Public invited to walk, run and ride on new highway section in Carson City

The community is invited to take part in a free fun walk, run and ride celebrating the upcoming opening of the last leg of the Interstate 580 Carson City Freeway, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) announced.

While the freeway isn't scheduled to open to vehicles until August, NDOT is going to have an opening ceremony to pedestrians, runners and cyclists on Saturday, July 22 at 9:00 a.m. Participants can arrive at any time from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for a self-paced experience on the new freeway.

Event attendees simply turn south onto the new freeway from southbound I-580 or Fairview Drive and follow event signs to the parking area located on the future freeway. Pet owners are discouraged from bringing animals, excluding certified assistance animals.

Prior to construction of I-580, Nevada was one of only a few states without an interstate connecting to the capital city. The new segment of freeway marks completion of I-580 linking Reno and Carson City. Since breaking ground in 2000, construction of the approximately nine-mile I-580 Carson City Freeway has been phased to best utilize available funding. Nearly six million cubic yards of earth were moved, 18 million pounds of reinforcing steel installed and more than $200 million in federal, state and local transportation funds dedicated to construct the freeway between Lakeview Hill in north Carson City and the U.S. 50 junction in the southern part of the city. In December 2015, the freeway was officially dedicated as the Carson City Deputy Sheriff Carl Howell Memorial Freeway. Aimed at increasing traffic mobility and safety with an interstate bypass to help remove through-traffic congestion from downtown Carson City, an estimated 43,000 vehicles daily are projected to use the new southern section of freeway by 2035.

The new intersection of the Carson City Freeway and U.S. 50 at South Carson Street will be a signalized intersection. NDOT has future plans to build a full interchange and bridge carrying Carson City Freeway traffic over South Carson Street should funding become available.

“Our goal is to help keep Nevada safe and connected,” NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon explained. “And the Carson City Freeway not only helps connect our capital city, it will further connect the entire region. The community has supported us throughout construction of the freeway, and it is with pride that we open the last leg of the Carson City Freeway to the Carson City community and the entire state.”

“The opening of the last leg of the I-580 freeway is a long-awaited turning point for the Carson City community and one which we have been anticipating and preparing for over several decades,” Carson City Mayor Robert Crowell said. “First conceived in the 1960s, it has now become a reality. In addition to being able to travel from Carson City to the Bay Area with no stop lights, it will allow our community the ability to showcase our City as the Capital of the great State of Nevada. We share in the pride expressed by NDOT Director Malfabon and thank NDOT for its perseverance and dedication in completing this much-needed addition to our community, region and state.”