CH2M and NDOT pave the way for Reno Spaghetti Bowl improvements

Reno, Nev. — The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) selected CH2M to provide environmental and preliminary design services to pave the way for reconstruction of the outdated I-80/I-580/US 395 system to system interchange in Reno to accommodate future travel demands.

The project will include improvements on a total of 10 service interchanges, one system to system interchange, braided/collector distributor systems and multiple local roads. When complete, the improvements will accomplish long-term goals to meet 2040 travel demands, decrease congestion and improve safety.

The Nevada Transportation Board, chaired by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, along with the Regional Transportation Commission in Washoe County identified reconstructing the nearly 50-year-old Reno Spaghetti Bowl, which serves over 300,000 vehicles daily, as high-priority for the state. Due to the rapid growth in the region and the outdated design, the Spaghetti Bowl and adjacent interchanges often become congested, spiking an increase in accidents.

To support the accelerated effort to update the interchange, CH2M’s environmental and preliminary design services will help NDOT reach its goals of:

• Accelerating delivery of the NEPA document for the project in less than three and a half years.
• Minimizing right-of-way displacements and acquisitions, and utility impacts.
• Identifying project-specific risks.
• Developing a comprehensive stakeholder and public outreach plan.
• Improving safety, operations and mobility in Reno and surrounding areas.
• Enhancing the aesthetics though the core of the community.

“The Reno Spaghetti Bowl reconstruction is regionally significant, politically sensitive and technically complex,” said Susan Martinovich, CH2M North American highways and bridges practice leader. “We understand how to get these types of improvements built because we’re passionate about improving our world. In this case, we’ll not only improve the commute for Nevada drivers and visitors, but also make the environmental and preliminary design process quicker and easier for NDOT.”

The I-80/I-580/US 395 interchange reconstruction is not CH2M’s first technically challenging, time-critical NDOT project. Over the last eight years, CH2M played an integral role in expediting the National Environmental Policy Act and design process on Project NEON in Las Vegas, the largest public works project in Nevada history. The firm is also working with NDOT to support the state’s vision to develop a collaborative policy framework for continuing autonomous vehicle and connected vehicle initiatives, and further paving the way for a smooth and safe transportation future in the state.