County to blame for Eastern delays
Many of you have questions about intersections and streets within Clark County's jurisdiction, and I'm happy to report I have finally received some answers for you. So, we'll begin with those ever elusive, county-related answers.
Jack is one of many irritated with Eastern: Eastern Avenue near Wigwam Avenue was scraped for repaving eight years ago and never repaved. I was told it would be done in November 2009, then you said it was scheduled for March 2010. Well, here it is at the end of May. We have been living with this mess for more than eight years. What's their excuse this time?
OK, Jack. I'll give this another go, but don't blame the messenger. Blame Clark County. The latest from the county is that at the end of March, bids were accepted for the paving job between the Las Vegas Beltway and Wigwam, and the contractor was hired in May. The county expects to give the company a notice to proceed in the next couple weeks, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Knight, and the project should be completed by the end of October. In the meantime, you might see county crews patching potholes until the resurfacing work is under way.
Bill wants a new lane: The south side of the intersection of Fort Apache and Russell roads is a large unfinished intersection that has street striping for left-turn and right-turn lanes. The striping also funnels all of the traffic going straight into a single lane. The north side of the intersection is not finished but striped for two lanes of north traffic. Currently, at various times it takes three to four light cycles to go straight as traffic backs up. Any plans to solve this problem?
Yep, the county realizes this is a problem, and help is on the way. Traffic engineers recently finished a plan to restripe that intersection. The "carrot" pavement markings will be removed, and an additional northbound lane will be added. The project is expected to be completed by the end of July.
Greg's concerned with markings at Far Hills: The northbound exit from the Las Vegas Beltway onto Far Hills Avenue going west leads to an intersection of reflectors. The problem is with the left turn off the exit from the left-most exit lane. The reflectors denoting the left-turn lane only delineate the right side of the turning lane and not the left. I've seen several people turning too far left and winding up going west onto Far Hills and directly into eastbound traffic.
The pavement markings put into place when the Beltway was widened between Far Hills Avenue and Summerlin Parkway in February are temporary. The contractor will come back this summer and apply the final grade of asphalt, paint new striping and finish the final markings.
Greg, this also applies to the second part of your question related to the protruding manholes at the same intersection.
Several of you have asked this: When will the express lanes on Interstate 15 be completed?
According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, the express lanes will officially open on June 18. We've all seen motorists ignore the express lanes, exiting and entering over the double-white lines that mark the lanes. On June 18, this will no longer be possible unless you want to risk getting a ticket and messing up your vehicle. Plastic paddles will separate the express lanes from the regular travel lanes.
Ultimately, the express lanes will run between Sahara Avenue and just south of Russell Road. Once you're in them, you can't get out. This is designed to ferry motorists more efficiently through the valley without the interference of merging traffic.
Because of the Transportation Department's design-build project on south I-15, the express lanes will only run between Sahara and Flamingo Road until interstate work is complete in 2012.
Along these same lines, Philip asks: Are taxis allowed to exit the new I-15 express lanes at any interchange?
No, taxis must abide by the same laws as you and me, Philip. As I noted above, they won't be doing this once the paddles are in place. The Nevada Highway Patrol has not been enforcing the express lanes because it hasn't been clear that motorists are not permitted to cross those solid lines.
If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at (702) 387-2904, or send an e-mail to roadwarrior @reviewjournal.com. Include your phone number.
During overnight hours tonight, Thursday and Friday, motorists traveling northbound through the McCarran International Airport connector tunnel will not be able to access Russell Road or Flight Path Drive. Upon exiting the tunnel, northbound traffic will be shifted to the airport access lanes. Access to McCarran and travel to Tropicana Avenue will not be interrupted. Work hours are from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.
■ Fourth Street at Charleston Boulevard will be closed through the month for power work.
■ Expect disruptions on Martin Luther King Boulevard between Alta Drive and Carey Avenue because of gas, power and road work.
■ The Las Vegas Beltway southbound and northbound ramps at Far Hills Avenue and Summerlin Parkway will be closed for various periods with the southbound Charleston Boulevard ramp through June 24 for road work. Ramps will reopen daily with no ramp closure lasting for more than one day.
■ Work will take place on Summerlin Parkway, closing a small portion of the eastbound and westbound travel lanes. Message boards will indicate which ramps will be closed on which days.
■ All southbound traffic on U.S. Highway 95 south of Kyle Canyon Road will be detoured off the highway and onto the new Horse Drive exit and entry ramps to continue traveling south through the area. No access to Horse Drive will be available while U.S. 95 traffic is shifted to the ramps.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
