Good news for Reno's North Valleys drivers: the northbound U.S. 395 ramps to Dandini Boulevard, which have been closed for major realignment and repaving since July 7, are set to reopen on Sept. 5. Morning commuters can look forward to a smoother ride with the newly constructed access points. According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, not only will the Dandini Boulevard exit 71 be back in business, but drivers will also need to stay right on shifted lanes of northbound U.S. 395 to reach their destination.

But as one improvement phase wraps up, another begins. Starting around Sept. 9, those heading towards Panther Valley will have to brace for the upcoming closure of the northbound U.S. 395 exit 72 off-ramp, and the North Virginia Street on-ramp. This move is to facilitate the construction of a new braided ramp intended to alleviate traffic by carrying off-ramp flow to Golden Valley Road over the Panther Valley ramps, states Nevada Department of Transportation. The crew has made considerable progress by laying down thousands of square yards of concrete paving, in addition to several tons of reinforcing steel for the infrastructure enhancements.

Alongside these specific ramp updates, Nevada Department of Transportation reminds commuters of ongoing restrictions including 24/7 lane shifts and speed reductions along northbound U.S. 395. From just north of Oddie Boulevard to Golden Valley Road, the highway will continue to have lane and speed adjustments down to 55 mph until the anticipated completion in mid-2025. Additional disruptions like overnight lane closures and intermittent ramp shutdowns will persist Sunday through Saturday, with detour routes clearly marked for all drivers.

For the long-term, the U.S. 395 improvements, slated to continue through 2025, aim to augment traffic mobility and safety. This includes adding an extra southbound lane and constructing auxiliary lanes for better merging. Moreover, the project outlines the creation of braided ramps similar to those on southbound I-580 at Mill and Second streets, among several other enhancements. Drivers can sign up for traffic alerts by texting "NorthValleys" to 866-540-8466, calling the project hotline, or visiting the dedicated project website, as confirmed by Nevada Department of Transportation.