Hope alive for nasty I-15 intersection in North Las Vegas

I raise this because the top fundamental canon of the profession is “Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public.” And Warrior reader Geoffrey has some serious concerns about the Cheyenne Avenue exit of Interstate 15:

“I travel between the southwest part of the valley and the College of Southern Nevada’s Cheyenne campus twice a week. I really don’t like the design of the Cheyenne Avenue interchange at I-15. Normally, the single-point urban interchange design is a good thing since it’s supposed to be more efficient, especially with the left turns combined in traffic signal cycles. In this case, though, the close proximity of both Losee Road and Civic Center Drive to the interchange negates any efficiency gains the design may have given.

“Whenever I head towards CSN, the ramp from northbound I-15 to eastbound Cheyenne is dangerous. Instead of a signalized right turn, it’s a free merge, a lane change and an immediate signal at Civic Center (the ramp defaults to turning right onto Civic Center). I have to look to the left over my shoulder and watch out for huge trucks and buses coming from eastbound Cheyenne and/or southbound I-15. Plus, I have to slow down both for the steep decline and for the immediate upcoming intersection. I also would have to eventually change lanes all the way to the left to prepare to turn into CSN’s Campus Drive later on. For this, I wish the ramp was changed into a signalized right turn with no turns on red, like how it is at the 215 Beltway and South Rainbow Boulevard.

“As for on the way back, when I’m heading home from CSN, there’s almost always a big backup extending east of Civic Center, with the majority of traffic trying to head to southbound I-15. There is a very short pocket allocated for the two left turn lanes from westbound Cheyenne onto I-15, and so traffic spills over to the other side of the Civic Center intersection.

“Is there anything the Nevada Department of Transportation or the City of North Las Vegas can do to help improve the traffic situation here?”

Yes, there is, Geoffrey. It’s almost as if your cry for help was heard by an engineer who was thinking, “Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public.”

Here’s what Jennifer Doody, public works director for North Las Vegas, had to say about the project that, unfortunately, isn’t expected to get underway for at least a year:

“We do have a project that includes intersection improvements at Cheyenne and Civic Center and some minor ramp reconfiguration for the I-15 on- and off-ramps,” she said.

“This project will be providing a triple left turn for westbound Cheyenne to southbound I-15 on-ramp, realigning the northbound I-15 off-ramp right turn movement to provide a signalized dual right movement, constructing a new southbound Civic Center right turn pocket and modifying northbound Civic Center Drive lane assignments to consist of dual lefts, a shared left and a through and a dedicated right turn pocket.”

The bottom line is that a signalized double right turn (sorry, no right turn on red ahead) from northbound I-15 to eastbound Cheyenne will address Geoffrey’s commute to CSN, and the double left turn will become a triple left turn from westbound Cheyenne to southbound I-15 for his commute home.

It may not be the ideal solution, but it’ll be better. And safer.

Missing link

Earlier this year, there was discussion about Sunset Road, one of the few east-west streets that stretch the entire length of the valley — except for a small patch between Decatur and Jones boulevards.

Clark County promised to pave that missing link, providing a new alternative access across town.

Dan Kulin, a spokesman for the county, said the link has been paved and is operational.

The project also included paving Lindell Road between Sunset and Teco Avenue, which will provide some additional access to the link from the north.

Heavy traffic

Unless you have plans to attend the Specialty Equipment Market Association trade show or the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo — two automotive products events that pack Las Vegas with more than 140,000 people each fall — stay away from the resort corridor next week.

SEMA is scheduled at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and AAPEX takes up residency at the Sands Expo Center Nov. 3-6.

Exhibitors will start rolling into town by the end of this week, and trade show floors are open next week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., so streets around both venues will start jamming an hour before and an hour after those times. And don’t forget, it’ll be a lot darker at show close because of the end of daylight saving time.

Because many people who attend go to both shows, expect plenty of traffic between venues throughout the day.

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