Next phase of sewer project brings new challenges for Rampart drivers

Sewer work along Rampart Boulevard north of Summerlin Parkway is winding down, but motorists who think they can breathe a sigh of relief are mistaken. The city of Las Vegas Public Works Department is closing one phase of the Rampart Sewer Installation Project and immediately starting another.

“Construction is going to move from north of the Summerlin Parkway to south of the Summerlin Parkway for the sewer project and is going to be really ugly,” Ward 2 Las Vegas City Councilman Bob Beers said. “People should start practicing now to get out of that intersection of Alta (Drive) and Rampart by going down to Durango (Drive) or up to Town Center (Drive) because when it starts, it’s going to be just terrible.”

The city reported that TAB Contractors Inc. is progressing on schedule with sewer and storm drain lines installed in the northern half of the Vegas Drive intersection, which required diverting traffic to the north half of Vegas Drive to accommodate continued construction of the sewer line southward on Rampart. The permanent asphalt patch has been placed between Vegas and Hillpointe Drive. Northbound traffic on Rampart has been returned to the east side of the median between Vegas and Hillpointe, completing the phase two construction.

The contractor finished pre-trenching, followed by installing the new sewer line from Vegas south to Summerlin Parkway. Adjustments will continue to be made as necessary to traffic barriers, lanes and signal lights to accommodate traffic patterns.

“It’s dangerous because they’re very narrow lanes, and at night, you can hardly see,” said Summerlin resident Penny Weinstein, who travels that road every week.

Weinstein said if it’s rush hour, instead of using Rampart, she goes down Del Webb Boulevard.

“I skip that whole area,” she said.

Although completion of the project is expected in June, there will be continued impact to the Rampart/Durango traffic flow at the Cheyenne Avenue intersection through January 2016, due to the Durango Hills Relief Sewer Project, which is underway.

It’s not just drivers who are being affected but businesses as well.

“Although the construction along Rampart Boulevard is well underway, we have yet to see much of an inconvenience for our guests,” said Mike Gaughan Jr., general manager of the Rampart Casino. “Most of our guests from the Summerlin area are aware of the project and are making good choices on routes. We’ve advised them to use the alternate route from Canyon Run Drive to enter our property, and they’re finding it very useful when maneuvering around the construction area.”

The new phase of the sewer work south of Summerlin Parkway starts this month and will last about four months, Beers said.

As the construction approaches Summerlin Parkway, and in preparation for the ramp closures, the traffic control and lane restrictions will be extended south toward Canyon Run.

On the plus side, Beers said it was good to see people working.

“What they’re doing is maximizing the water treatment plant at Cheyenne and Fort Apache (Road),” he said, “which saves us all water by using (non-potable) water and saves the clean water for us. A big chunk of the cost of our electricity is to get water from way down in the valley. It’s heavy to bring it here at the top of the playa. And by recycling this water, we’ll (save money). It’ll cost less to get our water and slow down the rate at which the rates increase.”

Contact Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 702-387-2949.