You can catch a break again on I-15

I haven’t taken a road trip to Southern California lately, but judging by the number of phone calls and e-mails I’ve received in the past couple of months about closed rest stops, this has been a problem again along Interstate 15. We’ll kick this week off with the latest.

Dave asks: The Valley Wells rest stop between Primm and Baker was closed for three years for renovations and just re-opened in May. Why is it closed again?

The original contractor hired by the California Department of Transportation to spiffy up those rest stops finished up the work a few months back. However, when it came time to clean that particular stop and three others along Interstate 15, the contract had run out. The state had to wait for the new company to come on board to do the cleaning. The good news, Dave, is that the company finished that work and those rest stops are now open again.

Nancy is tired of her rough ride: I have an issue with the hideously beat-up roadway topping on Eastern Avenue between Wigwam Parkway and Pebble Road. This has been allowed to deteriorate for years and is now just a nightmare to drive over, not to mention how hard it is on our car’s suspension. Any repair in sight for this?

Well, Nancy, repairs to Eastern Avenue are on the way. Unfortunately for you and your suspension, they aren’t imminent. According to Clark County officials, the bid for the repaving project went out in February and responses are due back by March 30. Once Clark County commissioners give it their approval, which is likely to happen during an April meeting, work will soon begin.

The project, which will be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, includes removing existing paving, resurfacing and striping as well as reconstructing adjacent sidewalks to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The work is expected to take 120 days.

Thomas is in the dark: He drives the Las Vegas Beltway between Flamingo Road and Decatur Boulevard at night. About half the mast lights are out; it’s annoying and distracting. Are there plans to fix them?

Let there be light, Thomas. Clark County recently secured contracts for high-mast lighting along the Beltway from Interstate 15 west to Durango Drive, according to county spokeswoman Jennifer Knight. The contracts also cover maintenance work on the lights, deck lighting under bridges, signage and pavement markings. All that work began this month.

Mary asks: I was wondering if you could tell me why the Galleria Drive off Boulder Highway is closed with cones, etc.? The street has been finished, and they make you go all the way to Russell Road to Galleria. When will it be open all the way to Boulder Highway?

Galleria Drive is closed while Henderson traffic maintenance crew members work on traffic signals, Mary. The signalization hasn’t been completed because of work that first needs to be done to drainage facilities in the area. The city expects this work to be complete and the street to open within the next two weeks.

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