West Fourth Street Safety Project breaks ground in downtown Reno
The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County celebrated the start of construction on the West Fourth Street Safety Project on March 2, 2026, with a groundbreaking ceremony at Johnny’s Ristorante Italiano in downtown Reno.
The $24 million project will fully reconstruct one of the city’s key westside corridors, transforming West Fourth Street into a safer, more connected route for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Approximately $14 million of the project’s funding comes from the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program.
“It began really as a pavement rehabilitation, and then it evolved and will now transform this corridor,” said Reno City Councilmember Devon Reese.
RTC Project Manager Scott Gibson highlighted the scale of the investment. “This project represents a $24 million investment in our community, and approximately $14 million of that came from the Highway Safety Improvement Program.”
What’s being built
At its core, the project involves a complete rebuild of the roadway for long-term durability — but the improvements go well beyond repaving. New roundabouts will be constructed at Stoker Avenue and Summit Ridge, replacing traditional signalized intersections to improve traffic flow and reduce the severity of collisions.
The project also prioritizes non-motorized travel. Continuous multi-use paths will be constructed on both sides of the corridor — along the south side from Vine Street to Stoker Avenue, and along the north side from Vine Street to McCarran Boulevard — creating an uninterrupted connection for pedestrians and cyclists across the length of the project.
Between Edwards Way and McCarran Boulevard, the roadway will also be streamlined with fewer travel lanes, a proven approach to calming traffic speeds and improving safety outcomes for all users.
Together, the improvements will modernize West Fourth Street while making it safer and more accessible for everyone who uses it.
Construction is expected to continue through November 2026. For more information, visit fourthstreetimprovements.com/west-fourth.
