Charging stations arrive on Strip

Remember when hybrid cars were first introduced and some motorists pooh-poohed the idea. Now hybrids are so common, one wonders what’s next. Well, electric cars. Duh. But are we equipped to handle them? Here’s today’s first question, from Mark:

Nissan Leaf just came out with an electric car and it made me wonder, being the tourist town that Las Vegas is, are properties along the Strip ready for this technology?

Not currently, but at least one hotel-casino on the Strip will be this week. MGM Resorts will be the first to unveil charging stations in parking garages. The first station will be located in the valet area of The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, and it will be free to users. It takes about two hours to charge, and that will last the vehicles a good 100 miles.

A reader from Sun City Aliante asks: The northern section of Aliante Parkway is half a road and has been so for the six years I’ve lived here with no sign at all of it ever being completed. However, on the northern edge of our community there has been another half a road constructed. It’s an extension of Grand Teton Drive, south from Aliante Parkway. Oddly enough, it’s blocked off from use. It’s about a half-mile long and there doesn’t seem to be anything at the other end. Really weird. Why was this road built, and who paid for it?

Like many roads in these types of residential developments, the design and construction of internal streets are determined by the development agreement between the government, in this case the city of North Las Vegas, and the private developer, in this case American Nevada Corp. According to North Las Vegas engineers, half-street improvements are customary for all of the perimeter streets adjacent to Aliante. That includes Aliante Parkway and Grand Teton Drive.

The segment of Grand Teton referred to is closed off because, you’re right, it doesn’t go anywhere. Homeowners in the area are concerned that because it is blocked off, it could attract people up to no good.

The folks in North Las Vegas say the future Park Highlands development — when the economy improves I presume — will construct their half streets for Grand Teton to the east and west of Aliante and the northern half of Grand Teton adjacent to what was built by American Nevada, as well as several other streets. Once Park Highlands’ work is completed, Grand Teton will be opened to the traveling public. Park Highlands also will construct the west half of Aliante Parkway between Grand Teton and the Club Aliante Development.

Ray has a two-parter: I wonder if you could give me an update on the ongoing road construction to Volunteer Boulevard and Executive Airport Drive in Henderson? At this time, there appears to be a new road that is being extended from Bicentennial to Volunteer. It seems to have materialized within the last month or so. What are its plans for connections to either Volunteer or Executive Airport Drive?

Also, are there any plans in the future to connect Bicentennial and Las Vegas Boulevard and hopefully Interstate 15?

This $5 million road improvement project that started at the beginning of the year is expected to provide far better access to the communities of Anthem, Madeira Canyon, Seven Hills and Sun City by extending Bicentennial Parkway and construction of the new Via Inspirada, which will connect Volunteer and Bicentennial. That segment of the work is expected to be finished some time in August.

Crews then will start on the next phase of the project, which is widening both Volunteer and Executive Airport Drive from two lanes to four lanes. Henderson city officials believe this will help relieve some of the traffic on Eastern Avenue. Executive Airport Drive also will be realigned at Volunteer, creating a straight connection into the new Via Inspirada. The project is expected to be completed in November.

To answer the second half of that question, no, Bicentennial will not connect directly into Las Vegas Boulevard or Interstate 15, but it does feed into Volunteer, which will be improved and widened to provide a much nicer ride to Las Vegas Boulevard.

A reader who goes by Tx has this problem: Several months ago they did something to the amber and left turn signals on the north side of Blue Diamond Road, so that they are almost unseen if you are traveling north on Dean Martin Drive. They are invisible in day time and very dim in the dark. You wait until the bright red arrow goes out and then you can go.

This is a unique intersection because the Dean Martin alignment across Blue Diamond is angled, which makes for a larger intersection than normal. What the county did was install a second set of traffic signals across the intersection to direct northbound Dean Martin traffic. That set of lights, however, is designed to keep traffic in the proper lanes as motorists cross Blue Diamond.

A lot of times, motorists pull ahead of the “stop bar” on the south side of the intersection, and they no longer can see the traffic signals above them. But that primary traffic signal is what engineers want motorists to look at when they pull up to the intersection. If you pull too far forward and are looking at that second set across Blue Diamond, the lights will appear more dim because of the distance. County engineers do not see a problem with the signaling at this intersection as long as motorists abide by the stop bar.

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at 702-387-2904, or send an email to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Include your phone number.