Highway Wall Updates
Community Input Leads to Design Additions for Highway Walls
For us at NDOT, the input of our fellow Nevadans is vital in providing a top transportation system.
In June, we invited the Spanish Springs community to provide feedback regarding walls being constructed as part of the Pyramid Highway project. Nearly 1,000 community members ranked options to enhance and blend where the wave pattern currently breaks on the wall aesthetics.
As part of the survey, community members ranked the pelican and fish icons with a wave background as favorite designs. Based on this important community feedback, we are currently developing final designs to add these two icons to walls being constructed on the east side of the highway. These community-selected designs you see below will be interspersed with an offset wave icon to enhance a continuous wave design.
August 12, 2024 update: Metal wave patterns will be painted the same color as the wall to better visually continue the wave pattern in concrete, as well as to help the fish and pelican aesthetics stand out better.
We are right now finalizing the designs above to best fit the spacing of the existing wave on the various wall panels.
The finalized designs will then be transferred and expertly fabricated, with the edges sanded by hand and powder and weather coating used to enhance and protect the design. The new icons will then be installed as a finishing element of construction next year. These new wall aesthetics are a more cost-effective option than replacing the walls.
These screening and sound wall aesthetics, reflecting Pyramid Lake’s rich biodiversity, are part of roadside landscaping and aesthetics which can enhance the environment and highlight the community’s natural history. Thank you to our fellow Nevadans who took the time to complete the survey and share your feedback on the highway wall design concepts.
Partial Wall Removals for Visibility Near Oasis Mobile Estates and Blue Gem Estates
Community members will also see end sections of the walls at the Pyramid Highway entrance to Oasis Mobile Estates and Blue Gem Estates removed over the coming weeks. Removing these end panels will further optimize sight visibility for drivers and pedestrians, and is a proactive way to enhance visibility and safety for all before the pathway opens. This adjustment of the wall end sections will also result in removal of one of the existing wave jumps, leading to more consistent aesthetics.