Ramp meters: Drano for Nevada freeways

In the past year or so, metered ramps have popped up all over the Las Vegas Valley. The Regional Transportation Commission's Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation is charged with controlling the lights. Some readers like them. Some are not huge fans and don't believe they are effective. Count Doug among the latter.

I see ramp metering equipment has been installed on southbound Russell Road to Highway 95 and from north Lake Mead Parkway to Highway 95, which has been my daily commute the past 16 years. My question is why? There has never been any congestion on that stretch of road, so why waste money?

The meters are part of the state Transportation Department's Intelligent Transportation Systems Project, which will include the same equipment all along U.S. 95 between Charleston Boulevard and Lake Mead Parkway. Now, you will ask, intelligent? Well, yes, according to the Regional Transportation Commission. Anytime the freeway becomes congested, it loses 25 percent of its capacity for vehicles. Studies have shown that the meters already in place on U.S. 95 northwest of the Spaghetti Bowl are effective in mitigating the traffic. The meters reduce the amount of time that the freeway is all clogged up. The lights recently installed at Russell Road and Lake Mead Parkway will only be activated when traffic is heavy enough to cause a backup on the freeway.

Alex has had enough: Have you noticed there are so many cone-shaped road barriers or candlesticks on Interstate 15 south starting from the Tropicana Avenue ramp to the Interstate 215 junction? It's very confusing and dangerous to drivers. The county should speed up the construction and complete those projects as soon as possible. What is the delay?

Actually Alex, there is no delay, it's just a massive project. Alex is, of course, referring to the Interstate 15 south design-build project that includes the construction of two frontage roads and a total of 26 new bridges. It also includes new interchanges at Tropicana Avenue, Russell Road, Interstate 215, Blue Diamond Road and Silverado Ranch Boulevard.

The contractor, Las Vegas Paving, has had to close some freeway onramps and exit ramps and reconfigure others and uses electronic message boards to notify motorists. Still, it can be confusing. I suppose the good news is that because this is a design-build project, meaning that construction could start before the design was fully complete, 18 months were shaved off the time frame. The project, which by the way was funded by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, is expected to be finished by the spring.

Stan is curious: I've seen message boards on the Las Vegas Beltway near Decatur Boulevard that say something about a closure. Do you know whether the road will be closed overnight or if it is permanent?

Stan, this is a permanent closure. Not permanent permanent, but it is not a situation in which the highway will be closed during certain hours. According to the Clark County Public Works Department, the Beltway will be closed to traffic between Decatur Boulevard and Aliante Parkway from 9 p.m. Jan. 13 until 5 a.m. Jan. 23. This construction job is probably the last thing residents in the northwest need. The Lone Mountain Road project has wreaked enough havoc on the area.

Crews will be installing a new drainage channel below the Beltway, Stan. They have to dig down 36 feet to put into place a line of massive reinforced concrete boxes that each measure 15 feet by 9 feet.

Here's a driving tip: Eastbound Beltway traffic will be detoured south onto Decatur, east on Ann Road, north on Simmons Street then back to the Beltway. Westbound traffic will be detoured south onto Aliante Parkway, west on Ann Road, north on Decatur and then back onto the highway.

In the long run, this is good news for residents in the northwest. It is one of the necessary steps to turn the Beltway into a nonstop, four-lane freeway between Tenaya Avenue and Aliante Parkway.

Ken asks: What is the status of the on/off-ramp of Cactus Avenue from Interstate 15? We moved here a year ago and were told by the Clark County Commission that "it was in the works" but haven't heard anything since. It would be such a great convenience for the people who live in the southern end of the valley.

I'm sure that plenty of residents in your parts are looking forward to that project, Ken. Next year you should start to see some movement. The Federal Highway Administration will allocate $861,000 to Nevada to help fund the project. The Nevada Department of Transportation is designing the interchange, which ultimately will connect Las Vegas Boulevard to Dean Martin Drive.

The state is tentatively scheduled to start work on the interchange next summer. Cactus Avenue will be transformed from a one-lane country road into a six-lane arterial, which will relieve congestion in that neighborhood.

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at 702-387-2904, or send an email to roadwarrior@
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