Reno Spaghetti Bowl Project

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The Interstate 80/Interstate 580 interchange, referred to as the Spaghetti Bowl, is located in Washoe County, Nevada (Reno/Sparks).

The Spaghetti Bowl was originally constructed between 1969 and 1971 for a metropolitan population of about 130,000 people. The current population of Washoe County has increased to more than 420,000 people, with a forecasted growth rate exceeding state and national averages.

With a dramatic population increase and new job opportunities appearing at a high rate, portions of Interstate 80, Interstate 580, and U.S. 395 are at capacity. This results in increased congestion and increased crashes. About 260,000 vehicles per day used the Spaghetti Bowl in 2016, making it the busiest interchange in northern Nevada.

Without the future improvements, population growth is anticipated to lead to travel delay increases of 53 percent through the Spaghetti Bowl.

As the existing Spaghetti Bowl nears its design capacity, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), are phasing renovations to the Reno Spaghetti Bowl and approximately 12 miles of nearby interstate to enhance mobility and traffic safety for the Truckee Meadows.

PROJECT VIDEO

View video animation of future spaghetti bowl improvements here.

Proposed Phasing

Additional spaghetti bowl and interstate improvements will be built in prioritized phases through 2039 as funding is identified. Through four additional phases of construction over coming decades, other areas of the spaghetti bowl and 12 miles of metro interstate will be renovated to enhance traffic safety and mobility.

Phase 1 Spaghetti Bowl Xpress (Complete)

Phase 2 I-80 from spaghetti bowl to eastern McCarran Boulevard in Sparks

Phase 3 U.S. 395 from spaghetti bowl to N. McCarran/Clear Acre Avenue interchange, east side of U.S. 395

Phase 4 I-580 from spaghetti bowl to Moana Lane interchange

Phase 5 U.S. 395 from N. McCarran/Clear Acre Avenue interchange to spaghetti bowl, west side of U.S. 395

RIGHT OF WAY FOR PROJECT CONSTRUCTION

Reconstructing the Spaghetti Bowl and I-80/I-580/U.S. 395 will impact community and socioeconomic resources due to widening the freeways, relocating freeway ramps, and modifying local roads in some locations. NDOT will not construct new roads on new alignments, limiting the project’s impacts on community and socioeconomic resources.

Residential displacements would be the biggest community impacts of the Spaghetti Bowl project. For all alternatives, the greatest number of residential relocations are adjacent to the Spaghetti Bowl. Reconstructing the Spaghetti Bowl is expected to occur in five phases over about a 20-year period. This means that the displacements would be spread over several years, reducing the number of residents and businesses looking for replacement housing and business locations at any one time. NDOT and FHWA will continue to explore opportunities to reduce the project’s residential displacement impacts during design. Detailed descriptions of residential displacements can be found in Section 6.0 of the Spaghetti Bowl Community Impacts Assessment Technical Report in Appendix D.2 of the environmental impact statements below. As the alternatives are refined during the design process, the number of displacements may change.

The Nevada Department of Transportation’s Right-of-Way Division performs acquisition and relocation functions and provides full implementation in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended (Uniform Act) in the relocation, advisory assistance, and reimbursement of displaced persons and businesses.

PROJECT LIMITS

I-80 Western Limits: Sierra/Virginia/Center Street Interchange
I-80 Eastern Limits: East McCarran Boulevard Interchange
I-580/U.S. 395 Northern Limits: N. McCarran/Clear Acre Avenue Interchange
I-580/U.S. 395 Southern Limits: Moana Lane Interchange

Includes a total of 10 service interchanges, one system-to-system interchange, braided/collector distributor systems, and multiple local roads (cross streets and frontages).

PROJECT GOALS

Accelerated Delivery: Complete National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in three and a half years or less
Long Term Relief: Develop ultimate project to meet 2040 demands
Construction Delay: Minimize closures and detours during construction by design
Public Support: Secure endorsement from the local governments and a favorable opinion from the public
Right-of-Way: Minimize displacements
Safety: Create improvements targeted to high-crash areas as early as possible
Operations: Create interchange system fully functional and easily navigable within project limits
Aesthetics: Enhance the community’s driving experience through visually appealing improvements to the project area

PROJECT STATUS

Phase 1, Spaghetti Bowl Xpress - Completed

Known as Spaghetti Bowl Xpress, the first phase of spaghetti bowl renovations restriped eastbound Interstate 80 lanes between Wells Avenue and the Spaghetti Bowl and widened the eastbound I-80 to southbound I-580 Spaghetti Bowl ramp to two lanes. Auxiliary merge lanes and improved ramps were also added on southbound I-580 between the Spaghetti Bowl and Plumb Lane, along with sound and aesthetic walls. The project substantially completed in the end of 2022.

Future Phases

For more information about the right-of-way process and relocation assistance in Nevada, please view information HERE or contact NDOT’s Right-of-Way division at 775-888-7480.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

NDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision for the Interstate 80/I-580/U.S. 395 Spaghetti Bowl Interchange Reconstruction project in 2019. The EIS analyzed transportation improvements for this project consisting of reconstructing the freeway and bridges, reconstructing and modifying interchange access to improve safety and traffic flow, and reconstructing local streets affected by the freeway reconstruction. NDOT is implementing measures to avoid, reduce, or otherwise mitigate potential impacts associated with this project in compliance with federal, state, and local laws.

At this time, project staff has identified Alternative 2 as the Preferred Alternative.

While NDOT has identified this preferred alternative for the overall project, final design may slightly alter which properties might be impacted in future construction phases.

SPAGHETTI BOWL PROJECT FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (FEIS): The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (United States Code [U.S.C.] Title 42 Section 4332) requires that all federal agencies prepare a detailed environmental impact statement (EIS) for major federal actions that will significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is therefore required to prepare an EIS for proposals funded under its authority if such proposals are determined to be major actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

Preferred Alternative Map

Record of Decision

FEIS Cover, Signature and Abstract Page, NEPA Statement

FEIS Executive Summary

FEIS Front Matter

1. FEIS Chapter 1 Project Need

2. Range of Alternatives Considered and Identification of the Preferred Alternative

3. Existing Conditions, Impact, and Mitigation Measures

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Community Resources

3.3 Environmental Justice

3.4 Traffic Noise