Tesla vehicles drive to mark Nevada road project milestone

CARSON CITY — All-electric Tesla vehicles drove through a banner Monday near the company’s gigafactory in Storey County to celebrate the opening of a road extension connecting U.S. Highway 50 with the industrial area east of Reno.

The USA Parkway extension will open in September and connect the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, home to Switch, Tesla and other companies, south to Highway 50 near Silver Springs. The new access is expected to provide an economic boost to the area about 40 miles east of the Nevada capital.

“The opening of USA Parkway will transform the region’s transportation capabilities,” said Gov. Brian Sandoval. “Now the millions of goods made in or distributed from Nevada will be able to move more swiftly and with greater ease.”

The $75.9 million project was finished three months early and on budget by Ames Construction. Work to extend the parkway began in June 2016.

The Nevada Department of Transportation project will extend the existing six-mile-long USA Parkway by more than 12 miles to reach U.S. 50 at Silver Springs, creating an approximately 18-mile-long, four-lane state roadway between Interstate 80 and U.S. 50.

Known as state Route 439, the new roadway will further link the greater Reno/Sparks area with the U.S. 50 corridor, enhancing regional mobility and creating an additional route for commuter, freight and other traffic.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3820. Follow @seanw801 on Twitter