Las Vegas’ crosswalks to go continental

We open this week's question-answer installment with a dog's tale. OK, a dog walker's tale.

Glen likes to take his dogs for a walk at Kellogg-Zaher Sports Complex, off West Washington Avenue. Good exercise for the dogs; probably better exercise for him.

But what's healthy has become dangerous. Glen has had a few close calls with drivers who he believes may be confused by two different styles of crosswalks on Washington leading into the park.

Drivers seem to obey the newer "zebra stripe" version of crosswalks, he writes, but they don't always honor the old-style crosswalk of just two parallel stripes: "It makes me think that if there are no zebra stripes, they feel stopping is not required. ... I'd like everybody to be reminded that a crosswalk is still a crosswalk with either type of striping."

Duly noted, sir. The Road Warrior recently took a look-see and actually witnessed a driver blow through one of the old-style crosswalks while a park patron was waiting to cross.

Diana Paul of the city of Las Vegas gladly provides this Crosswalks 101 lesson: "The (older) crosswalks on Washington are 'standard style,' which were the type we used for decades everywhere except in school zones. We used to only use 'continental' style (or 'zebra' style, as the reader calls them) at school crossings so that school zones would be more distinct to motorists.

"But a couple of years ago we adopted the continental as our new standard as they tend to last longer because you can install most of the white 'bars' out of a (driver's) wheel path. Our current policy is to maintain the standard style crosswalks until the road is overlaid or slurry-sealed, at which time they will be replaced with the continental style."

Happy - and safe - trails, Glen.

Kris is concerned about a four-way stop setup at the intersection of Decatur Boulevard and Elkhorn Road in the northern valley, where she says a lot of accidents have occurred as a result of driver carelessness and classlessness. She asks, "What plans are there to install traffic lights to make it safer?"

With left-hand turns added to the mix, it's actually an eight-way stop setup, and those can be difficult to negotiate even when everyone behaves. Let one yahoo jump the gun on his or her turn, and - yikes! - the flow turns into a horn-honking, tire-screeching free-for-all.

But help is coming. We turn again to the city of Las Vegas' Paul: "We recently completed a major storm drain project in this intersection. When we had the road torn up, we added in future traffic signal underground conduit as well as pavement for southbound traffic so that the northbound and southbound traffic better align across the intersection. This work was done so we can more easily accommodate the future traffic signal and avoid tearing up the intersection again.

"Because this location along Decatur is a border we share with North Las Vegas, the cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas partnered on the intersection improvements, and we recently completed the traffic signal design as well. The signal will be constructed by North Las Vegas' traffic staff beginning in late December or early January."

Arlan goes for the daily double with a pair of road construction questions: "When will construction on Oakey Boulevard, between Rancho Drive and Decatur Boulevard, and construction on Valley View Boulevard, between Sahara Avenue and Flamingo Road, be completed? They were supposed to have been completed by the end of summer. There does not seem to be any activity at either site."

Two questions, and Jace Radke of the city of Las Vegas is quick to provide two answers: "There are multiple projects under way, though they're all being performed by the same contractor, Las Vegas Paving. The Oakey Storm Drain project, which involves storm drain installation on Oakey between Valley View and Rancho as well as within the Spanish Oaks neighborhood, is approaching completion, with final paving anticipated in early November. The Jones-Valley View Corridor Improvements project includes work on Valley View from Bonanza Road to Desert Inn Road. This project is slated for completion at the end of January. "

Judith of Pahrump requests a follow-up answer to a question she submitted in midsummer about an unannounced "rest area" on state Route 160, west of Las Vegas at mile marker 15. Previously told this was not a certified travelers' stop, she sent pictures in an attempt to prove her point: "It is definitely not a dirt area for hikers, but a well-maintained and paved rest area. Could you please investigate this matter and find out if (highway) signs will be placed announcing this area (to drivers)?"

The one and two of this matter is that, yes, there is a place to go "one" and "two," and, yes, anyone can use it . There are two bathrooms, in fact, and they're wheelchair accessible.

But this was provided by the Bureau of Land Management, not by the Nevada Department of Transportation, NDOT spokesman Damon Hodge explains.

"This is a parking area built by BLM to serve the equestrian and mountain bike recreational users. It's called Cottonwood Trailhead. It is not an NDOT rest area," he said. "The BLM did not include (roadway) signage, and NDOT has no plans to add any."

If you have traffic questions or gripes, email them to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Please be specific, and include your phone number. Not all questions can be answered in print.