Centennial Hills roadwork is mix of snags and progress

Before you buckle up, saddle up to the latest in Centennial Hills roadway upgrades and changes.

Major closure

Elkhorn Road is slated be closed to through traffic between Torrey Pines Drive and Jones Boulevard through March 2012 due to a storm drainage improvement project.

Construction , part of a $30 million storm drainage improvement project that began in December 2010, is expected to take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

However, during significant rain or other inclement weather, construction may occur outside of these hours. Motorists are advised to use Dorrell Lane or Wittig Avenue to the south as alternate routes.

Large, cast-in-place, reinforced concrete flood control boxes are being installed in the center traffic lanes on Elkhorn Road. Channel structures, pipes and other flood-control improvements also will be constructed. Work and lane restrictions continue on North Decatur Boulevard, too.

This storm drain project is to provide critical collection and connection between the upstream and downstream detention basins in the Las Vegas Wash Middle Branch watershed and is meant to greatly enhance flood protection during major and minor storms while also greatly reducing nuisance flows on surface streets.

Residential access will be maintained on Elkhorn Road for all residences that access directly from Elkhorn Road, city of Las Vegas officials said. Construction traffic will be substantial, and flaggers may be present to direct traffic within the work zone.

The project contractor is Meadow Valley Contractors. Funding is provided by the Clark County Regional Flood Control District, the city of Las Vegas and the Region al Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

HIGHWAY RUN

Two of the five phases of the widening of U.S. Highway 95 from just north of Washington Avenue to Ann Road and beyond to Kyle Canyon Road continue to gain ground. The phases total $68 million and are being overseen by Capriati Construction Co. to provide two new interchanges and more lanes, among other upgrades.

The five-phase project is expected to cost between $650 million and $732 million. The projects are not being completed in numerical order.

Phase 1 , highway widening to add auxiliary lanes from Washington Avenue to Ann Road, is under way. The ramps to Cheyenne Avenue, Durango Drive, Ann Road and Lake Mead Boulevard and a bridge on Gowan Road are being improved to meet the needs of one of the fastest-growing parts of the valley.

Phase 2 progresses, too, and extends the auxiliary lanes from Ann Road to Kyle Canyon Road. Construction of sound walls to protect noise-sensitive areas also is under way, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation.

The final design process for Phase 3 has begun and is scheduled to start next year. The project aims to construct new ramps at the system-to-system interchange configuration at U.S. Highway 95 and the Las Vegas Beltway. Landscape and aesthetic improvements also would be made.

Work was completed in June on Phase 4 of the project, with changes and additions to the Horse Drive interchange.

Phase 5 would revamp Kyle Canyon Road, but project officials don't plan to start construction until 2018.

For more information, call 775 -888-7592 or visit nevadadot.com. Road conditions inquiries can be handled by calling 511.

DRAIN STRAIN

Construction recently halted on the Gowan Outfall project with the Clark County Regional Flood Control District, and construction-related traffic has eased for a time. The project is at Lone Mountain Road between Decatur Boulevard and Rancho Drive.

Spirit Underground, contractor for the project , filed for bankruptcy. Spirit Underground also was the contractor for the Floyd Lamb Park Enhancement Project. Perini Building Company is slated to take over the city of Las Vegas projects.

NEW ROUTE

The city of Las Vegas Public Works Department has a project under design to make Hualapai Way two lanes in each direction between Centennial Parkway and Farm Road.

The city plans to have a design ready by Nov. 1, which will enable officials to further explore right-of-way acquisition costs and see if Clark County will support the project.

The proposal is to relieve congestion at Hualapai and Deer Springs ways and access ramps to the Las Vegas Beltway.

Hurdles include the lack of right-of-way on the east side of the road north of Deer Springs Way and the side of the road is in a county rural preservation area.

Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.