Good news in southwest valley

Motorists who travel the southwest part of the Las Vegas Valley have expressed frustration over the lack of progress in completing major north-south arterials. Having driven that area in preparation for a previous column, I can attest it is a pain. So, we're leading today off with some good news.

A reoccurring question, this time from Richard: When is the extension of South Decatur Boulevard from Warm Springs Road to 215 scheduled for completion? There seems to be little progress.

The connection is expected to be substantially completed around Labor Day. As far as the lack of progress, delays were caused by problems with underground utilities that were discovered during construction. Also, Clark County has had to work with the Union Pacific Railroad company because the road will go under the tracks.

Here's a bit more information on that project: When it's completed, Decatur will be a six-lane road stretching from Warm Springs Road to the Las Vegas Beltway. It includes a new traffic signal at the intersection of Decatur and Warm Springs.

Yvonne heard rumors she hoped to be true: Did the city of Henderson recently pass a law that prohibits vehicles from parking on the street and more than three cars in a driveway?

I've already discussed this with Yvonne, but I thought I'd share it with everybody else in case this rumor is running rampant in that crazy little community of Henderson.

It's not true. The only ordinance on the books prohibits unregistered or inoperable vehicles from parking on public streets. Of course, many times the Homeowners Association has convenants, conditions and restrictions that place limits on parking; no overnight parking on streets is a common one.

James has been denied and he is none too happy: Why is Agate Avenue physically barricaded just west of Westwind Road and marked as a private road? This denies egress to many homes in the area. As a local resident, can you explain why this road gets special treatment? No other roads in the area are blocked or restricted this way.

Isn't this a public road easement?

The stretch of Agate between Duneville Street and Westwind is a private road. Here's how that happened: The road initially belonged to Clark County, but when the residential community to the north of Agate was built, developers took on improving and maintaining the road. So, like the other streets in that development, because taxpayers aren't responsible for maintenance, etc., it is a private road.

Neighboring residents have access one block south of Agate in Oleta Avenue.

Mark asks: What is going on along Green Valley Parkway and when will the work be finished?

The city of Henderson is resurfacing Green Valley Parkway between the Las Vegas Beltway and Horizon Ridge Parkway. The work was expected to be completed about a week ago, but crews were delayed when a piece of heavy equipment broke down. Expect a smooth ride -- much like the one motorists who use St. Rose Parkway are now enjoying -- by early next week.

A few weeks ago, Joel wrote in with concerns about the left-turn lane from Buffalo Drive north to Lake Mead Boulevard. We'll throw in a note from the city to prove that your concerns do matter and sometimes, together, we can get problem areas fixed.

This from city of Las Vegas spokeswoman Debby Ackerman: I wanted to share some good news regarding the Buffalo Drive-Lake Mead Boulevard intersection that one of your readers brought to our attention last month. City of Las Vegas staff were able to make those short-term improvements. Department of Field Operations staff repaired the asphalt in the northbound Buffalo left-turn lanes onto westbound Lake Mead. And now folks in our Public Works Department Traffic Division are planning to install buttons between the new left-turn lanes from Buffalo northbound to Lake Mead westbound.

We can thank Joel for this.

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.