215 Beltway in Las Vegas was never planned as a full loop
The 215 Beltway was never expected to make a complete ring around the Las Vegas Valley.
The current three-quarters loop was completed in 2003, aimed at relieving traffic congestion for the rapidly growing region, Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said.
A few readers have emailed the Road Warrior noting that one-quarter of the circle of the Beltway is missing through the east end of the valley, in hopes of seeing a connection between Interstate 15 in North Las Vegas and U.S. Highway 95 in Henderson.
Clark County officials studied several route options for the Beltway during the late 1990s, but Kulin said that this particular segment was never designed nor formally planned. The missing link was always part of the plan — and still is.
“There would have been significant impacts on existing homes and businesses, as adding a highway through that area would have required a significant amount of eminent domain procedures,” Kulin said.
Construction on the first segment was completed in 2005, starting with the Town Center interchange and the Alta Drive bridge, according to the county’s website. The Nevada Department of Transportation also completed work that year on the interchange connecting the Beltway with U.S. Highway 95 in the valley’s southeast end.
Now, the 53-mile stretch of road runs through parts of Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County.
Midblock crossings
Corner crosswalks are found at most intersections as a way to provide safe passage for people to get from one side of the street to the other.
Increasingly, we’re seeing crosswalks placed midblock and Marlene from Las Vegas wanted to know who has the right of way: pedestrians or vehicles?
Pedestrians, always.
The yellow flashing lights that usually accompany midblock crosswalks are considered to be “advisory,” aimed at warning drivers that someone is attempting to walk across the street, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Jason Buratczuk said. State law does not require pedestrians to push the button to activate a crosswalk advisory light.
“If a pedestrian is waiting at a crosswalk trying to cross, they have the right of way, and motorists must stop to allow the pedestrian to safely cross the road,” Buratczuk said.
Sign unblocked
Steve from Las Vegas noticed some tree branches are blocking a sign that warns drivers about an upcoming crosswalk in the 8200 block of Grand Canyon Drive, near a school bus stop.
“Young and old people have almost been run over here, especially because cars speed down the street,” Steve wrote in an email to the Road Warrior.
Thanks to your question, maintenance crews were dispatched to make sure trees are not obstructing any warning signs near this crosswalk, Las Vegas city spokeswoman Margaret Kurtz said. Additional warning signs are going up nearby.
Because of frequent changes in school bus stop locations, Kurtz said that “it is not feasible to install permanent flashers.” School buses are already equipped with flashing lights that require drivers to come to a complete stop when children are crossing the street.
Starr struck
Stan wanted to know what types of improvements to expect along Starr Avenue, between Bermuda Road and St. Rose Parkway in Henderson, and when construction will wrap up.
The road closure should have been lifted Friday, with most of the work scheduled for completion by mid-November, Henderson city spokeswoman Kim Becker said. Crews are making some intersection modifications, along with installing underground wiring for traffic signals and streetlights. Paving should begin Oct. 9 and be completed within a couple of weeks.
No right of way
Geraldo from North Las Vegas wanted to know why concrete barriers are closing off access between Pecos and Washburn roads, especially given the proximity to Shadow Creek Golf Course and surrounding housing developments.
It turns out the city doesn’t own the right of way for the eastern half of Washburn along a few of the parcels in this area, North Las Vegas city spokeswoman Delen Goldberg said. Without that right of way, you and I can’t access that part of the road.
Questions and comments should be sent to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Please include your phone number. Follow @RJroadwarrior on Twitter.
Road work ahead
Downtown
— The Washington Avenue offramp from southbound Interstate 15 will be closed from 10 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Oct. 5. Crews are installing traffic management signs.
— Washington Avenue is restricted between Robin Street and Rancho Drive through Oct. 19. Crews are working on a channel project.
— Washington Avenue is restricted between Rainbow and Decatur boulevards from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through first week of December. Crews are laying new pavement and adding medians.
— Main Street is restricted between Fremont Street and Ogden Avenue through Dec. 20. Crews are demolishing a building.
— Ninth Street is closed between Carson and Main streets through Dec. 31. Crews are installing water and sewer lines.
— U.S. Highway 95 is restricted between Rancho Road and just east of Interstate 15 through January 2018. Crews are building a new flyover ramp for high-occupancy vehicles as part of Project Neon.
— The Martin Luther King Boulevard onramp to northbound Interstate 15 is closed through January 2018. Crews are building a carpool ramp.
— The ramp connecting southbound U.S. Highway 95 to northbound Interstate 15 is closed through January 2018. Crews are building a carpool ramp.
— Main Street is restricted between Bonneville Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard through May 2018. Crews are working on a storm drain.
— Sections of Bonneville Avenue, Charleston Boulevard, Grand Central Parkway and Martin Luther King Boulevard will have closed or disrupted lanes surrounding the Spaghetti Bowl as crews work on Project Neon through July 2018.
East valley
— Eastern Avenue is restricted between Flamingo Road and Tompkins Avenue through Sept. 29. Crews are doing sewer work.
Southwest
— Fort Apache Road is restricted between Sunset and Post roads through Oct. 31. Crews are doing sewer work.
— Sunset Road is restricted between Fort Apache Road and Ivesdale Street through Oct. 31. Crews are doing sewer work.
Henderson
— Sunset Road onramp to southbound U.S. Highway 95 will be closed for overnight work from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Thursday. Crews are paving the road.
— Southbound U.S. Highway 95 will be restricted between College Drive and Greenway Parkway from 9 p.m. Thursday to 4 a.m. Friday. Crews are repairing bridge cracks.
— Appaloosa Road is restricted between Wagonwheel Drive and Rawhide Drive through late October. Crews are installing a storm drain.
— Wigwam Parkway will be intermittently closed in both directions at Gibson Road through the end of December. Crews are installing a new traffic signal and making sidewalk improvements.
— Center Street is restricted between Burkholder Boulevard and Lake Mead Parkway through June 2018. Crews are making various road improvements.
North Las Vegas
— Nellis Boulevard is restricted between Cheyenne Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays through July 2018. Crews are installing sewer pipes.
Gasoline prices
The average gasoline price Friday in the Las Vegas Valley was $2.71 per gallon. It was $2.78 in Nevada. The national average of $2.58 is down 4 cents from a week ago, up 24 cents from a month ago and up 37 cents from a year ago.
