Overhang at overpass helps prevent mischief

It’s nice to know that people of all ages still read the newspaper. This week we received a question from an observant fourth-grader, which I thought was pretty cool.

So, we will kick today off with a question from Taryn Moore: On the Lone Mountain Road overpass at U.S. Highway 95, one of the fences is curved and the other is straight. Why?

The curved fence is designed as such to provide an overhang above the sidewalk on the overpass. The reason it is only one side of the bridge is because the sidewalk is only on one side. The overhang is to prevent pedestrians walking along Lone Mountain from tossing objects onto the highway below.

Ed has a follow-up on Nevada registration: I’m curious about commercial vehicles doing business in Las Vegas with out-of-state plates but with a local address and phone number on the vehicle. How is this being handled with the registration controversy?

Commercial vehicles often have out-of-state license plates because the company’s headquarters is outside of Nevada, but they also have a local office. “If it’s a California company that is doing business here in Nevada, it’s perfectly legal,” said Tom Jacobs, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. The plate usually represents where the trucks are ultimately housed.

However, the driver must meet one of two requirements. The truck must have “apportioned” license plates which are white with an “A” stamped on them. Apportioned plates means the vehicle can travel in different states and the company has paid taxes to use that state’s roads. If the vehicle does not have an apportioned plate, then the drivers must have a permit that allows them to drive in Nevada.

Jane asks: When recently driving on both Interstate 15 north and Interstate 15 south, I’ve noticed that only a portion of the express lanes have the small upright poles that show that the vehicles are not supposed to change from the express lanes to the regular traffic lanes. When will the remainder of these poles be put in place?

Anyone who travels I-15 regularly knows exactly what Jane is talking about — cars constantly cross the double white lines that designate the express lanes. Jane said she even sees the police do it. Unfortunately, the plastic candlesticks won’t go up for the full express stretch between Sahara Avenue and Russell Road for some time.

Crews will be in and out of those lanes as I-15 is widened and new bridges are built as part of the design-build project at and around the Las Vegas Beltway. That project is expected to be completed in 2012 and until then we have to deal with only small stretches of truly designated express lanes and motorists who choose to ignore the double-white lines. While drivers can be ticketed for crossing over them, it takes a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper to see it and that might not happen too often.

Peter is concerned: There is a pothole on Highway 95 north near the Boulder Highway exit. It is getting bigger and rebar is starting to show. It is bad for cars but I saw a motorcyclist almost get wiped out. Who do you call to get it fixed?

The Nevada Department of Transportation repaired this nasty pothole on Monday. Readers like Peter sometimes notify us about such road hazards and government agencies will go check out the problem when we inquire about them. If you see problems like this in the future, feel free to write us or call the transportation division’s hot line at 385-6500.

See? Here’s further proof that this works with Diane’s question: Can you find out why there is no reduce speed or warning sign on westbound St. Rose Parkway turning north onto Southern Highlands Parkway? This is such a dangerous curve and those who don’t live in this area have to slam on their brakes at the last minute.

NDOT’s Bob McKenzie said engineers didn’t think signage on that corner was necessary, but will go check it out again, Diane. We’ll keep you posted.

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