Reno drivers, get ready for some changes on your commute. Starting September 30, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) will begin a multi-year project to improve a stretch of Interstate 80 in west Reno, as reported by NDOT. This means that more than a mile of I-80 between west McCarran Boulevard and Keystone Avenue will see lane reductions and ramp closures through mid-2026.
The planned improvements will introduce lane shifts, reduced speed limits, and potential travel delays for interstate drivers. Traffic will be funneled into narrower lanes and the speed limit within the work zone will drop to 55mph, enforcement around the clock. Although at least two lanes will remain open in each direction during day hours, expect overnight lanes to be cut down to one from 10 p.m. - 5 a.m. weekdays, which could cause, moderate travel delays.
Drivers should also mark their calendars for intermittent overnight ramp closures at the west McCarran Boulevard and Keystone Avenue ramps onto I-80. These are scheduled between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. from Sunday to Friday, but at least NDOT promises no two consecutive ramps will be shut in the same direction. Detour routes will pop up to guide you through these temporary changes, and be prepared for additional lane reductions on nearby McCarran Boulevard and Keystone Avenue during the nightly hours of 8 p.m.- 6 a.m.
Stoker Avenue will be taking a longer break under I-80 between West Fourth Street and Stardust Street, fully closed for an extended period. Although vehicle traffic will have to find a different route, businesses and pedestrians can breathe a sigh of relief as access will remain intact. NDOT is committed to providing early notifications ahead of the anticipated closure, likely a small consolation for those who frequent the area.
Despite the short-term inconvenience, the project does promise some long-term benefits. Both directions of I-80 are set to be resurfaced, and an auxiliary merge lane on eastbound I-80 will be built to ease traffic flow. Approximately 8,000 linear feet of sound wall are going up, decorated with Truckee River-themed imagery like water and fish, aiming to blend aesthetic appeal with the practical purpose of sound reduction for nearby neighborhoods. Additionally, bridges are on the to-do list for resurfacing, the westbound I-80 bridge over Stoker Avenue will see widening, and enhancements are set for drainage, signage, lighting, and wrong-way driver detection systems. Plus, the removed trees for the interstate widening will be replaced with over 400 new ones better suited for the northern Nevada's rugged climate.
