LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Several important agenda items were discussed in The Nevada Department of Transportation's Board of Directors meeting Monday.
As a part of the meeting, the state transportation board was able to approve vital new Nevada highway construction projects and agreements. According to NDOT, "the projects will cumulatively support nearly 550 jobs for a year."
The state transportation board has just approved vital new Nevada highway construction projects and agreements.
— Nevada DOT (@nevadadot) December 13, 2021
Together, the projects will cumulatively support nearly 550 jobs for a year. #nevadajobs @DiversifyNevada pic.twitter.com/prKUuYcooe
NDOT detailed issues like the record high number of fatalities statewide, future projects expanding travel in the northern part of the state, and the issue that Californians and Nevadans deal with alike, the bottleneck on Interstate 15 at the state line.
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NDOT director Kristina Swallow discussed the record number of fatalities on our roadways statewide, which has risen to more than 349 deaths.
Nevada has seen 30 more deaths on our roads this year, for a total comparable to the two worst years for fatalities over the past decade, Swallow said.
Another initiative NDOT is actively working on is sustainable funding and viability. How can they improve transportation while staying within budget and reducing emissions? We can expect to hear more on those plans in January of 2022.
Work is also being done in Northern Nevada. Soon, residents in Reno can look forward to more convenient travel as they work to finish the Reno Spaghetti Bowl, which is currently 60% complete.
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As far as the southern portion of the state, we are all too familiar with the bottlenecks at the California-Nevada state line.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are coming together to execute a plan that should relieve some of that traffic.
Some plans already in progress are the re-striping and re-paving of the shoulder, essentially adding an additional passing lane for those traveling from the state line through Primm.
Work on that project is expected to begin in Spring of next year and be complete by summer of 2022.
More from Zora Asberry: Looking forward: The future of transportation in Las Vegas is already in motion
