Public outcry getting the job done

The Clark County Commission appears ready to reverse its decision to leave a completed and badly needed Las Vegas Beltway interchange closed for two years.

That's an encouraging development, not just for northwest valley drivers, but for all county residents who paid the sales taxes that funded the bridge's construction.

But Tuesday's hearing and vote on the immediate opening of the Lake Mead Boulevard interchange is bound to bring out the few, vocal Sun City Summerlin NIMBYs who bullied the county into its counterproductive promise. The vast majority of motorists who desperately want the time and fuel savings that will come with more convenient access to the Beltway and their neighborhoods, meanwhile, will be at work, unable to participate in person.

Commissioner Chip Maxfield, who represents the district in which the interchange sits, says he has received many phone calls, e-mails and letters in support of opening the $12.4 million bridge to traffic, and that he won't give project opponents unfairly weighted consideration for being able to attend Tuesday's meeting in person. He said he is now convinced that the barricades which block the completed interchange should be removed as soon as possible.

"We knew it was an issue that wasn't going to go away and that at some point in time everyone's feelings would come out," Mr. Maxfield said. "Come Tuesday, those feelings will come out and we'll have the debate about it."

The County Commission, like most local government bodies, generally gives great deference to the positions of individual members on issues specific to their districts. Tuesday's agenda item was brought by Mr. Maxfield and Commissioner Susan Brager, who also supports opening the Lake Mead Boulevard interchange because the western Beltway runs through her district. It's hard to imagine four of the other five members of the commission voting in favor of keeping the bridge closed.

Just in case they're entertaining the idea, here are a few reasons why they should vote with Mr. Maxfield and Ms. Brager to open the interchange at once:

-- The Lake Mead Boulevard interchange was not built with Sun City Summerlin homeowner association dues. Its construction was funded by Clark County tax dollars, which gives every county resident a say in its use.

-- Sun City Summerlin residents' assertions that the interchange will increase crime and traffic in their retirement enclave is a red herring. Anyone can drive through Sun City Summerlin right now on any number of public roads. The Beltway's alignment and the Lake Mead Boulevard interchange were disclosed to everyone who bought a home there; anyone who hated the idea of living within a mile or two of a vital highway was free to buy elsewhere.

-- Clark County has billions of dollars worth of needed, unfunded highway projects that can't be built anytime soon. A vote to leave a $12.4 million interchange closed to collect dust and grafitti is a vote to squander public resources that could have been used to complete any number of other upgrades for the driving public's immediate benefit.

Tuesday's vote is a no-brainer. It should be unanimous in favor of opening the interchange.

But those who want to make doubly sure commissioners do the right thing can have their voices heard a few different ways:

-- They can attend Tuesday's meeting at the Clark County Government Center, which begins at 9:15 a.m. at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway.

-- They can e-mail Commissioners Bruce Woodbury (ccdista@co.clark.nv.us), Tom Collins (ccdistb@co.clark.nv.us), Mr. Maxfield (ccdistc@co.clark.nv.us), Lawrence Weekly (ccdistd@co.clark.nv.us), Chris Giunchigliani (ccdiste@co.clark.nv.us), Ms. Brager (ccdistf@co.clark.nv.us) and Rory Reid (ccdistg@co.clark.nv.us).

-- They can leave a voice message at a specially created telephone number, 594-1429.

-- Or, if you are slightly conspiracy-minded and believe that voice message is being forwarded to (800) GET-LOST, you can call the commissioners' offices at 455-3500 and ask to speak with them personally.

By setting aside just a few minutes, citizens can ensure the Lake Mead Boulevard interchange ceases to be a bridge to nowhere.