If Interstate 70 was expanded from Utah to California, where would it end? (Fresno: vs, parks)

[ragnarkar]

Well, given that I-180 in Wyoming is not even an Interstate highway and 2-lane interestates were acceptable before the 90s, I think we can work something out..

1) Break off the end piece of I-70 from Salina, UT to the terminus at I-15. Rename it something like I-270.

2) Route I-70 along US 50 starting at Salina. Continue west on US-50 until Ely, NV.

3) At Ely, NV, continue southwest along US-6.

4) Head west along CA-120

5) Head north on US-395

6) Head west on CA-108

7) Head west on CA-120

8) Head west on I-580

9) Head southwest on I-680

10) Head southwest on CA-17

11) "I-70" ends in Santa Cruz, CA.

Note: there's no need to construct additional roads or even onramps. Just spend a few or hundred thousand dollars on I-70 signs along the above route.

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by 212david51

A few years back when Harry Reid (D-NV) became Senate majority Leader and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was Speaker of the House, I contacted both and proposed Interstate 70 be completed thru Nevada to Carson City, swing south around Lake Tahoe and tunneled under the Sierra Nevada range to Sacramento. I gave many reason why this should be done, all benefits to Nevada, California and Lake Tahoe. I never got a response from Pelosi, probably because I was not from California. From Reid's office I got that the road is not needed, get this, because no one drives that route. By that logic, the National Road should never have been built. If I70 is completed it would take a major load off both I80 and I15. It would also cut the traffic going around the south end of Lake Tahoe, helping to preserve the lake. It would give a year round road that would need far less plowing than I80. Plus it would open up the center of Nevada for development. So it does not look like this will get done in my life time. We will continue to use the interstate system based upon road traffic of the 1930s.

No but we can build worthless trillion dollar bullet trains to nowhere. LOL

[Count David]

The government doesn't want people going through the middle of Nevada.

Heck, the only purpose it serves across Utah is getting to Colorado, as there isn't much use for it within Utah, except for the 20,000 are so that might live within 50 miles of it.

[bigdumbgod]

Aren't 395, 89, and 50 adequate for the 70/Halleluja Junction-to-Sacto route already?

[otterprods]

It would just be extended along where UT/NV/CA Hwy's 50 and 6 are now which terminates just east of the Sierra. No good way to cross from there because of all the pesky National Parks blocking our freeway fun.

The only way would be to head north a bit and follow Hwy 108's path over the ridge and then merge with the other freeways just west of Manteca for Bay Area access. But that's not enough of a savings over what i-80 already offers so it won't happen, thankfully.

[bigdumbgod]

Well then, how about a High-Speed Rai...oh wait, no, nevermind.

[NickB1967]

If that happened, it would take over the route of US 50 most likely, and US 50 would disappear, just as US 40 disappeared in California after the construction of I-80 along the same route.

The tricky part would be bypassing the Lake Tahoe Section of US 50.

[MrWillys]

Sonora pass is 9600' and currently has 27% grades. Up from Gardenerville on 88 to Hope valley and down the Mormon trail might work, but I just don't see the need. The middle of Nevada is pretty barren, and so the only real benefit would be boring a tunnel around Mammoth to get to Fresno.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by MrWillys

the only real benefit would be boring

Yes! Nothing much to see.

Feds probably would prefer we not see some things out there, anyway.

[MrWillys]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

Yes! Nothing much to see.

Feds probably would prefer we not see some things out there, anyway.

I congratulate you only the funny, but my point was more about being half way between 40 and 80 to service central CA, and the Sierra is just to damn tall. Eastern NV is real pretty out around Ely, but very sparse. A straighter route from central East would have it's benefits, but at a high cost. Not to mention more people at my favorite hot springs.