Wednesday, May 28, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ROAD WARRIOR Q&A: Getting a Workout

Signs give motorists fits with or without workers present

A sign on Palo Verde Street warns motorists of road work that isn't happening but isn't finished. Photo by John Locher.

This week readers want to know why road work signs linger after the work is done, when motorists must abide by work zone speed limits and when Flamingo Road will open between Hualapai Way and Town Center Drive.

• Ruth Pekar asks: Why are the road work signs still in my neighborhood near Twain Avenue and Palo Verde Street, which is between Swenson Street and Paradise Road, even though the work has been done for a few weeks? Plus, how much is this costing taxpayers to pay for signs that aren't needed?

Just because crews aren't working and haven't been for weeks, doesn't necessarily mean the work is done. That appears to be the case in Pekar's neighborhood, where road work signs have worn out their welcome.

County officials said more utility work remains in the area. That will be followed by a paving project set to begin in several weeks.

The good news: On publicly funded projects, the seemingly abandoned signs and cones don't usually cost taxpayers any more money.

Gerald Denzel, owner of Traffic Control & Safety Devices Inc., said traffic control companies typically receive a set fee for their equipment and services.

"It's only costing people money in detours and delays," he said.

Denzel said the biggest problem with the signs left out for weeks is motorists begin to ignore them.

"It gives people a false sense of security if they've been driving for a week and there's no one out there, and then all the sudden there are workers out there," he said.

• Cindy Kinney asks: Do we have to, after 5 p.m. and on weekends and holidays, go the posted speed limit in work zones? Or is it legal to go the normal speed limit? As I'm going from 75 mph to 55 mph to 45 mph, after 5 p.m. or on weekends or holidays, you should see the lovely gestures I receive from passersby.

Work zones have only one posted speed limit, regardless of the time of day or if it's the weekend or a holiday. That speed limit is displayed on the familiar white signs with black letters.

The orange work zone signs that sometimes have speed limits are recommendations for the prudent driver, and motorists cannot be cited for ignoring them.

However, if motorists ignore the posted speed limit -- again, that's the one on the white and black signs -- within a double penalty work zone while workers are present, the fine they receive can be doubled.

"The work zone is only enforceable when workers are present," said Lt. Paul Hinen of the Nevada Highway Patrol.

To review:

• It doesn't matter the day or time, if workers are present, it's a work zone.

• White and black signs display the speed limits you can get a ticket for ignoring, in and out of work zones.

• Fines can be doubled for violations in specially designated work zones.

• The speed limits on the orange work zone signs are suggestions for prudent drivers who don't mind receiving rude gestures from passersby.

• Anne Rettenmair asks: When are they going to open Flamingo Road between Hualapai Way and Town Center Drive? A representative from Howard Hughes Corp. said it would be open this past March, which is the third date I've heard. They are busy working on connecting Tropicana to Town Center when they haven't finished Flamingo.

This week they're saying the road will be open in mid or late June.

The road was to have opened last fall, but temperatures cooled before the asphalt was laid.

It probably would be open already, but a Clark County inspector discovered drainage problems on a recent trip to the site. Water was accumulating in the middle of the roadway, officials said.

Before the county takes ownership of the road, and motorists are able to drive on it, the contractor will have to tear out and replace the defective section of road.

"It should be getting done sometime soon," said Clark County Public Works spokesman Bobby Shelton. "Now we're looking at anywhere from the middle of June to the end of June."

If you have a question for the Road Warrior, call 387-2906 or e-mail MSquires@ reviewjournal.com. Please include your phone number.