- Nevada State Route 431
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State Route 431 Mount Rose Highway Route information Maintained by NDOT Length: 24.413 mi[1] (39.289 km) Existed: 1976 – present History: SR 27 by 1941 Major junctions West end: SR 28 in Incline Village East end: US 395 / SR 430 / SR 341 in Reno Highway system ← SR 430 SR 443 → State Route 431 (SR 431), commonly known as the Mount Rose Highway, is a 24.4 mile (39.3 km) two lane highway in Washoe County, Nevada that connects Incline Village-Crystal Bay at Lake Tahoe with Reno. The highway, a Nevada Scenic Byway, takes its name from Mount Rose, which lies just off the highway. Prior to 1976, the highway existed as State Route 27.
Contents
Route description
The highway begins along the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe in the city of Incline Village. The highway scales the Sierra Nevada until reaching a meadow that is used as an access for the Mount Rose Wilderness. Along the western ascent is a view area with directional markers pointing to several notable peaks in the Sierra Nevada range that surround Lake Tahoe. The highway crests the Sierra at Mount Rose Summit. The Nevada Department of Transportation has claimed in several places this is the highest summit open year round in the Sierra Nevada mountain range (8,911 feet (2,716 m)).[2] Both the east and west approach to the summit feature hairpin curves.
On the eastern approach to the summit, the highway passes by the Mount Rose Ski Area and features overlooks with views of both Reno and Washoe Valley. After several serpentine bends the highway arrives at an area of Reno called Galena. In Galena the highway has a junction with the current end of the future Interstate 580 freeway, although the interstate is currently unsigned. Just past this it terminates at a junction with US 395 (hidden SR 430) and SR 341, which continues towards Virginia City.
History
The road has existed at least as far back as 1950 as an access to the ski areas of Mount Rose. At that time it was a dirt road only passable by automobile in the summer months.[3]
Approximately 20 miles (32 km) of SR 431 was designated as the Mount Rose Scenic Nevada Scenic Byway by the Nevada Department of Transportation on June 27, 1996.[4]
Rapid growth in the Reno area has put strain on the corridor served by the highway. This has prompted environmentalists to push for restrictions on future development along the corridor.[5]
Major intersections
The entire route is in Washoe County.
Location
[6]Mile
[1][7]Destinations Notes Incline Village 0.0 SR 28 – Crystal Bay, Carson City 3 Country Club Drive 8.06 View area – Lake Tahoe 9 Mount Rose Wilderness access 10 Mount Rose Ski Resort 11 Slide Mountain Road (SR 878) – Mount Rose East Bowl 17 Joy Lake Road Reno 23 US 395 north – Reno Future I-580 24.4 US 395 south / SR 430 / SR 341 – Reno, Carson City, Virginia City SR 430 south signed as US 395 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi References
- ^ a b "State Maintained Highways of Nevada: Descriptions and Maps – Quarter 3 Update". Nevada Department of Transportation. October 2011. http://www.nevadadot.com/About_NDOT/NDOT_Divisions/Planning/Roadway_Systems/State_Maintained_Highways,_Descriptions,_Index___Maps.aspx. Retrieved 12 Oct 2011.
- ^ "Mount Rose Scenic Byway". U.S. Department of Transportation - National Scenic Byways Program. http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2034/.
- ^ "The History of Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe". Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. http://www.mtrose.com/general_information/history.php. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
- ^ "Nevada's Scenic Byways". Nevada Department of Transportation. http://www.nevadadot.com/Traveler_Info/Scenic_Byways/Nevada_s_Scenic_Byways.aspx. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "Mt. Rose Scenic Corridor". Keep Washoe Wild. http://www.mtrosesceniccorridor.com/. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
- ^ Benchmark Maps (2003). Nevada Road and Recreation Atlas (Map). 1:250000. ISBN 0-929591-81-X. http://www.benchmark.com.
- ^ Integer miles derived from Benchmark Maps
External links
Categories:- Nevada Scenic Byways
- State highways in Nevada
- Transportation in Washoe County, Nevada
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