Traffic Impacts of the Carson Freeway Construction
Phase 2A
In planning the Freeway, future traffic volumes are used to determine how many lanes are needed for the mainline and for the interchange ramps. NDOT uses a method for forecasting future traffic volumes based on current traffic count information. Traffic volumes for year 2025 were used to plan the Carson City Freeway; traffic volumes for years 2008 and 2010 were used to analyze detours and lane closures during construction. To ensure adequate design, the highest volumes, known as peak hour volumes, are used in all analyses. A computer modeling program called CORSIM was used to analyze the planned roadways using the year 2025 peak hour volumes. The interim Fairview Drive Interchange was modeled using year 2010 peak hour volumes.
Major impact to traffic during construction of the Freeway will be to those areas where either an interchange or a grade separation (bridge with no freeway access) is being constructed. During construction of Phase 2A, the affected crossings are US 50 East, Fifth Street and Fairview Drive.
Click here to view a Special Newsletter regarding access to businesses during construction.
US 50 East
- The two southern ramps of the US 50 East interchange will be constructed to complete the interchange and US 50 East will l be reconstructed and widened to the south from Humboldt Lane to east of Lompa Lane during Phase 2A of the Carson City Freeway.
- A minimum of one thru lane in each direction on US 50 East will be maintained between 7:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M., nightly, Sunday night through Friday morning. A minimum of two thru lanes in each direction will be maintained at all other times.
- Traffic control will vary during the different stages of construction: removal of median islands, widening and reconstruction of the south side of US 50 East, reconstruction of the median portion of US 50 East, reconstruction of the northern lanes, and installation of new median islands.
- Temporary traffic signals will be erected at Piñon Plaza, the US 50 East Interchange and Lompa Lane whenever the traffic lanes have shifted to accommodate the construction work area.
E. Fifth Street
- E. Fifth Street will be realigned to the north, where a new bridge over the Freeway will be constructed. There will be no access to the Freeway from Fifth Street. The portion of existing E. Fifth Street that is east of the Freeway will be realigned with a cul-de-sac in order to perpetuate access to businesses and the Nevada State Prison.
- E. Fifth Street will be widened and repaved between the eastern tie-in to the new alignment and Butti Way.
- Roadway construction is scheduled to begin in December 2006 and will take approximately 14 months to complete.
- Detour roads at the east and west ends of the new alignment will allow most of the roadway construction work to be accomplished while keeping the road open.
- In various stages the roadway may be limited to one-lane two-way traffic between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. At these times, flaggers will be used to direct traffic through the area.
- E. Fifth Street will be closed weekends to construct the tie-in connections to the realigned Fifth Street. A detour route using US 50 East will be signed to redirect traffic during the weekend closures.
Fairview Drive
- The Fairview Drive Interchange will be largely constructed during Phase 2A of the Carson City Freeway project and will act as the temporary terminus of the Freeway until the Phase 2B section is constructed and open to traffic.
- The Fairview Drive Bridge will go over the Freeway. Ramps to and from the north, and a two-lane loop ramp for the eastbound Fairview drive to the northbound Freeway traffic, will be constructed in Phase 2A.
- Construction of the Fairview Drive Interchange is currently scheduled to begin in June 2006 and will take approximately 14 months to complete.
- Traffic will be shifted to a detour south of existing Fairview Drive in order for the new bridge to be constructed. Once the bridge is open to traffic, the detour will be removed.
- Fairview Drive will be open to traffic in both directions for the duration of construction.
- Carson City will be widening Fairview Drive to 4 lanes from the Freeway Interchange to S. Carson Street. The Fairview Drive widening will be complete prior to the opening of the Freeway to traffic.
