Phase 1 of the project constructed 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 was 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 was installed in this location to enhance safety. After connecting into existing US-395 near Bonanza Road in north Carson, the freeway continues on new alignment to the point where it intersects with US-50 East, just east of the Pinon Plaza.

The freeway has two lanes in each direction. The Freeway connects with 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 is located at Arrowhead Drive with a northbound off-ramp and a southbound on-ramp. A full interchange is at at College Parkway. A half interchange at US 50, will remain at the completion of Phase 1 where the freeway temporarily terminates at US 50 East. Grade separations are located at Carmine Street, Northgate Lane, and Emerson Drive. Connection between Bonanza Road and Arrowhead Drive, is provided utilizing the Imus Connector. Lompa Lane has also been realigned east of the freeway. A multi-use bicycle and pedestrian path is integrated into and along the freeway corridor from US 50 East to Broadleaf Lane.

Phase 1 was split into two sub-phases:

Phase 1A: Four sets of bridge structure were constructed at College Parkway, Northgate Lane, Emerson Drive, and Arrowhead Drive; and the realignment/reconstruction of Arrowhead Drive.

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED APRIL 2002

Phase 1B : The remainder of the northern segment of freeway was constructed from US 50 to US 395 north of Carson City, including bridge structures at Carmine Street, US 395 North, and US 50 East.

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED JULY 2006

The Carson City Freeway drainage system was designed in coordination with major drainage improvements by Carson City. The resulting drainage system provides a coordinated and functional 100-year storm event drainage system to detain, intercept, and convey storm drainage within the freeway corridor to the Eagle Valley Creek channel that ultimately discharges to the Carson River. This coordinated system includes five major detention basins (Shenandoah Heights, Eagle Canyon Creek, and Silver Oak areas), three sediment basins (Shenandoah Heights, Silver Oak, and Combs Canyon), and one large regional water quality basin (Lompa Ranch area) at the downstream terminus of the project. The drainage system also includes a series of channels, box culverts, and pipes within the freeway corridor and US 50 to intercept and convey those flows to the water quality basin. This provides water quality treatment of the storm water discharging from the Carson City Freeway and US 50 as well as the surrounding areas before it reaches the Carson River. The drainage facilities constructed under this Phase are located within the NDOT right-of-way. The remaining facilities have been constructed by Carson City under separate construction contracts.

The drainage system within NDOT right-of-way was completed in two phases. Phase 1A included conveyance facilities from Northgate Lane to just south of College Parkway, drainage facilities needed for the re-alignment of Arrowhead Drive, and a temporary water quality treatment facility to collect sediment produced from Phase 1A construction activities. The conveyance facilities in this area were constructed with the bridge construction at Arrowhead, Northgate, Emerson, and College Parkway to avoid future disturbance near the bridge foundations. During the construction of Phase 1B, the remainder of the drainage facilities was completed, and the temporary water quality basin replaced by a permanent facility within the Lompa Ranch area.

The drainage system is the result of years of cooperative planning between NDOT, Carson City, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nevada Division of Wildlife, and many other agencies. The resulting system will not only provide for the drainage associated with the Carson City Freeway to provide adequate protection of the freeway improvements but will also provide substantial flood control benefits for Carson City and a substantial reduction in limits of flooding as currently shown on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

Northern Connection to existing US 395
The new freeway segment at the north end of Carson City ties into US 395 near the bottom of Lake View Hill in the vicinity of Bonanza Road. An off ramp is provided to allow southbound freeway traffic to exit onto existing US 395 (Carson Street) near Bonanza Road. Northbound traffic on Carson Street passes under a freeway overpass and travels up an on-ramp to merge onto the new freeway going up Lakeview Hill.

Arrowhead Drive Interchange
A half interchange built at Arrowhead Drive provides a northbound off-ramp from the freeway and a southbound freeway on-ramp to the freeway. A connection between Bonanza Road and Arrowhead Drive was built (referred to as the Imus Connector) on the east side of the freeway. Arrowhead Drive was 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.

College Parkway Interchange
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.

US 50 East Interchange
US 395/US 50 East Interchange has been designed as a SPUI. An on-ramp and off-ramp were built to connect to the freeway north of US-50 at the end of construction of Phase 1B. Traffic accesses the freeway to the north from this on-ramp. Traffic exits the freeway in the southbound direction from the off-ramp. US 50 east is the temporary terminus point of the freeway until the next southern segment (Phase 2A) is completed..

For more information, see Issues - Freeway Design Phase 1