2010.
Major Roadway Features (described in more detail below):
• Completion of the Fairview Drive interchange
• Full interchange (SPUI design) at S. Carson Street
• Grade separated crossings (no freeway access) at
• Koontz Lane
• Clearview Drive
• Snyder Avenue
• Cul-de-sacs created at
• Lupin Drive, north of the Freeway
• Oak Street, north of the Freeway
• Silver Sage Drive, south of the Freeway
• Center Drive, north of the Freeway
• Ponderosa Drive, north of the Freeway
• Bennett Avenue, south of the Freeway
• Lupin Drive south of the S. Carson Street Interchange realigned and connected to Arthur Street
• Completion of the drainage system
• Soundwalls ( more soundwall info )
Layout of Overall Phase 2 Design:
FREEWAY INTERCHANGES:
US 50 East Interchange – The US 50 East Interchange has been designed as a single point urban interchange referred to as a SPUI. The Phase 1B project will construct the Freeway bridges crossing over US 50 East, and the on- and off-ramps connecting to the Freeway north of US 50 East.
The Phase 2 Project will construct the on- and off-ramps connecting to the Freeway south of the interchange and widen US 50 East to six lanes, completing the interchange improvements.
Click here to see a simulation of the future landscaping at US 50 East.
Fairview Drive Interchange – Fairview Drive Interchange has been designed as a modified diamond interchange with a loop ramp located in the south east quadrant. The loop ramp will provide a free flow movement for northbound freeway traffic.
Fairview Drive will be four lanes (2 lanes in each direction) through the interchange matching Carson City's Fairview Drive widening project to the west of the interchange. East of the interchange, the four lane roadway section will end at the easterly approach to the Edmonds Drive Intersection. Traffic signals will be installed on Fairview Drive at the freeway ramp junctures.
Click here to see a simulation of the future landscaping at Fairview Drive.
The Phase 2A project will construct a partial interchange at Fairview Drive. On- and off-ramps will be built connecting to the Freeway north of Fairview Drive. The loop ramp will be constructed and temporarily widened to two lanes to accommodate Freeway traffic. Fairview Drive will be the temporary terminal point of the Freeway until Phase 2B is complete.
S. Carson Street Interchange – The S. Carson Street Interchange has been designed as a SPUI similar to the interchange configuration of the US 50 East Interchange to be constructed in the Phase 1B project. A single traffic signal system will control the traffic movements within the interchange and on S. Carson Street.
The Freeway will cross over S. Carson Street and connect to existing US 50 West. S. Carson Street will remain at its existing grade. A three lane ramp approach will be provided for the Freeway traffic exiting onto southbound S. Carson Street. A two lane ramp, separate from the SPUI ramps, will be built to provide a free flow connection for northbound S. Carson Street traffic to enter the Freeway and continue north. S. Carson Street will be widened to six lanes (3 lanes in each direction) through the interchange.
GRADE SEPARATED CROSSINGS:
Fifth Street – Fifth Street will be re-aligned to the north, straightening the existing alignment in front of the Nevada State Prison. An access road will be built east of the Freeway connecting the new Fifth Street alignment to existing Fifth Street providing access to the Prison parking lot and adjacent businesses. Re-aligned Fifth Street, will cross over the Freeway, which is approximately four feet above the existing ground.
Koontz Lane and Clearview Drive – Both Koontz Lane and Clearview Drive cross the Freeway where the roadway section is fully depressed. The proposed profiles for both roadways will follow the existing ground elevations. Carson City will be responsible for the improvements of the intersections with Edmonds Drive.
Snyder Avenue – Snyder Avenue will be raised to cross over the Freeway, which is two to four feet above the existing ground elevation. The intersections with Silver Sage Drive and Center Drive both will be realigned to improve the intersection geometrics and increase the sight distance at the intersections.
The aerial for Snyder Avenue is part of the South Carson Street Interchange Aerial shown above.
MULTI USE PATH, BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES:
A Multi-use Path will be provided connecting the existing Linear Ditch Park path to Carson City's proposed path facilities at Butti Way. The proposed path will travel along the western right-of-way of the Freeway, cross under the Fifth Street and King Canyon Drainage Channel bridges, and continue along the top of the drainage channel to its intersection at Butti Way.
To accommodate pedestrians and bicycles, sidewalk and bicycle lanes will be included with the proposed roadway improvements. Bike lanes and sidewalks will be provided along Fifth Street, Fairview Drive, Koontz Lane, Clearview Drive and Snyder Avenue. Sidewalks and shoulders will be included with the S. Carson Street Interchange improvements and along the south side of US 50 East as part of the final stage of improvements to that interchange. The proposed bicycle facilities included in this project conform to the Carson City Bicycle System Plan. Click here to see Carson City Bicycle System Plan.
