NDOT: ‘Road Runner’ project speed can be pricey

Life is good in the southwest valley, now that Interstate 15’s Cactus Avenue exit is open. Woo hoo!

For those who don’t get down to that part of the world, the exit opened two months ahead of schedule, thanks to a series of small projects dovetailing together at just the right time. Wouldn’t it be great if a few other projects — the D Street ramp onto I-15 comes to mind — could get some of that mojo?

Two weeks after the exit was open to traffic, the state had a ceremonial ribbon cutting that included an appearance by Gov. Brian Sandoval. I can’t remember the last time I saw a sitting governor participate in a freeway exit ribbon cutting, but there he was, explaining how the exit is not only a convenience for residents of the area but one more piece of infrastructure supporting Southern Nevada’s economic development machine.

Sandoval also praised the contractors who were able to coordinate the project so that it was finished ahead of schedule.

Finishing faster than expected was a theme that week because Las Vegas Paving, the lead contractor on the Cactus project, also was winning kudos for its work on I-15 north of town.

Working 24-hour shifts, crews shored up the flooded-out freeway on one side of the highway in three days instead of the week that had been projected and the other side of the highway in five days after expecting that to take 10.

It prompted me to ask Transportation Department officials if they were a little nervous the public would come to expect finishing ahead of schedule on a regular basis.

The short answer is they’re not worried. Everybody will be just fine with projects that are completed on time and on budget. So don’t expect early openings to be a trend, particularly since accelerated projects are generally more expensive to build.

Southwest residents should just enjoy that new convenience.

It’s probably not too surprising that after getting that taste of convenience of the Cactus exit, residents in the area are looking toward what other new access is ahead for the neighborhood.

Warrior reader Janalee asks:

To the west, a bridge is being built to connect Cactus Avenue with Rainbow Boulevard. This is huge for Mountain’s Edge as Blue Diamond Road is our only way to I-15. Do you know when the bridge will be completed?

Dan Kulin, a spokesman for Clark County, said Clark County Public Works would pave Rainbow Boulevard between Cactus Avenue and Erie Avenue with its Cactus overpass project.

“We anticipate completion of the paving and opening of the overpass in November-to-December time frame,” Kulin said. “The section of Rainbow from Cactus up to Blue Diamond is a separate project that will be advertised for construction next year.”

In addition, the county is initiating work on a design within the easement area on the southeast corner of Buffalo Drive and Mountain’s Edge Parkway to pave an additional northbound lane through the intersection to increase capacity. The construction work will be scheduled for completion by in-house crews within the next couple of months.

A traffic signal is included in the development agreement at the intersection of Buffalo and Mountain’s Edge.

“We completed a study of the intersection and found it meets warrants,” Kulin said. “The signal project has been added to our design list for 2015.”

“Warrants” are the criteria the county uses — things like traffic counts, accident rates and vehicle directional movements — to determine if a traffic signal is needed.

“Overall, most of Buffalo south of Mountain’s Edge to Starr is not dedicated public right of way nor identified for improvements as part of the development agreement with Mountain’s Edge,” Kulin said. “Off-site improvements along Buffalo and adjacent streets would be constructed as development occurs.”

The county also is paving an additional northbound lane on Durango Drive at Blue Diamond Road, just south of the intersection, to help with traffic there. That should be done by October.

Warrior reader Jason asks:

Any idea when or what it would take to finish building Jones Boulevard through Blue Diamond Road?

Kulin has some general information, but no specifics, and construction is contingent on funds being available.

“The county moved up funding for the design of widening and improvements to Jones Boulevard between Cactus Avenue and Blue Diamond Road, and design will start later this year,” Kulin said.

The design for an overpass to Windmill Lane is expected to begin in 2015.

MAIL IT IN

After last week’s column about the Department of Motor Vehicles’ spiffy new Dash Pass that enables customers to get in line telephonically or by computer, readers reminded me that it’s even easier to renew a license plate by paying online or mailing in a check to the DMV after getting the car smogged.

I plead guilty to not sharing the mail-in option, but I thought most people knew this and would be interested in learning more about Dash Pass.

Of course, there are those times when you can’t do what you want by mail, so going to the DMV is a necessary evil.

Readers shared some of their strategies with me on that last week.

Warrior reader Marlene noted that she renews at a kiosk at her neighborhood AAA office. There are five AAA offices that have kiosks. And, they’re also at 10 Albertson’s stores across the valley and even at a Fabulous Freddy’s car wash in Summerlin.

Warrior reader Jordan Ross, the constable of Laughlin township, suggested that people register at the rarely crowded Laughlin office, then spend a little tourist time in town.

You’ve got to admit it, even going to Laughlin beats going to a DMV office.

Questions and comments should be sent to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Please include your phone number. Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter @RJroadwarrior.