Nevada’s Runaway Ramps Save Lives

Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and when their brakes fail, an emergency can develop within seconds. This is where runaway ramps come into play. These lanes are much more than just wide exits. They are specially designed structures built to safely stop trucks that leave the roadway.

Runaway ramps are built because braking systems have a limited ability to withstand high temperatures. For this reason, some mountain highways have brake-check areas where drivers are required to inspect their braking systems, shift into a lower gear, and use engine braking to avoid excessive use of conventional brakes. However, when mechanical failures, excessive loads, and improper braking techniques combine, drivers may have very few options for safely stopping their vehicles in an emergency.

As a result, runaway ramps not only help drivers regain control of trucks with brake failure but also save the lives of truck drivers and other motorists sharing the road. The state of Nevada has four runaway ramps strategically located along its highways to help ensure road safety.

Runaway Ramps in Nevada

Currently, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has four runaway ramps installed along the middle and lower sections of its steepest downhill grades, where the risk of brake failure is higher. Technical assessments are conducted to determine the location of these ramps, taking into account factors such as road gradient, heavy truck traffic volume, accident records, and terrain characteristics.

Nevada’s highways connecting Reno, Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and the southern part of the state feature long stretches of steep downhill grades regularly traveled by large trucks. Nevada’s four runaway ramps are located at the following sites:

1. SR 431 – Mount Rose Highway

Located near Incline Village on the westbound descent, this runaway ramp features an arresting system consisting of asphalt pavement and six pretensioned arresting nets that catch the front of the vehicle and absorb energy. It also has a heated surface to reduce snow and ice problems.

This is the ramp that uses a net-based arresting system rather than relying exclusively on a gravel bed.

2. US 50 – CC Milepost 2.98

One of the two runaway ramps located along US 50, this ramp lies between the Lake Tahoe area and Carson City, specifically at milepost CC 2.98. Its arresting system consists of a specialized gravel bed made of carefully selected, rounded stones. The gravel creates resistance against the truck’s forward movement and helps bring it to a stop.

The Nevada Department of Transportation has documented gravel maintenance and cleaning work at the escape ramps along US 50.

3. US Route 50 – CC Milepost 7.03

The second runaway ramp along US 50 is located on the corridor near Carson City and the access route to the Lake Tahoe area, at milepost CC 7.03. It features a gravel-bed escape ramp designed to slow down and stop heavy vehicles that lose their brakes while traveling downhill.

4. SR 163 – Laughlin Highway

Last but not least is the runaway ramp along SR 163. Located in the Laughlin area of southern Nevada, it features an emergency escape ramp braking system. Depending on their design, ramps of this type may use specialized gravel or an uphill grade to bring vehicles to a stop.

Their purpose is to allow an out-of-control vehicle to leave the roadway and come to a safe stop.

These locations have been strategically selected because of the high volume of vehicles traveling through these areas. For truck drivers and other motorists alike, knowing where these ramps are located is important for being prepared in an emergency.

So, the next time you drive near a runaway ramp, remember to take note of its location. It could make all the difference when an emergency occurs.