Freeway Design Features - Phase 1
Phase 1 of the project constructs the northern half of the Carson City Freeway. The project starts north of Carson City near the East Lake Boulevard Interchange in Washoe Valley. Existing US-395 will be widened in the northbound direction to provide for the addition of a truck-climbing lane up and over the hill coming out of Carson City to the East Lake Boulevard interchange. A median barrier rail will also be installed in this location to enhance safety. After connecting into existing US-395 near Bonanza Road in north Carson, the freeway will be constructed in Phase I on a new alignment to the point where it intersects with US-50 East, just east of the Pinon Plaza.
Phase 1 will be advanced to construction and opened to traffic before the remainder of the Carson City Freeway. The freeway will be designed with two lanes in each direction. A direct connection will be made with existing US 395 at the northern end of the project near the bottom of Lake View Hill in the vicinity of Bonanza Road. A half interchange will be built at Arrowhead Drive with a northbound off-ramp and a southbound on-ramp being provided. A full interchange will be constructed at College Parkway. A half interchange will be constructed at US 50, at the completion of Phase 1 when the freeway will terminate at US 50 east. Grade separations will be constructed at Carmine Street, Northgate Lane, and Emerson Drive. A connection between Bonanza Road and Arrowhead Drive will be built (referred to as the Imus Connector), and Lompa Lane will be realigned east of the freeway. A multi-use bicycle and pedestrian path will be integrated into and along the freeway corridor from US 50 East to Broadleaf Lane. Phase 1 has been split into two sub-phases: Phase 1A: Four sets of bridge structure construction—at College Parkway, Northgate Lane, Emerson Drive, and Arrowhead Drive; the realignment/reconstruction of Arrowhead Drive; and a major drainage culvert from Arrowhead Drive to US50 east. Construction of this project was completed in April 2002. Phase 1B: Construction of the remainder of the northern segment of freeway from US 50 to US 395 north of Carson City, including bridge structures at Carmine Street, US 395 North, and US 50 East. Design work and plan preparation for this phase of the project is essentially complete.
Freeway Interchanges
Northern Connection to existing US 395 Arrowhead Drive Interchange Arrowhead Drive has been realigned on the west side of the freeway to allow for an improved intersection location with Carson Street, one that aligns with the Eagle Valley Children's Home Road and the access road to the future Carson-Tahoe Hospital on the west side of Carson Street.
The Arrowhead Interchange incorporates the use of traffic roundabouts into its design. Roundabouts have been constructed at two intersections: Arrowhead/Northbound freeway off-ramp/Imus Connector and Arrowhead/Southbound freeway on-ramp. Click here to view the layout.
Roundabout Design Configuration College Parkway Interchange A "three-span" bridge is proposed for this location. This type of bridge will result in a lower profile of the freeway, thereby improving sight distance for the motorist. Many believe this design results in improved sight distance for motorists using the ramps. In addition, many feel a more aesthetically pleasing appearance is gained with this application as a thinner, more visually appealing structure can be used. Click here to view the layout. US 50 East Interchange A "three-span" bridge is proposed for this location. This type of bridge will result in a lower profile of the freeway, thereby improving sight distance for the motorist. Many believe this design results in improved sight distance for motorists using the ramps. In addition, many feel a more aesthetically pleasing appearance is gained with this application as a thinner, more visually appealing structure can be used. An on-ramp and an off-ramp will be built to connect to the freeway north of US-50 at the end of construction of Phase 1B. Traffic will access the freeway to the north from this on-ramp. Traffic will exit the freeway in the southbound direction from the off-ramp. US 50 east will be the temporary terminus point of the freeway until the southern segment (Phase 2) is completed. Click here to view the layout.
The new freeway segment at the north end of Carson City will tie in to existing US 395 near the bottom of Lake View Hill in the vicinity of Bonanza Road. An off ramp will be constructed to allow southbound freeway traffic to exit onto existing US 395 (Carson Street) near Bonanza Road. Northbound traffic on Carson Street will pass under a freeway overpass and travel upon an on-ramp to merge onto the new freeway going up Lakeview Hill. Click here to view the layout.
A half interchange will be built at Arrowhead Drive with a northbound off-ramp from the freeway and a southbound freeway on-ramp to the freeway being provided. A connection between Bonanza Road and Arrowhead Drive will be built (referred to as the Imus Connector) on the east side of the freeway.
Driver decisions needed to successfully negotiate a roundabout are relatively simple. At each approach to a roundabout, yield signs require entering drivers to yield to drivers already in the circle. At each entrance, triangular "splitter islands" prevent drivers from going around the circle the wrong way, and simultaneously provide a safe refuge for crossing pedestrians. Vehicle speeds are physically constrained to 10 to 20 mph by a geometry that requires drivers to slow and turn. There is no need to automatically stop when entering a roundabout if sufficient gap exists to allow a vehicle to enter the roundabout without affecting a vehicle already in the “circle”.
US 395/College Parkway interchange has been designed as a single point urban interchange, commonly referred to as a SPUI. The concept of a SPUI has been used successfully in many locations throughout the nation, particularly in areas of restricted right-of-way. Recent examples of this concept include the I-80/Keystone and I-80/Pyramid interchanges in Reno/Sparks. The SPUI generally results in improved traffic flow on the cross street because only a single signal system is required to accommodate all directions of traffic using the interchange.
The US 395/US 50 East Interchange has been designed as a single point urban interchange, commonly referred to as a SPUI. The concept of a SPUI has been used successfully in many locations throughout the nation, particularly in areas of restricted right-of-way. Recent examples of this concept include the I-80/Keystone and I-80/Pyramid interchanges in Reno/Sparks. The SPUI generally results in improved traffic flow on the cross street because only a single signal system is required to accommodate all directions of traffic using the interchange.
