A little respite on the I-15

We are all aware that at some point in the Las Vegas Valley, Interstate 15 is buried in construction. That's a given. But readers are still interested in the interstate when it departs our fine county and takes off toward California, a route that many Las Vegans take regularly whether for work or pleasure.

Brent is full of questions, so let's start from the top: The rest area between Baker and Barstow has been closed for some time "for repairs," but no work seems to be being done. Any news?

The Baker rest area appears to be open, according to the California Department of Transportation. Caltrans' Darin Cooke said that every now and again, rest stops have to be closed to handle minor maintenance issues or to clean up graffiti, which might have been the case in Baker, a roadside station that recently was remodeled.

However, the Barstow rest stop remains closed. Caltrans has all sorts of water problems with the Barstow stop because it runs off a well and the plumbing is ancient, Cooke said.

When visitors stuff paper goods down the loo, it causes all sorts of problems that can take awhile to sort out. Of course, with our neighboring state also suffering from financial problems, replacing the plumbing does not top the to-do list.

This is about the best I can do for you, Brent: Before you embark on your next trip to Southern California, check out the website www.dot.ca.gov/dist8. On the left side of the page is a "roadside rest areas" quick link that provides up-to-date information on the rest stop's accommodations and whether it is open.

And secondly: What is being built off Interstate 15 at the Primm Valley Golf Resort exit? Seems to be cranes and construction work being done a couple of miles off the highway.

That is the Stateline Solar Farm energy project that is being built on 2,000 acres of public land at the California-Nevada border. First Solar Development Inc. acquired the property from the Bureau of Land Management.

And lastly: There also seems to be some kind of construction on the immediate north side of the Primm exit. What is this?

That was a resurfacing project that tied up traffic for a few weeks, but I've been told that as of mid-October, the construction work had been completed.

And now on to Pat: I just saw an electronic sign near the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Paradise Road stating this intersection would be closed starting at midnight Oct. 26 ­-- right in front of the airport just in time for Thanksgiving and the rodeo. My question is, could you please tell me how long this intersection will be closed? Or should I just go on vacation?

Even if I told you this intersection would be closed for a minute, you should go on vacation anyway. I would.

The truth is, however, that this won't last just a minute, but several weeks. It is unclear at this time whether the work will interfere with Thanksgiving traffic. I'll try to keep you all informed.

With that said, allow me to provide a little more information on the work being performed. The closures on Paradise Road were a result of new signage needed for Terminal 3.

The contractor needed to use a crane to install three 60-foot-long beams across the southbound lanes of Paradise, and the work couldn't be done without completely shutting down the lanes.

Additional signs were supposed to be installed near the two right-turn lanes from Tropicana to southbound Paradise. That work was delayed because the manufacturer was not yet ready.

Now airport officials are saying those signs will go up sometime in the middle of the month. They have not given the exact dates, so it is not known whether this work will affect Thanksgiving traffic.

In the coming weeks, look for new signs near Eastern Avenue and Russell Road, along Interstate 215 and within the Airport Connector Tunnel.

And now Bruce: With the new park/flood control project nearing completion at Tropicana Avenue and Decatur Boulevard, it doesn't look as if they have any plans for bus turnouts being added to the area even though one would think that during construction would be the ideal time to do so. Are there plans for the turnouts, or is this not in the cards for this area?

Yes, Bruce, actually Clark County is planning on adding two bus turnouts as part of the lower Tropicana detention basin project, which, for those of you who don't know, is on the northwest corner of Tropicana and Decatur.

Both turnouts will be installed on Tropicana Avenue between Decatur Boulevard and Lindell Road. The park and the accompanying bus turnouts should be completed by the middle of next year.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@
reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.