Last week, the Nevada Department of Transportation held a groundbreaking ceremony on Phase 1 of the new Pyramid Highway Project, and construction of this first iteration is now underway. Phase 1 will widen and improve sections of the thoroughfare between Queen Way and Golden View Drive to enhance traffic mobility and safety.
In Phase 1 of this six-phase project, Pyramid Highway will be widened from four lanes to six lanes (three travel lanes in each direction) from Queen Way to Los Altos Parkway. Bike lanes, medians, shoulder improvements, curbs, gutters, and a 10-ft. wide pedestrian path on the east side of the road will also be installed. The four travel lanes between Los Altos Parkway and Golden View Drive will also be supported. Landscaping, smart traffic signals, and improved drainage infrastructure to prevent roadway flooding are also in the plans.
The Pyramid Highway connector project was first talked about in 2008 following the results of the Regional Transportation Commission’s Pyramid Highway/US-395 Connection Study (and before that, the Pyramid Highway Corridor Management Plan from 2001). Local transportation entities were then able to identify the most pressing issues along the corridor and created the following six objectives: 1) Address existing congestion problems on Pyramid Highway; 2) Service existing and forecasted population growth; 3) Address existing travel inefficiencies; 4) Address safety problems on Pyramid Highway; 5) Address existing and future access needs; and 6) Be responsive to regional and local plans.
In December of 2018, the Pyramid Highway/US-395 Connection Final EIS and Record of Decision was approved by the Federal Highway Administration.
Phase 1 of the Pyramid Highway Project will widen and enhance 2.5 miles of SR-445/aka Pyramid Highway in this two-year construction plan taking place now through summer of 2025. During construction, lanes will be slightly reduced and shifted through the work zone and the speed limit will be 45mph 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pedestrian and bicycle access will still be available with marked detours in place where needed. Lanes will be reduced to one lane during nighttime hours of 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday evenings-Friday mornings.
This summer (through November), commuters can expect traffic to be shifted slightly to the east side of Pyramid for construction to take place on the west side from Queen Way to Los Altos Parkway. Most overnight lane closures will be on the southbound part of the highway. Throughout most of 2024, construction crews will focus on improving the northbound side of the roadway, and then hopefully in late 2024/early 2025 crews will finish paving, striping, and other touchups. However, this construction schedule is weather permitting and subject to change.
NDOT Spokesperson Meg Ragonese assured residents that while there were some temporary right-of-way property acquisitions to provide construction access for this phase, no permanent acquisitions are in place.
Granite Construction is contracted for the $66 million project, and is partially funded through the $23 million BUILD grant, the Local Fuel Tax, and other sources.
“We just ask for those to be patient during construction, and especially pay attention to lane changes in these first few weeks. Speed limits will also be reduced through the work zone to 45mph at all hours of the day, so please take it slow and be safe,” Ragonese says.
