I-80 Congestion Could Lead to Additional Lanes, New Road |

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) says traffic continues to rise between Sparks and the Tahoe-Reno Industrial (TRI) Center. Many people from Reno and Sparks commute to TRI for work, causing traffic congestion and backups during crashes or other incidents.

"If a car gets pulled off to the side with a flat tire or anything, it's just crazy. All the brake lights hit, and it's dangerous," Jeff Anderson, TRI worker said.

A nine-car crash caused a backup that stretched into Sparks. Tuesday morning, causing some commuters to be late for work.

"We were stopped on the freeway out the Nugget, so we ended up being about two-and-a-half hours late," Melissa Patterson, TRI worker said.

Commuters say many of the problems happen when people do not obey the rules of the road.

"Just crazy drivers, late pulling into the lanes or getting off the freeway, getting on the freeway," Anderson said. "You don't have to be the law and slow everybody down in the fast lane."

NDOT says since 2009, daily I-80 traffic at Vista Blvd. has grown from 31,000 cars to 48,000. Near Mustang, those numbers increased from 27,000 to 44,000. Traffic volume at USA Parkway, south of I-80 has more than tripled from 6,200 to 19,200.

"75 percent of the people in TRI live north of Interstate 80, so that's where the traffic's coming from," Kris Thompson, TRI Project Manager said.

NDOT is conducting an environmental review process to see if adding lanes on Interstate 80 is feasible.

"That includes reviewing everything from the natural environment to the human-built environment and developing mitigation, to help mitigate any impacts those transportation impacts would have," Meg Ragonese, NDOT Public Information Officer said.

Making improvements could have some challenges because the freeway winds through the Truckee River Canyon between a mountain and the river.

Meanwhile, the City of Sparks is working with Congress on a lands bill. It plans on submitting a plan in February that would transfer 45,000 acres of federal and railroad land for industrial use in Washoe County and to build a 10-mile road between La Posada Drive in Spanish Springs to the Patrick exit on Interstate 80. City leaders say the plan could get approval by next fall.

"We think that project would have a lot of potential, not only to reduce the traffic congestion but also for future residential or industrial development out of Sparks," Thompson said.

NDOT has already made improvements at USA Pkwy and I-80, widening on-ramps and off-ramps, traffic signals at the interchange and at Electric Ave. Commuters say traffic is better now that those changes are in place.

"You can go quicker," Patterson said. "Everyone has their own lane and you can just go. You don't have to stop and wait. I don't see as many accidents around here either."

Thompson says 20,000-25,000 people work at TRI and those numbers are expected to grow. That does not include the truck drivers and construction workers in that area, so he expects some changes to happen in the near future, although changes to the interstate would take longer because of federal regulations.

Ragonese says the Spaghetti Bowl Project could also reduce congestion east of Sparks because so many residents commute through it on their way to TRI. NDOT is also encouraging TRI businesses to offer transportation on buses or vans to take some cars off the road.