Medians and access improvements help reduce conflict points and improve safety along the corridor. In some areas, left-turn movements may be consolidated or restricted to improve traffic predictability and reduce the potential for severe crashes. Emergency access will be maintained.
In some locations, raised medians may change how vehicles access properties. This could include converting certain driveways to right-in/right-out only or consolidating or closing driveways where spacing or safety concerns exist.
These changes are proposed to limit unsafe turning movements, improve traffic predictability, and decrease the potential for severe crashes along the corridor. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained, and the project team will continue coordinating with affected property owners as design progresses.
Click here to view current proposed access modifications.
No. The corridor will continue to provide two travel lanes in each direction.
Traffic studies show that the existing number of lanes is sufficient to accommodate current and projected traffic volumes. The project is focused on improving safety and traffic operations rather than increasing roadway capacity.
The project includes a center two-way left-turn lane and may include raised medians in select areas to improve safety, reduce conflicts, and better manage turning movements without adding additional through lanes.
The project is designed to improve safety along a corridor identified on the region’s High Injury Network, where a higher concentration of severe crashes has occurred.
Improvements such as raised medians, improved access management, upgraded signals, enhanced pedestrian crossings, and improved lighting are intended to reduce conflict points and improve predictability for all users. While no project can eliminate crashes entirely, these improvements are expected to reduce the potential for severe collisions.
Sun Valley Boulevard currently relies on large open ditches and undersized culverts that have limited capacity and are difficult to maintain.
The project replaces these aging features with a modern storm drain system designed to capture the 100-year storm event. Improvements include new curb and gutter, catch basins, storm drain laterals, reinforced concrete pipes and box culverts, an upstream detention facility to manage peak flows, upsized conveyance systems, and downstream channel improvements near Rampion Way.
These upgrades are intended to reduce roadway flooding, improve pedestrian accessibility, and enhance long-term drainage resilience along the corridor while maintaining existing regional drainage patterns.
The project includes upgrades to transit stops, including improved accessibility, bus pads, and benches. Shelters will be installed at select locations. Some bus stop locations may be adjusted to improve safety, accessibility, and coordination with pedestrian crossings. There are currently no proposed changes to bus routes as part of this project.
Yes. The project includes new pedestrian-scale lighting along the shared-use path to improve visibility and safety for people walking and bicycling.
Roadway lighting will also be upgraded as needed to meet current safety standards, particularly at intersections and crossings.
Yes. The project will require both permanent right-of-way and temporary construction easements in certain locations to construct pedestrian, bicycle, and drainage improvements.
If a property is affected, the owner will be contacted directly, and the right-of-way process will follow the federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended.
Yes. The project includes new landscape monument features and xeriscape planting in select locations to enhance corridor aesthetics.
Landscaping is being designed to complement the roadway improvements while supporting long-term maintenance and water efficiency. Landscaping within the project limits will be maintained by Washoe County following construction.