Bridge work to snag Warm Springs, I-15 traffic

Emergency repair work on a stricken Warm Springs Road bridge next week will result in the closure of that route and lane reductions on Interstate 15 where those two byways meet, state highway officials said Friday.

Engineers hope to start an emergency fix of the Warm Springs span over I-15, which was damaged when a truck struck a bridge pillar May 21. Since then, eastbound Warm Springs lanes have been closed while engineers prepared a repair plan.

Authorities hope to start actual work on reinforcing the broken pillar Monday night, at which time both eastbound and westbound Warm Springs will be closed at I-15.

Additionally, both northbound and southbound I-15 will have lane reductions each way at the bridge. Commuters are being warned to expect delays and find alternate routes, if possible.

"We realize the impact. We're trying to get it completed as soon as possible," said Bob McKenzie, a spokesman with the Nevada Department of Transportation.

Even before next week's closure, the bridge restrictions have snarled some commuters in the southwestern Las Vegas Valley, who have limited alternate routes.

"For a week, it's going to get worse. But we've got to do that," said McKenzie, adding that all traffic needs to be banned from the bridge to eliminate vibrations from passing traffic and allow newly poured concrete to set properly.

Expedited bids on the work will be taken Monday morning and awarded later that day. Work is scheduled to start by 9 p.m. Monday.

During work, I-15 will be reduced to two lanes each way from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and to one lane each way from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.

McKenzie said engineers hope to have the bridge and I-15 completely reopened as soon as Friday morning.

"Hopefully, if the construction can get done sooner, we'll get it open as soon as we possibly can," he said.