Celebration in North Las Vegas marks end of Simmons Street project

After more than a year of construction, the Simmons Street Improvements Project in North Las Vegas was completed in March. City and Clark County officials celebrated its grand opening March 17.

The project aimed to enhance community safety and promote city growth.

“It’s just a great pedestrian-style area now,” said County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly. “It provides a much safer commute for everyone, especially for those who are riding their bikes or walking their dogs and students who walk to and from school every day. It’s also a great example of seeing the fuel revenue taxes put to work.”

The project was constructed in two phases, with the first including street improvements, such as tackling cracks, adding streetlights and a traffic signal at Gowan Road with flashing school zone lights, and pedestrian access and landscaping from Cheyenne Avenue to Alexander Road.

It resulted in providing additional capacity to the street, improving traffic flow and eliminating several saw-tooth areas, said Jennifer Doody, public works director for North Las Vegas.

The second phase focused on the construction of a flood control facility with roadway improvements, including asphalt, median islands, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, signage and striping from Alexander to the Gowan Outfall (approximately the Red Coach alignment).

“This second phase had solved similar traffic and roadway issues as phase one but also provided a very important link for our regional storm drain system to aid in alleviating flooding in this area,” Doody said.

The project specifically was meant to enhance safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, including students at nearby Cheyenne High School, 3200 W. Alexander Road, Swainston Middle School, 3500 W. Gilmore Ave., and Priest Elementary School, 4150 Fuselier Drive, she added.

The $19 million-plus project was partially funded by the fuel revenue indexing tax passed in 2014. Other funding was received from the Clark County Regional Flood Control District, which helped with the underground portion of the project by installing mechanisms to reduce flooding during monsoon season.

The job was conducted by Aggregate Industries with subcontractors C&S Co. Inc and Nevada Barricade & Sign Co., providing 53 jobs.

“For many years, we’ve had traffic problems going from the northern to the southern part of the city,” said North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee. “This project has made a huge impact for those who commute to and from work. This should be an example of the investment the city has made to bring more businesses to North Las Vegas.”

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To reach North View reporter Sandy Lopez, email slopez@viewnews.com or call 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.