New intersection sends mixed signals

3109816

This week readers want to know whether to yield or stop at Aliante Parkway and the Las Vegas Beltway, why were the white lines, used to mark a breakdown lane, not repainted after Pollock Drive was repaved, and why do the folks at McCarran International Airport make it so difficult for people who use the remote parking lots to get to the departure terminal?

Paul Berkowitz asks: The new intersection where the westbound Beltway exits onto Aliante Parkway north has both a right turn signal and a yield sign. Obviously both cannot be correct.

Do I go or do I yield? That is the question.

I went up there and checked out the interchange. I suffered more confusion than an existential lemming on the edge of a cliff.

Drivers are faced with a green right turn arrow and are also ordered to yield at the same time. (The dilemma is expertly shown in the photograph above.)

Bobby Shelton, spokesman for the Clark County Public Works Department, which oversees the Beltway, said the Aliante Interchange project calls for a "yield sign" to be in place when the project finishes.

"As for the (turn signal), we could not find on the plans where this (signal) was called for," Shelton said. "It is correct that (having) both of these traffic control devices would not be appropriate for this section of roadway."

He added the issue will be investigated toute de suite. "We will work to correct the situation as quickly as possible," Shelton said.

Good catch, Paul.

Pete Nicastro asks: Until a few years ago Pollock, from Pebble Road to Silverado Ranch Boulevard, was a one-lane road. When it was repaved they forgot to put back the solid white line close to the curbs to let people know that this is not a driving lane. Since, people have been riding the curb and speeding past other traffic on the right. The same is true on the east side of Bermuda Road, from Silverado Ranch to Pebble. Can we get someone to look into this before there is a serious accident? Why can’t they just repaint the solid lines when the work is finished?

During the past several years the county has reconstructed a number of roads and had them "built out" to their full widths, creating wider roads, Shelton explained.

"This was done to minimize additional construction costs as it is just as easy to build out a roadway while that type of work is taking place instead of having to come back and complete the build-out at a different time," he said.

And though some roads are built out to their full width, those roads do not always have the volume of traffic that dictates striping for additional lanes, Shelton said.

"Consequently, you will have some ‘wide’ roadways, which may only be striped as one or two travel lanes in each direction," he said.

Shelton said motorists need to remember that the number of travel lanes for a roadway is indicated by how many travel lanes are marked. In other words, while the road might be wide enough for two lanes, it is not considered a dedicated travel lane unless it is marked as such, he said.

Now for the confusing part. Nevada law does allow for motorists to pass on the right as long as the roadway is paved. Of course, that’s not recommended in most situations.

Shelton said the county’s traffic management folks will review those roads and will determine if additional lane striping is needed.

Richard Clauser asks: Why do the remote parking lot shuttles at McCarran Airport drop us off so far from the check-in counter? When you take the shuttle bus it drops you off in the basement section of the airport. In order to get to the check-in counters you have to take the elevator to the second level, hike almost to terminal A and take the elevator or escalator back down to the counters. Why can’t the shuttle drop you off at the departing passenger area like the rental car shuttles?

Chris Jones, spokesman for McCarran, explained there are multiple reasons for this practice and none of them have anything to do with a "Get Fit Las Vegas" weight-loss campaign.

"The departures curb already handles taxis, limousines, buses and private vehicles whose drivers are all there to unload travelers near ticketing. Adding a fleet of parking buses to this mix would only create more congestion in this area," Jones said.

He added that McCarran’s parking shuttle buses also bring arriving passengers back to their vehicles. Attempting to load parking shuttles at the departures curb would create more delays, as loading requires more time than unloading, Jones said.

And if you’re wondering why the shuttle buses can’t unload passengers at departures and load them in the basement area, Jones has an explanation.

"Such a route would require the buses to loop through the airport roadway system twice on each round trip," adding to delays, extra fuel costs and wear and tear on the buses, he said.

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call the Road Warrior at 387-2904, or e-mail him at roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com or fmccabe@reviewjournal.com. Please include your phone number.