Beltway interchange opens

Does "interchange open" spell relief?

It does for those who have long awaited the removal of cones from the Lake Mead Boulevard interchange with the Las Vegas Beltway.

The controversial interchange opened Friday.

Construction of the $12.5 million project wrapped up over the summer, but it remained unused because of a deal between the Clark County Commission and some residents from Sun City, a nearby retirement community. The commission had agreed several years ago to appease the residents who feared connecting Lake Mead to the Beltway would increase traffic deaths and crime in the area.

But in late August, the commission reversed its decision and ordered the interchange opened after an outcry from motorists and taxpayers.

County officials had hoped the interchange would be opened by October, but it was delayed because of some issues with traffic signal wiring; engineers also had to reconfigure the southbound Beltway's onramp barrier rail.

Nearby resident Bill Varra said he almost hopped into his Lexus SUV to get on and off the interchange when he heard it was open Friday evening.

"We take the 215 (Beltway) almost everywhere we go, and this is going to save us some time," he said.

Now he can avoid all the stop signs and traffic signals guarding the way to the Summerlin Parkway, which was the route he used to get on the Beltway.

Varra said he would likely use the interchange for the first time today.

Others couldn't wait that long.

Robert Lieberman said he used the interchange twice on Friday.

"It saved me five miles twice. That's 10 miles which in my car is close to half a gallon of gas," Lieberman said.

The Sun City resident believed his using the interchange helped relieve congestion on the Summerlin Parkway and he said he felt less exposed to a possible accident as a result of not using the parkway.

"It's the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to the highway system in this area. It's a beautiful interchange," Lieberman said.

Motorists should also be aware that traffic signals at the intersection of Lake Mead and Thomas W. Ryan boulevards, meant to help control traffic coming off the interchange, are also up and working.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.