Aliante interchange delayed
This week readers want to know when the Las Vegas Beltway's interchange with Aliante Parkway is going to be finished and how to correct an Internet map Web site. Also, the Road Warrior offers a refresher on the HOV rules.
A reader fumes: You said last year that the Las Vegas Beltway's interchange at Aliante Parkway would be finished in January 2009. It's January 2009 and it's not done yet. The whole thing is a mess and very difficult to drive, especially at night. When will it be done?
You're right. I did write that. Twice, actually.
It would have been nice to have had the interchange open in November when the Aliante Station casino opened.
But that was never in the cards.
The Clark County Public Works Department had (until recently) always maintained that the Aliante interchange project, which includes upgrades to the Beltway between Decatur Boulevard and North Fifth Street, would be finished by the end of this month.
Public works spokesman Bobby Shelton said that there were some delays and some additions to the project. As a result it won't be completed until late March at the earliest or sometime in April.
Shelton said the additional work included more paving within the interchange area, a redesign of some of the ramp structures and a redesign of how the project tied into the Beltway just to the west of the Aliante interchange.
On top of that "the project had some 'bad dirt,' which had to be replaced before the interchange could be constructed," Shelton said.
He explained that the dirt in the area was "too soft" and had a consistency of "a real fine powder," making it impossible to compact the soil and put down asphalt.
In the meantime, motorists driving through the area should be alert as there are a number of lane shifts.
I know it's sacrilege, but slowing down is your best bet to safely negotiate the road.
Jon Bastian asks: How do I get a correction to MapQuest that their map is wrong? On the Web site it does not show that there is a cul-de-sac on Bullring Lane at Cottontail Cove Street. I don't want to make a national issue out of it, I just want it fixed. Friends trying to find our house on MapQuest are always frustrated and confused by this misinformation.
It's not that difficult to report a problem to MapQuest.
Once you're on www.MapQuest.com, follow the "Help" link at the bottom of the page. On the "Help" page, follow the "Contact Us" link on the left-hand side. (Or you can just go to http://help.mapquest.com/jive/mqfeedback.jspa.)
Here you will be presented with six options to provide feedback. The first one is "Report Data Errors." Choose that one, click "continue" and then file your complaint.
MapQuest spokesman Chris Savarese walked me through the process. He explained that once a complaint is received, MapQuest will contact the company that creates the digital mapping used on the Web site. In this case it's a company called Navteq.
The complaint is then researched and a correction made to the online maps when appropriate.
The process could take up to three months, he said.
Daniel Rosenbaum asks: I recall seeing something a while back regarding the HOV lane rules on U.S. Highway 95. I understand that there might be times that one person in a vehicle can legally drive in one of these lanes. Can you review the rules for me please?
It has been about 14 months since high occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lanes opened for the first time in the valley.
The seven miles of HOV lanes run in each direction on the left side of U.S. 95 between the Spaghetti Bowl and the Rainbow Curve.
At first these lanes were dedicated HOV lanes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
But after about six months, the Nevada Department of Transportation discovered motorists were not using the HOV lanes, outside of rush hour travel.
So in April, transportation officials changed the usage. Now, the lanes are dedicated for use by high occupancy vehicles only from 6 to 10 a.m and 2 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
During those times the lanes can be used only by vehicles transporting more than one person, motorcycles, buses and emergency vehicles. Drivers who don't obey the rules can be fined $250.
Outside of those specified times, anyone can drive in the HOV lanes.
If you have a question, tip or tirade, call the Road Warrior at 702-387-2904, or e-mail him at roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Please include your phone number.
The Nevada Department of Transportation announced the following updates on the ongoing $240 million Interstate 15 north widening project: • Eastbound traffic on Lake Mead Boulevard cannot access Interstate 15 southbound through March. Westbound Lake Mead traffic will have access to I-15 southbound. Motorists should head north on Losee Road to Cheyenne Avenue to access I-15 southbound. • Westbound Lake Mead will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly through Thursday. Eastbound Lake Mead will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly beginning Thursday through Jan. 29. Use Cheyenne or Washington Avenue as an alternate route. • Bonanza Road at I-15 will be closed to traffic from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. Jan. 29 for a deck pour. Motorists should detour via Washington. • The Interstate 15 southbound offramp to Cheyenne is closed through March. Use detours at Craig Road or Lake Mead. • The Washington onramp to Interstate 15 northbound is closed through Feb. 15. Motorists should use Las Vegas Boulevard North to Cheyenne, Craig or Lamb Boulevard to access I-15 northbound. Southbound Interstate 15 south of Primm will be closed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today for blasting associated with an ongoing freeway widening project. Northbound drivers will experience delays of about 15 minutes. Through late April, this closure method will be in place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday, weather permitting. During the closures I-15 southbound traffic will be diverted to the Primm Valley properties for fuel, food and other services. Truck drivers are encouraged to exit at Jean off the I-15. Motorists are advised to plan ahead and avoid traveling south on I-15 during those hours. Visit www.caltrans8.info or call (866) 383-4631 to learn more about this project.
