Route Description
I-580 is still under development. The freeway exists today from I-80 near downtown Reno south to Fairview Drive in Carson City. Eventually, the highway will continue in a southerly direction from Fairview Drive to terminate at the junction of US 395 and US 50 just south of Carson City. Fairview Drive is being temporarily used as a connector to Carson Street and US 395.
The constructed portion begins at Fairview Drive along the eastern edge of Eagle Valley, where most of the population of Carson City lives. The highway loosely follows the former alignments of Edmonds Drive and Lompa Lane along the eastern half of the city, which were relocated or truncated to make room for the freeway.
After rejoining the original alignment of US 395 near the Carson–Tahoe Hospital the highway crests Lakeview Hill to enter Washoe Valley. The portion of I-580 through Washoe Valley is prone to high cross winds and the freeway is frequently closed to high profile vehicles. During prohibited times, trucks are re-routed to U.S. Route 395 Alternate, which is the old routing of US 395. The high wind area ends near the Bowers Mansion interchange near the northern end of Washoe Valley. The freeway crests Washoe Hill which leads to Pleasant Valley.
Unlike the old US 395 which ran along the valley floor of Pleasant Valley, I-580 is routed in the mountains overlooking the valley. While traversing Pleasant Valley, the highway crosses the Galena Creek Bridge, the largest cathedral arch bridge in the world. Upon the descent from these mountains the highway cuts through the center of one of the largest geothermal power plants in the United States, Ormat Industries' Nevada Power station, just before entering Reno.
At the extreme southern edge of Reno the highway has a junction with the Mount Rose Highway (SR 431) and Geiger Grade (SR 341), which connect the freeway with Virginia City and North Lake Tahoe. Upon entering Reno, the freeway proceeds in a generally northern direction, crossing Virginia Street, the old routing of US 395, several times. Along the way the freeway passes to the side of the The Summit Sierra Mall, Meadowood Mall and Reno–Tahoe International Airport. The I-580 designation ends at the Reno Spaghetti Bowl where the highway crosses I-80; however, the freeway continues on as US 395, heading towards the north valley neighborhoods of Sun Valley, Lemon Valley and Stead before eventually crossing the California state line.
Read more about this topic: Interstate 580 (Nevada)
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