Interstate 580 in Nevada is the hidden (unsigned) designation of the U.S. 395 freeway in the Reno metropolitan area between the Nevada 444/Neil Road (Del Monte Lane) Interchange and Interstate 80. The section of U.S. 395 south of Nevada 444/Neil Road (Del Monte Lane) and the section of U.S. 395 north of Interstate 80 are currently (as of July 2005) not part of Interstate 580, but that is slated to change soon.
According to Jason of ORoads, Interstate 580 is signed on mileposts on the U.S. 395 freeway between Exit 56, Junction Nevada 341 and Nevada 431 (Mount Rose Highway) and Exit 56, Junction Business U.S. 395/Virginia Avenue. As of July 2005, no other Interstate 580 signage has been posted. Nevertheless, only the section of U.S. 395 south of Interstate 80 and north of Nevada 444/Neil Road is officially part of the Interstate Highway System.
Dave Billeci indicates that Interstate 580 may have been posted in the early to mid-1980s, but the shields were removed. He reports, "From my own experience back in 1983, I-580 shields were posted and co-signed with U.S. 395 in Reno south of the interchange with I-80 on the U.S. 395 Freeway. I believe the overhead signs eastbound approaching the interchange with U.S. 395 on I-80 had I-580 shields as well. A few years later all the I-580 shields were removed for some reason. From all indications from what I read on your site as well as looking through the NDOT site, those I-580 shields will be back up again if not already. The mystery is why were the signs removed in the first place."3
Secret Interstate 580 currently provides a north-south freeway link through metropolitan Reno and Sparks. With the currently under construction extension, Interstate 580 will ultimately link Carson City, the state capital, with the rest of the Interstate system.
Future Aspirations
Interstate 580 is slated for extension from Nevada 444/Neil Road (a road that was formerly called Nevada 667, Del Monte Lane) south to U.S. 395 south of Carson City. This new Interstate will incorporate the existing section of U.S. 395 freeway south to Nevada 341/431 and the section of freeway near Washoe Lake.
A construction project is underway to connect these two sections of freeway as well as extend the freeway south of Washoe Lake to Carson City. At Carson City, the freeway will bypass the state capital to west, thus providing a bypass of existing U.S. 395 through the city. All of this is proposed as part of Interstate 580.
When completed, U.S. 395 from Interstate 80 south to Carson City will become commissioned as part of Interstate 580 in Nevada, including full signage. At this time, it seems that Interstate 580 will be signed from its junction with Interstate 80 all the way south through Carson City. One of the main reasons for such a designation is the fact that political leaders like the concept of having Carson City, the state capital, to be connected to the Interstate Highway System. Carson City is one of a few state capitals not on the Interstate Highway System (others include Pierre, South Dakota, and Juneau, Alaska).
In September 2002, Nevada sent out a request for bids for the proposed eight-mile extension of Interstate 580 from near Nevada 341/341 south to the orphaned section of existing freeway through Washoe Valley into Carson City. The official construction project website is Interstate 580 Extension Project.
Construction of this $250 million, 8.5-mile freeway extension of U.S. 395 southward to Washoe Valley is set to commence by year's end (2003). The first phase of this roadway will entail the creation of four bridges, one of which will be the record setting Galena Creek bridge. The 1,719-foot-long span will cost an estimated $40 million as it rises 300 feet above the creek below. The bridge will compose the longest concrete cathedral arch bridge in the U.S. The second phase of this project involves construction of the actual roadway. Upon completion, the freeway will extend southward from the Mount Rose interchange in Reno to the Bowers Mansion Road interchange at Washoe Valley near Winters Ranch. The single largest construction project in northern Nevada history is slated for completion in late 2009 or early 2010.2
Interstate 580: Carson City Bypass
This section of freeway will end at the north end of Carson City, and a new bypass is proposed to bypass Carson City to the east. The official site for this portion of Future Interstate 580 is at Carson City Bypass (Nevada Department of Transportation). This section will be completed in two phases. During Phase One, the northern half (between U.S. 50 and U.S. 395) will be completed approximately the same time as the freeway extension south of Reno, giving Interstate 580 a total of 21 miles to open at roughly the same time. However, the section south of U.S. 50 (Phase 2) will not be complete until around 2010.
The official ground breaking for the completion of Phase I of the Carson City Bypass took place on October 15, 2003. The 4.8 mile section that composes Phase I is expected to open in about three years. The $69 million contract was awarded in August and will see the creation of freeway between U.S. 50 to the bottom of Lakeview Hill. Already complete is the $14 million first stage. This aspect of the project entailed the construction of four bridges over Northgate Lane, College Parkway and Arrowhead and Emerson drives. Work saw completion in 2001.
Nevada Department of Transportation officials are still seeking public input regarding Phase II of the Carson City Bypass. Also still in litigation is the acquisition of right-of-way of the Lompa Ranch. This large tract halted the project in 2002 as the state failed to secure the 82-acre ranch. A hearing on the subject is slated for June 2004, yet construction can begin as the state is already granted a right of entry. Phase II is expected to cost $160 million and be complete in 2010.1
At this time, Interstate 580 is planned to be co-signed with U.S. 395 for its entire length, except for possibly at the northern section (Phase I) of the Carson Bypass. Currently, plans call for U.S. 395 to follow the northern section, then return via U.S. 50 back into town until the southern end is complete. However, there is a possibility that U.S. 395 may retain its current routing through Carson City (via Nevada 529). After the freeway is complete through to the southern end, U.S. 395 would almost certainly be moved to the freeway. If the freeway is to open prior to designation as an Interstate, the highway may be signed temporarily as Nevada 580.
U.S. 395 North of Interstate 80
The section of U.S. 395 north of Interstate 80 in Reno is very unlikely to be considered as an extension of Interstate 580 because there is no political will to make that extension. Additionally, it would result in Interstate 580 entering California, which would cause a conflict with the well-known Interstate 580 in the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area of California.
Many thanks to Robert Herron for information about the status of Future Interstate 580.
Northbound U.S. 395/Interstate 580 approaching junction Nevada 667, Neil Road (Del Monte Lane), 2 1/2 miles. Nevada 667 is unsigned, as are all secondary state routes on overhead freeway signs in the Reno area. Photo taken by Mike Ballard in 1998.
Eastbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 15, Junction U.S. 395/Interstate 580 in Reno. This interchange marks the northern terminus of Interstate 580, which is currently not signed. Photo taken by Chris Elbert (03/19/05).
Once on the ramp from eastbound Interstate 80 to U.S. 395, the left lane connects to northbound U.S. 395, while the right lane connects to southbound U.S. 395. Photo taken by Chris Elbert (03/19/05).
Perspective from U.S. 395/Interstate 580 South
Immediately after the Interstate 80 interchange is this sign bridge, which shows that the first two exits along southbound U.S. 395/Interstate 580 are Exit 67, Glendale Avenue and Exit 66, Mill Street. The exit numbers convey the mileage for U.S. 395; it is 67 miles from here south to the Nevada-California State Line. Photo taken by Chris Elbert (03/19/05).
Perspective from U.S. 395/Interstate 580 North
Northbound U.S. 395/Interstate 580 at Mill Street, approaching Junction Interstate 80. Photo taken by Mike Ballard in 1998.
This Interstate 580 milepost is located near the northern terminus of the Interstate highway; it could be argued that the mileposts are the only current markers of Interstate 580 in the field currently. As is standard in Nevada, these white mileposts indicate the type of route (IR means Interstate), route number (580), mileage (it uses the U.S. 395 mileage), and county (WA means Washoe County). Photo taken by Mike Ballard (06/98).
Footnotes:
"Carson City freeway work begins." Reno Gazette-Journal, October 4, 2003.
"Freeway projects to start by the end of the year." Reno Gazette-Journal, October 13, 2003.
Billeci, Dave. Personal Email, "A I-580 NEVADA FACTOID" from March 23, 2006.
