Expect weekend work on Losee Road

This week readers want to know when Losee Road will get fixed, is there a law prohibiting drivers from wearing headphones, and where Koval Lane and Winnick Avenue get their names.

Frank asks: I feel like one of these days my shocks are going to implode because of the pot holes, road dips, and overall decay that is Losee Road. When are they ever going to fix it?

Your wildest dreams are set to come true.

The North Las Vegas Public Works Department has begun this week an improvement project that will stretch north on Losee, from Lake Mead Boulevard to Alexander Road.

The three-mile project will include repaving and restriping the road, improving sidewalks and signage and making some utility adjustments.

Although this news would seem welcome to a number of motorists who have to use Losee on a daily basis, it does concern me because Losee is being used by motorists to avoid the construction from the Interstate 15 north widening project.

But officials said that in an effort to minimize the impact construction will have on rush hour traffic, the city plans on doing coordinated "pave-a-thons" on weekends.

The project is expected to finish in February.

Chris Fiaccone asks: Is there a law that prohibits motorists from driving with headphones on? I see more and more drivers with headphones that do not have a clue to what is happening around them because they cannot hear.

There have been studies to suggest your assertion is correct. Members of AAA, the driver advocacy group, have supported laws that eliminate distractions such as headphones or hands-free cell phone ear pieces.

Personally I'd rather you use an ear piece, leaving two hands on the steering wheel instead of holding a phone to your ear.

Either way, there is no law in the state, county, or city that deals specifically with that issue.

Locally, the Clark County code and Las Vegas municipal code do have a nonspecific law that could be used by law enforcement to ticket drivers who are not paying full attention to driving.

Clark County Code states it's against the law "for any person to operate a motor vehicle upon a highway without giving full time and attention to the operation of the vehicle." The city code is almost identical.

I've heard of police officers using the code to give citations to people talking on cell phones. It certainly is vague enough that it could be used to cite someone for even changing the radio station.

It probably could be used to cite someone who was using some sort of headphones if it caused the motorist not to pay full attention to driving.

A reader asks: Is there any information in the book "Asphalt Memories" about the Koval and Winnick street names?

I wrote about Asphalt Memories in my July 5 column. The recently published book by author Mark Hall-Patton explains the historical references of more than 400 street names in the valley.

Koval Lane was "probably named for A. J. Koval who was an apartment manager on Deckow Lane in 1970," Hall-Patton wrote. The author admits that he doesn't have absolute proof that this is the origin of the street name, but believes it is accurate.

Hall-Patton is more certain of Winnick Avenue, near Koval and Flamingo Road. The author wrote the street was named for developer Albert Winnick. "(He) was a builder and operated a gas station at Suzanne and Flamingo in the 1960s," Hall-Patton wrote.

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