CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada transportation officials are expediting plans to connect Interstate 80 east of Reno to U.S. Highway 50 with the USA Parkway that was part of the deal that landed Tesla’s $5 billion battery plant for the area.

The Department of Transportation’s board of directors approved $43 million for the right-of-way, easements and existing road improvements needed to complete the 18-mile stretch of highway.

They also endorsed a fast-track approach on Monday to consolidate the design and construction under one contract to be let for bid next year.

The highway project itself is expected to cost $70 million and be completed in 2017.

Six miles of privately built roadway already exists running south from I-80 about 10 miles east of Sparks where Tesla plans its “gigafactory'” at Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.