Special lanes to open on U.S. 95

High occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lanes will open for the first time this morning in the Las Vegas Valley, state officials said.

One lane, for about 61/2 miles of U.S. Highway 95 north between the Spaghetti Bowl and the Rainbow Curve, has been dedicated an HOV lane.

Striping and sign posting was finished Thursday.

HOV lanes can be used only by vehicles transporting more than one person, by motorcycles and by buses.

Drivers of cars and trucks who use an HOV lane with no passengers can be ticketed and fined $250.

Hybrid vehicles are not exempted from the two-passenger rule.

The lanes are marked by a white solid line and a white diamond in the lane on the far left side of the road. Vehicles can cross over the solid white line at any time.

The southbound HOV lane, which will traverse a little more than seven miles on U.S. 95, is expected to be opened Monday.