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Nevada State Route 715

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Nevada State Route 715 rural highway located west of Fallon in Churchill County.  Nevada State Route 715 is 2.135 miles and follows McLean Road from US Route 50 southeast to Nevada State Route 117.  Functionally Nevada State Route 715 serves as a bypass of downtown Fallon between US Routes 50 and 95. 

Historically McLane Road served the California Trail stage community of Ragtown and was the location of an early bridge over the Carson River (now the Old Carson River).  The current bridge carrying McLean Road over the Old Carson River was constructed in 1957.  McLean Road was commissioned as Nevada State Route 715 in 1976 amid the larger state highway system renumbering.  




Part 1; the history of Nevada State Route 715

Nevada State Route 715 follows McLean Road from US Route 50 southeast 2.135 miles over the Carson River to Nevada State Route 117 (Sheckler Road).  Functionally the roadway acts as a bypass of downtown Fallon as it can be used as a cutoff between US Routes 50 and 95. 

McLean Road can be seen on the 1908 United States Geological Survey map of Carson Sink.  McLean Road is shown to originate at Ragtown and extend southeast to the community of St. Clair near Allen Road.  McLean Road is shown to have a bridge over the Old Carson River, but it is unclear what kind of span this was.  The Carson River now primarily flows to Carson Lake via what is often referred to as the South Branch in modern times.  The original main river flow is now primarily used for irrigation diversion and is known today as the Old Carson River. 


Ragtown was an emigrant stage station on the California Trail which had access to waters from the Carson River.  The community's name was a reference to the tattered garments hung by travelers who had just crossed the Forty Mile Desert.  Ragtown had Post Office service from May 14, 1864-May 29, 1867, and from May 5, 1884-April 19, 1887. 

This photo from Ragtown is dated to 1896 (Churchill County Museum).


The current bridge carrying McLean Road over the Old Carson River was constructed in 1957.  This concrete slab span is referred to in records as the V-Canal Bridge. 

Nevada State Route 715 was commissioned during July 1976 amid the greater state highway renumbering.  The designation runs the entire 2.135 miles of McLean Road between US Route 50 and Nevada State Route 117 (Nevada State Roure 61 prior to 1976).  Nevada State Route 715 has never been altered since being designated.  The 700-plus ranged number was intended to denote it as a secondary state highway.



Part 2; a drive on Nevada State Route 715

Nevada State Route 715 has no junction signage from US Route 50 or Nevada State Route 117.  This view is along eastbound US Route 50 approaching McLean Road.  


This view is from westbound Nevada State Route 117 on Sheckler Road approaching McLean Road.  


Nevada State Route 715 does have on-route reassurance signage.  This view is from the northbound beginning of the highway. 


This view is of the southern terminus of Nevada State Route 715 at Nevada State Route 117. 

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