Petition to Repair State Route 361: Gabbs Valley Road

A Call for Road Safety and Immediate Action in Mineral and Nye Counties, Nevada

To: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)

Submitted by: Concerned residents of Mineral County / Nye County and all users of State Route 361 

Our Petition

We, the undersigned residents of Mineral and Nye Counties, Nevada, and concerned users of State Route 361 (SR-361), respectfully call upon the Nevada Department of Transportation to immediately address the critical deterioration of Gabbs Valley Road between Gabbs and Luning. 

The current condition of this highway has escalated into severe public safety concern that requires prompt, decisive attention. 

Motorists regularly encounter severe pavement wearing, deep rutting, expanding potholes, significant pavement deformation, and dangerous heaved or raised sections of the roadway. These worsening conditions compromise vehicular control, creating substantial hazards for drivers traveling at highway speeds—particularly when uneven pavement is encountered unexpectedly.

 

These risks are heavily magnified for motorcyclists, recreational vehicles (RVs), vehicles towing trailers, commercial drivers, and families. Furthermore, because this stretch of highway is highly remote, any serious accident faces prolonged emergency response times, compounding the danger to human life. 

SR-361 is a vital transportation artery connecting rural communities. It serves residents, regional workers, commercial transit, and visitors alike. The people who depend on this corridor deserve a roadway that is safely engineered and properly maintained. 

While we recognize that NDOT manages an extensive state highway network and must balance competing funding, planning, and resource demands, localized infrastructure failure (pavement deterioration) that threatens public safety demands immediate evaluation and a definitive response. 

We respectfully request that NDOT take the following actions: 

Conduct an immediate, comprehensive engineering inspection of SR-361 between Gabbs and Luning to formally assess the extent of pavement failure and identify acute safety hazards. 
Prioritize targeted, structural repairs to remediate potholes, severe rutting, pavement heaving, and other compromised sections that create unsafe driving conditions. 
Provide a transparent timeline for corrective action, including any scheduled maintenance, resurfacing, rehabilitation, or reconstruction projects slated for this stretch of highway. 
Implement immediate interim safety measures, such as advanced warning signage or temporary patching, where warranted while permanent solutions are finalized. 
Establish direct communication with the affected Mineral and Nye County communities regarding inspection findings, repair priorities, funding allocations, and the anticipated project schedule. 
Our Commitment to Community Safety

This petition represents a formal request for action, accountability, and clear communication regarding a highway that rural Nevadans rely on daily.

 We should not have to wait for a tragic, preventable accident to occur before a deteriorating state highway receives necessary attention. Proactive maintenance and timely remediation are essential to protecting motorists and securing safe connections between our rural communities. 

We urge NDOT to listen to the stakeholders who travel SR-361 every day, evaluate the severe road conditions firsthand, and take meaningful steps to restore the corridor to a safe and serviceable condition. 

By signing this petition, we stand united in demanding safer infrastructure, responsible state maintenance, and the protection and well-being of Mineral and Nye County residents and all motorists traveling State Route 361. 

Please inspect the hazards. Please address the risks. Please fix the road. 

Mineral and Nye County residents should not have to wait for a serious injury or fatality before our highway conditions receive the priority and funding they deserve.