U.S. Route 50 Alternate (Nevada)
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. state
of Nevada
, U.S. Route 50 Alternate (Alternate US 50, US 50A) is an east–west alternate route
of U.S. Route 50. The highway splits from US 50 in Silver Springs
, heading north to Fernley
and then southeast to rejoin US 50 west of Fallon
. Over the years, the route has held several numerical highway designations.
. Crossing over the Truckee Canal, US 50A/US 95A enter the city of Fernley on Commerce Way. Shortly afterwards, the two routes intersect State Route 427. As SR 427 heads west towards Interstate 80 and Wadsworth
, US 50A/US 95A turn east to follow Main Street (old US 40) through downtown Fernley. After approximately 1 miles (1.6 km), the two routes intersect Farm District Road (State Route 828) at a roundabout on the east end of town. The junction is the site of the former split of the Victory
and Lincoln
Highways; US 95A turns northeast to join Interstate 80 (old US 40) along the old Victory Highway while US 50A heads southeast following the north branch of the Lincoln Highway.
Outside of Fernley, Alternate US 50 travels about 10 miles (16.1 km) east to pass through the small community of Hazen
. After that, the highway turns southeast and runs about 7 miles (11.3 km) more to its terminus with US 50 at the Leeteville Junction about 9 miles (14.5 km) west of downtown Fallon.
The routing of Alternate US 50 between Fernley and Fallon dates back to the establishment of the Nevada's highway system. The road first became a numbered highway with the designation of State Route 2 in 1917, comprising the western end of the route. This highway had been paved by 1933.
In 1940, the route received a second numerical desingation when U.S. Route 95 was extended into Nevada. US 95 followed US 40 (State Route 1) southwest from Winnemucca
to Fernley, then backtracked to Fallon along State Route 2 before heading south. The alignment of US 95 was changed to overlap State Route 1A north of Fallon in 1959, rendering the circuitous route through Fernley obsolete. The highway that had been US 95 between Fernley and Fallon was rechristened as U.S. Route 95 Alternate. This action resulted in two separate highways simultaneously carrying the Alternate US 95 designation, as present-day US 95A south of Fernley had been created years earlier.
The dual instances of US 95A remained in place for several years. With Utah
having discontinued its portions of Alternate US 50 in the early 1970s, Nevada officials were able to reassign the US 50A designation. Current Alternate US 50 came into existence around the time of Nevada's state highway renumbering in 1976. While the new number was posted along the road circa 1977 and first seen on Nevada's state highway map in the 1978 edition, the designation had yet to be formally approved. Interestingly, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO, which governs the assignment of U.S. Highway numbers) finally approved the routing at a highway numbering committee meeting held on April 25, 1997, nearly 20 years after US 50A was first signed.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, U.S. Route 50 Alternate (Alternate US 50, US 50A) is an east–west alternate route
Alternate route
An official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Route system and various state route systems...
of U.S. Route 50. The highway splits from US 50 in Silver Springs
Silver Springs, Nevada
Silver Springs is a census-designated place in Lyon County, Nevada, United States at the intersection of U.S. 50 and U.S. 95A. The population was 4,708 at the 2000 census. Lahontan Reservoir, Lahontan State Recreation Area and historic Fort Churchill State Historic Park are all located nearby...
, heading north to Fernley
Fernley, Nevada
Fernley is a city in Lyon County, Nevada, United States, within Reno-Sparks-Lake Tahoe metropolitan. The city incorporated in 2001, including land in Washoe County; prior to that it was a census-designated place . The population of the CDP was 8,543 at the 2000 census; the city itself had an...
and then southeast to rejoin US 50 west of Fallon
Fallon, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
. Over the years, the route has held several numerical highway designations.
Route description
Alternate US 50 begins in Silver Springs, at the junction of U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 95 Alternate. From there, the highway overlaps with Alternate US 95 for about 14 miles (22.5 km) as it heads north through Lyon CountyLyon County, Nevada
Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,980. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
. Crossing over the Truckee Canal, US 50A/US 95A enter the city of Fernley on Commerce Way. Shortly afterwards, the two routes intersect State Route 427. As SR 427 heads west towards Interstate 80 and Wadsworth
Wadsworth, Nevada
Wadsworth is a census-designated place in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The population was 881 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town was named for General James S. Wadsworth, a Civil War general killed at the battle of the...
, US 50A/US 95A turn east to follow Main Street (old US 40) through downtown Fernley. After approximately 1 miles (1.6 km), the two routes intersect Farm District Road (State Route 828) at a roundabout on the east end of town. The junction is the site of the former split of the Victory
Victory Highway
The Victory Highway was an auto trail across the United States between New York City and San Francisco, roughly equivalent to the present U.S. Route 40.-History:...
and Lincoln
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
Highways; US 95A turns northeast to join Interstate 80 (old US 40) along the old Victory Highway while US 50A heads southeast following the north branch of the Lincoln Highway.
Outside of Fernley, Alternate US 50 travels about 10 miles (16.1 km) east to pass through the small community of Hazen
Hazen, Nevada
Hazen is an unincorporated community in Churchill County, Nevada, United States, about 12 miles southeast of Fernley and 16 miles northwest of Fallon, on U.S. Route 50....
. After that, the highway turns southeast and runs about 7 miles (11.3 km) more to its terminus with US 50 at the Leeteville Junction about 9 miles (14.5 km) west of downtown Fallon.
History
- For history of US 50A between Silver Springs and Fernley, see U.S. Route 95 Alternate.
The routing of Alternate US 50 between Fernley and Fallon dates back to the establishment of the Nevada's highway system. The road first became a numbered highway with the designation of State Route 2 in 1917, comprising the western end of the route. This highway had been paved by 1933.
In 1940, the route received a second numerical desingation when U.S. Route 95 was extended into Nevada. US 95 followed US 40 (State Route 1) southwest from Winnemucca
Winnemucca, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 2,736 households, and 1,824 families residing in the city. The population density was 867.5 people per square mile . There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 396.6 per square mile...
to Fernley, then backtracked to Fallon along State Route 2 before heading south. The alignment of US 95 was changed to overlap State Route 1A north of Fallon in 1959, rendering the circuitous route through Fernley obsolete. The highway that had been US 95 between Fernley and Fallon was rechristened as U.S. Route 95 Alternate. This action resulted in two separate highways simultaneously carrying the Alternate US 95 designation, as present-day US 95A south of Fernley had been created years earlier.
The dual instances of US 95A remained in place for several years. With Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
having discontinued its portions of Alternate US 50 in the early 1970s, Nevada officials were able to reassign the US 50A designation. Current Alternate US 50 came into existence around the time of Nevada's state highway renumbering in 1976. While the new number was posted along the road circa 1977 and first seen on Nevada's state highway map in the 1978 edition, the designation had yet to be formally approved. Interestingly, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States...
(AASHTO, which governs the assignment of U.S. Highway numbers) finally approved the routing at a highway numbering committee meeting held on April 25, 1997, nearly 20 years after US 50A was first signed.
Former routes of US 50 Alternate
The current route of Alternate US 50 in Nevada is not the first alignment to bear the designation. The previous alignments are as follows:- An alternate route may have previously existed in FallonFallon, Nevada-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
when US 50 was routed along State Route 119Nevada State Route 119State Route 119 is a state highway in Nevada, USA. It connects U.S. Route 95 east to NAS Fallon as part of Berney Road....
(Berney Road) and US 95.
- Alternate US 50 was defined to run along what is now US 93 and US 93 AlternateU.S. Route 93 Alternate (Nevada)In the U.S. state of Nevada, U.S. Route 93 Alternate is an alternate route of U.S. Route 93 located in the northeast part of the state. It connects Lages Station to Wells via the town of West Wendover....
between ElyEly, NevadaEly is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
and West WendoverWest Wendover, NevadaWest Wendover is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 4,721 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area. West Wendover is located on the eastern border of Nevada and the western edge of the Great Salt Lake Desert, and is contiguous with...
. From there, it followed US 40 (now Interstate 80 east across the Great Salt Lake DesertGreat Salt Lake DesertThe Great Salt Lake Desert is a large dry lake in northern Utah between the Great Salt Lake and the Nevada border which is noted for white sand from evaporite Lake Bonneville salt deposits...
in UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, through Salt Lake CitySalt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, south along US 91 (now Interstate 15) to rejoin US 50 south of Provo, UtahProvo, UtahProvo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. This routing had been the former alignment of mainline US 50. Utah discontinued certain overlapping sections of US 50A in 1972.
Major intersections
- Note: Mileposts in Nevada reset at county lines. The start and end mileposts for each county are given in the county column.
| County | Location | Mile | Roads Intersected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon Lyon County, Nevada Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,980. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:... 0.00–23.27 |
Silver Springs Silver Springs, Nevada Silver Springs is a census-designated place in Lyon County, Nevada, United States at the intersection of U.S. 50 and U.S. 95A. The population was 4,708 at the 2000 census. Lahontan Reservoir, Lahontan State Recreation Area and historic Fort Churchill State Historic Park are all located nearby... |
0.00 | West end of Alternate US 95 overlap | |
| Fernley Fernley, Nevada Fernley is a city in Lyon County, Nevada, United States, within Reno-Sparks-Lake Tahoe metropolitan. The city incorporated in 2001, including land in Washoe County; prior to that it was a census-designated place . The population of the CDP was 8,543 at the 2000 census; the city itself had an... |
||||
| East end of Alternate US 95 overlap | ||||
| Churchill Churchill County, Nevada Churchill County is a county located in the western U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 23,982. As of July 1, 2007, the population of Churchill County was estimated at 27,190. The county, named after Mexican-American War hero brevet Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill,... 0.00–9.29 |
9.29 |