Forever to last a bit longer on Cheyenne

Most readers’ attention has been focused on the work on Interstate 15 south lately, but in case you haven’t made it up there, U.S. Highway 95 in the northwest is quite a mess as well. The first couple of questions address a few main roads that have been torn up for some time. But before, or even after, you check out those, be sure to look at the Road Work section for the major detours coming up this weekend on, yes, Interstate 15.

William wants an end to the madness: Is there a prediction of the date that traffic conditions should return to normal on the Cheyenne Avenue overpass over Highway 95? So far it seems like forever.

Well, William, it looks like your forever will last a little bit longer. The widening of the Cheyenne bridge and the new ramps will not be completed until the end of the summer, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation. I know, not really the news you wanted to hear.

Joan asks: I saw something on television the other day about Durango Drive being reconfigured, but missed how. Do you know anything about that project and where it was “reconfigured?”

This was part of the Nevada Department of Transportation project along U.S. Highway 95. The Durango interchange is one of those that was turned into a loop ramp. So, to access the highway southbound, you need to stay to the right and use the new ramp. Drivers who are traveling east on Durango still use the old ramp to get onto the southbound freeway.

Don wants direction: Are you allowed to use GPS devices while driving? If you do, do you have to have it mounted on the dashboard or can you pick it up ?

The only GPS devices that can be used in your vehicle are individual devices – not a cellphone application – that is permanently mounted on the vehicle. Even if you have a holder for a cellphone, it is still not allowed because the cellphone is not permanently mounted there. Weird, but true, according to Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Loy Hixson. It is also not permitted to set your cellphone on the passenger seat and pick it up to glance at directions.

Hand Mark the mic: Since it is now illegal to hold a cellphone while driving, is it also illegal now for a truck driver to hold a microphone while driving? Not that there will be any law enforcement with the big truckers since the police can not see into the cab all that well.

It doesn’t matter that officers cannot see into the truckers’ cabs because using CB radios is allowed , Mark. Hixson said the CBs use a different type of airwave, and it is not a two-way communication device. But most important, they have to use the radios in the course of business as far as communicating with each other about road construction or other hiccups .

Tom has a few follow-up questions from last week’s column: It’s hard to believe we can park our car free at South Strip Transfer Station and pay $2 for the bus ride to the airport. My questions to you are: 1. How often is the bus pick up and how long is the ride to the airport? 2. Is there a limit how long we can park our car? 3. Does airport provide security and is it safe to leave our car for three or four weeks for instance?

OK, Tom, it looks as though the bus – Route 109 by the way – arrives and departs from the Transfer Station about every 15 minutes, but it depends on the time of day. The trip to the airport is about seven minutes. The first bus out is at 11:21 a.m. and the last takes off at 5:51 p.m. For a more detailed schedule, visit rtcsnv.com.

As for the second question, there is no limit on how long you can leave your car, but the Regional Transportation Commission asks that you inform security within the building of the length of your trip .

And the third question. Three or four weeks? Dang, I want to take your kind of vacations. Security at these transit centers is pretty good. I had a friend who was out of town for 10 days and when he returned, security called his cellphone to make sure it was he driving the vehicle.

Oh, Tom also had this: Awhile back you wrote about the security officers at the airport passenger pick-up area. I have noticed that they have since become driver/passenger friendly.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.