Newcomers need ‘breeding documents’ at DMV

Be prepared for a wild ride because there will be no single subject for today. We'll get into some paving and some dangerous roads in a minute, but first we'll help out those of you who are just moving into our fine state.

A newcomer asks: Can you explain to residents moving into Nevada how to get a driver's license when we don't have any utility bills or any proof that we actually live here?

No need to have any bills, but your old, out-of-state license won't do either. Until 2003, Nevada accepted other states' licenses as valid identification. Then officials realized that it was too easy to obtain licenses in Utah and Oregon and that those trading them in for our cards might not be legal residents.

So, when you move to Nevada, go to the Department of Motor Vehicles with two forms of "breeding documents." The most common forms of those documents include Social Security cards, passports, birth certificates or a military identification card. You will have to provide a mailing address and a physical address where your documents can be received.

Welcome to Nevada! And don't eat before you glance at our registration taxes!

Bill thinks Boulder Highway is dangerous: The southbound Boulder Highway bridge that crosses over the U.S. Highway 95 exit road to Boulder Highway sags. When you are heading south on Boulder, you drive over the exit ramp bridge and then the road makes an immediate 45-degree turn left. The bridge actually sags several inches and makes your vehicle rock and roll as you pass over it. To those unaware this can be extremely dangerous, causing the driver to lose control as seen by the black tire marks on the retaining wall. I do know that there has been at least one death at that location. It seems like a simple fix can be achieved by filling in the sag portion with asphalt. Then you only have the 45-degree turn to concentrate on. Someone needs to do something about this problem.

According to Nevada Department of Transportation engineers, the bridge was recently inspected, and no structural flaws were found. Adding additional pavement to smooth out the sags can accelerate the deterioration of a bridge because it has a rated weight capacity. Exceeding the capacity by piling on asphalt can lead to a quicker deterioration, which means our tax dollars would have to go toward more frequent maintenance or even removal and replacement of the structure.

The sags cause a roller-coaster effect. They are caused by repaving: The new coat of asphalt tends to be higher on the steel beams holding up the structure and is more quickly worn down on the stretches of road in between.

Also, because there is a barrier on the bridge, raising the asphalt would lower the height of the rail, and the rail must meet certain height requirements.

As far as the 45-degree angle -- and engineers could not confirm whether that turn is truly that abrupt -- there is nothing that can be done at this point. Motorists are simply asked to obey the speed limit and be careful when taking that turn.

Here's Edith: I contacted the City of Henderson in October 2009 regarding the repaving of Windmill Parkway from Green Valley Parkway to the Henderson boundary, east of Eastern Avenue. In an April 2010 email, they said that it would be done as soon as the design phase was completed. They recently repaved Green Valley Parkway and Pecos Road for the umpteenth time, while Windmill has never been repaved. This road leads to the entrance and exit to Interstate 215 and to Green Valley, and it is flanked by many homes, commercial businesses and an elementary school. Perhaps you can help me with my concern.

That project was temporarily derailed because, you guessed it, the city ran out of money for road improvements. But that's not the end of the story here. Henderson is hoping in July to secure funding from the Regional Transportation Commission, which could be distributing revenue collected from Senate Bill 5, which lifted the sunset on a voter-approved one-eighth of a cent sales tax that was approved in 2002.

That Windmill project is one of the city's top three. In anticipating of the funding, the city will advertise for construction bids in September and begin construction sometime in the fall.

As an aside, the city used American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds -- which come with some fairly strict restrictions -- to repave Green Valley Parkway.

Mike's not diggin' the groove: I travel to Stateline about once a month. On my way there on the Interstate 15, I can't help but wonder why the fast lane is grooved in a way that makes my car feel like it's going to veer off the road. I've tried the speed limit (reluctantly), and speeds up to 130 mph, trying to see if a low or high speed will make any difference. It's all the same. So my question is, "What purpose does this grooved road serve?" The other two lanes are normal. I feel it makes all the lanes unsafe as people try to pass in all lanes instead of using the far left lane. (I am a purist, passing on left only.) Thank you for your help in answering this puzzling question for me.

As far as the grooved road on the I-15 near the state line, the state Department of Transportation is in the middle of a project in which they are milling and then paving the highway. That lane does have pretty significant grooves, and there is even a drop-off between the middle lane and the fast lane. Both of those elements pose somewhat of a threat to motorists, whether they are traveling 65 mph or 130 mph!

The good news, Mike, is that all lanes will be repaved and hopefully smooth as can be by the middle of next month.

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.