Goings-on on E.T. Highway about to go on again
Sunday’s column on the traffic officers at McCarran International Airport generated dozens of emails and phone calls, which are all appreciated. Judging by the response, it appears that I am far from alone in my opinion that these guys are jerks. What I failed to do is include the phone number to call if you too feel as though an officer was out of line. That number is 261-5282.
Now on to your other questions.
Ray wants to hit the road: I read your article on the E.T. Highway power cache series. I also heard that it may be back online soon. Any ideas when?
Yes, Ray, this series is scheduled to be back up Friday, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation. For those who are unaware, the Extraterrestrial Highway was a popular place for geocaching, a hobby in which enthusiasts track down hidden treasures using tips posted online and their GPS systems. The highway near Rachel was known as a power cache series because more than 1,000 treasures were hidden in small boxes off the route.
Early this year, the Transportation Department removed the caches, saying they were placed too close to the highway and vehicles were slowing down to unsafe speeds to find them.
These geocachers are important to our economy. Businesses owners in Rachel said that during the winter, they kept their doors open thanks to the hobbyists.
Going back to Ray’s question, the department worked closely with geocaching groups in Nevada and established new guidelines. Michelle Booth, spokeswoman for the department, said the treasures cannot be buried in the state’s right-of-way and geocachers must use caution when looking for them.
"There wasn’t that much communication before, so we’re trying that now," Booth said. "They realize there were mistakes made on their part."
Joe is upset: I was very disappointed to see that the beautiful trees in the Summerlin Parkway median near Highway 95 were uprooted and just thrown away. I realize they had to be removed because of the construction of the new interchange, but couldn’t the trees be saved and transplanted at another location?
It is a bummer, Joe, but hopefully it will make you feel a little bit better that the mesquite trees removed from the median weren’t just tossed in the trash. Booth, with the Transportation Department, said they were made into mulch. Transplanting trees doesn’t always work and can be an expensive endeavor. Many times money is spent to take the trees elsewhere and replant them only to have them die.
This is Rich, all the way from New York: We were looking for an update on the Warm Springs Road bridge over Interstate 15. We have been using the Warm Springs cut-over since the early ’90s during our trips to Las Vegas. The bridge was closed just after we left last year. Do you have an update on the reopening of the bridge?
Folks in the southwest valley, and apparently even residents of New York, are well-aware that the 40-year-old span was torn down in late January to make way for a new four-lane bridge. The new bridge is scheduled to open early next year, Rich.
In the meantime, in case you haven’t heard, a recently opened overpass now carries Sunset Road over Interstate 15, so that might work as an alternative. This is all part of a $250 million project that includes widening I-15, adding frontage roads and improving interchanges at Blue Diamond and Russell roads.
Fred delivers: You recently told a reader why the transit company was using a bus with a California license plate. Yesterday I saw a UPS truck with a California plate making deliveries. I can’t imagine what their excuse would be.
This is a legal practice, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Some companies have their headquarters in other states and also operate out of local offices. In those instances, their fleet of vehicles can have their "home state" license plates. Many times these vehicles have special "apportioned" license plates, which have an "A" imprinted on them. If a vehicle like the one Fred saw has a different state’s plate on it, drivers must carry a permit that allows them to drive in Nevada.
Ann wants clarification: There is a sign on Charleston Boulevard right before Valley View Boulevard indicating that Charleston will be closed for a few days. Are they really going to close that intersection, or will it just be during certain hours? Can you find out a little bit more on this?
First off, the work will be done around the clock, so this won’t be nighttime restrictions like we are accustomed to seeing. The work will start at 9 p.m. Friday and hopefully be clear by 5 a.m. Monday.
Here’s the deal: Charleston Boulevard will be closed in both directions between Arville Street and Fair Center, the entrance to the Walmart/Lowes shopping center. Between Arville and Valley View and between Fair Center and Decatur, one lane in each direction will be available for motorists.
A good piece of advice would be to stay the heck off Charleston if at all possible. And please don’t use the Westleigh neighborhood as a shortcut. I’m grouchy enough as it is on weekends.
Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.