The other side of the tracks
Clark County has undoubtedly made a bunch of improvements to roads west of Interstate 15, but when you get to Blue Diamond Road in the southwest, you often find yourself hitting dead end after dead end, mostly because of the railroad tracks. I think the first question today will please many who live or work in that area.
Here’s Doug: I am wondering about Valley View Boulevard and when, if ever, it will connect between Flamingo Road and Tropicana Avenue. It has been that way seemingly forever. Is anything ever going to be done about it? It stops at railroad tracks, obviously, in both directions.
Yes Doug, Valley View is a priority for Clark County traffic engineers, who say that the design phase will be completed next year and construction is scheduled to start in 2013. As you noted, planners have to deal with the railroad tracks, and because of that, the project will be complex, including an overpass across the tracks.
Ultimately, Valley View will become the closest major continuous north-south arterial west of Interstate 15. It will extend from Blue Diamond Road to Washington Avenue. The improvements also are expected to alleviate congestion with three southbound lanes between Harmon Avenue and Flamingo Road and between Harmon and Tropicana. Three northbound lanes will be available between Flamingo and Harmon. Clark County officials say they expect 40,000 vehicles to use the road daily by 2025.
Peter wants to know: Recently, some sort of construction has started near eastbound Tropicana and northbound Eastern avenues. That causes a great amount of congestion for drivers. The main problem is that anytime I drive by that area, I do not see any sort of work. As that area is the cause of driver frustration, can you find out what that project is and when is it scheduled to be finished?
That, Peter, is part of the Water Reclamation District’s sewer rehabilitation project. Crews had to pump out the groundwater to gouge out a trench and install a new sewer line. They also have to remove the sewer from the old pipelines and manholes, district spokeswoman Julie Chadburn said.
The work hours are from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., but lanes are blocked off during the day to protect the pumping operation.
District officials are done with most of the work, but they still must refill and seal the trench.
Chadburn said she hopes one lane will open up this weekend after some temporary paving is completed. Crews still need to do some cleanup work and put down the final pavement as well as stripe the new lanes.
The entire project is expected to be finished by the end of July.
"Say what?" Anne says: In a recent article, you talked about Interstate 11. I have never heard of it. Where is it or where would it be if built?
So far, Interstate 11 is just a proposal, Anne. It is considered by some as a crucial link between Las Vegas and Phoenix, two of the country’s largest adjacent cities not connected by an interstate. The interstate would essentially be the same as U.S. Highway 93, but some major upgrades would be made to the existing freeway. The proposed route would include the Boulder City bypass, a proposed toll road that would dip south of the town and hook up with the new Hoover Dam bypass bridge.
Interstate 11 has yet to be funded. If it’s built, it would be part of the Canamex highway, an important commerce corridor linking Mexico to Canada.
John wants some help with Wyoming: I would like to know what the latest status is for East Wyoming Avenue between Lamb and Nellis boulevards. That stretch of road is sadly neglected and has been for the 10 years I have lived here. It’s is a three-lane road with one unpaved lane that causes constant dust and flying gravel. There are no sidewalks or street lights. With the new Veterans Administration clinic being built, that road will soon become a major thoroughfare for thousands of veterans.
That road should be good as new shortly after the veterans clinic opens. According to Clark County’s Dan Kulin, bids for a reconstruction and improvement project are due July 26. That means construction probably will start by the end of the year.
The project is being funded by Senate Bill 5, a piece of legislation that lifted the sunset on one-eighth of a cent sales tax. It includes the widening of Wyoming with new sidewalks, curbs and gutters.
If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at 702-387-2904, or send an email to roadwarrior@ reviewjournal.com. Include your phone number.
For the next 15 days, the left lane of the Summerlin Parkway ramp off U.S. Highway 95 north to the Buffalo Drive exit will be closed.
Until at least the end of the month, expect intermittent closures of the shoulder and far outside lanes on Sahara Avenue between Boulder Highway and Paradise Road between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. and between 5:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Also, expect delays on Sahara between Hualapai Way and Richfield Street during those same hours.
Through July 15, northbound Eastern Avenue will be reduced to one lane from Reno Avenue through Tropicana Avenue. Eastbound Tropicana will be reduced to one lane between Burnham Avenue and Topaz Street. One left-turn lane from Tropicana west to southbound Eastern will be restricted. The project will continue seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Expect delays on Lone Mountain Road between Decatur and Jones boulevards until the end of September as storm drain work is completed.
Expect delays on Rampart Boulevard at Vegas Drive until July 7 because of water pipe work.
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