Reopening: Next Week For H Street

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This week readers want to know when H Street will be reopened at Bonanza Road; whether there is any way to fix the ramp meters that control traffic flow onto Interstate 15; and whether they are ever going to fix Stewart Avenue between Maryland Parkway and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Michelle asks: Is there any word on when H Street at Bonanza might reopen?

The word is that H Street should reopen by the end of next week, or as it’s known to some, Oct. 3.

H Street has been closed for the past few weeks as work continues on the Interstate 15 north widening project. Workers have been rebuilding the northbound portion of the I-15 overpass at Bonanza Road.

H Street might be closed again in the future for reconstruction of the southbound portion of the I-15 overpass in the area, said Bob McKenzie, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

But at this point the timing on that is uncertain.

Randy Shereda writes: Here’s the dilemma: The I-15 south entrance ramp at Sahara Avenue is equipped with flow ramp meters. When the traffic on the ramp backs up to the point that it causes congestion on Sahara the meters turn off for a moment or two, leaving both the red and green lights dark. You would not believe the number of drivers that, instead of entering the freeway, stay stopped at these blacked-out traffic lights waiting for the green. Is there a way for the engineers to reprogram both of these lights to go green when the need arises, instead of just turning them off?

Randy presents an interesting conundrum because the signs at these ramp meters state that only one vehicle can go during a green light or a driver will get a pretty hefty fine.

Tracy Bower, spokeswoman for the Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation, FAST, which oversees the ramp meters, said that because of those signs, simply turning the lights green might confuse drivers even more.

What a dilemma. If the lights turn off, drivers don’t want to go, and if the lights turn green, drivers would still be unlikely to go.

So what’s the solution?

The FAST folks haven’t come up with a solution yet. Bower said engineers are researching how other transportation agencies are handling this problem.

I’m not sure leaning on your horn is going to get the job done either. Until the FAST folks figure out another option, I guessing that it’s going to be dang tootin’ frustrating for a lot commuters.

Fred Bulaon asks: I’ve been living downtown for many years and I’m wondering why nothing is being done to fix the rough surface of Stewart from Maryland going west to Las Vegas Boulevard. And yet, going east on Stewart from Maryland is a whole lot better. Is there any reason why this particular side of Stewart is being neglected?

I’ve got good news for Fred. The Las Vegas Public Works Department is getting ready to begin a joint sewer system rehabilitation and roadway reconstruction project on that stretch of Stewart.

The project is set to begin Oct. 8, said Debbie Ackerman, spokeswoman for the Public Works Department.

Ackerman said the work mostly will be done during the daytime, but work could take place at night and sometimes on the weekend also.

The work will include putting a larger sewer system from Las Vegas Boulevard to Eighth Street and relining the sewer lines to Maryland Parkway.

The $3.4 million project, being done by Wells Cargo Construction, is expected to be completed in six months, Ackerman said.

The project is being funded by the city of Las Vegas, the Regional Transportation Commission and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

Ackerman said there will be access for local businesses on Stewart.

Of course, once all this construction begins Fred, guess what’s going to happen: You’ll probably get stuck in traffic.

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Francis McCabe at (702) 387-2904, or send an e-mail to roadwarrior@review journal.com. Please include your phone number.