Keep The Interchange Faith

This week readers (really, really, really) want to know when the Clark County Public Works Department is going to open the Lake Mead Boulevard interchange with the Las Vegas Beltway, are the reduced fare fees for Citizens Area Transit being increased and why is one of the runways at McCarran International Airport shut down?

A whole lot of readers ask, WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO OPEN THE LAKE MEAD INTERCHANGE?!? GRRRRR!!!!

I've received as many e-mails from people wanting to know when the interchange is going to open as I have offers to help the prime minister of Congo escape with $387.2 million from that nation's lottery coffers.

And the interchange e-mails aren't always quite as friendly.

The Public Works Department promised the interchange would be opened months ago, and some readers have commented that there is a conspiracy within the agency to keep the interchange closed.

Nevertheless, I learned Tuesday that the interchange will be opened next week. That, my sources said, will occur as early as Monday or as late as Wednesday. Either way the plan is to have it opened before Thanksgiving.

The delay is the result of some issues with the wiring of the traffic signals. Also, engineers had to reconfigure the southbound Beltway's onramp barrier rail, the department said.

Still, for the past few weeks I've heard "it'll be open next week," and each passing day has shaken my faith a wee bit.

So I've written a little prayer to help me cope:

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lake Mead interchange will open next week.

Should I die before the cones clear

I hope your e-mails can't reach me down there.

Dwayne asks: Is the Transportation Commission going to raise the reduced fare fees? What are the new prices going to be?

The Regional Transportation Commission unanimously approved an across-the-board fare hike for its general bus service, Strip bus service and paratransit service.

The fare hike included an increase for reduced fare passes.

Reduced-fare, single-ride passes for general service will increase on Jan. 11 to 75 cents, from 60 cents, and increase again in 2010 to $1. Reduced-fare day passes will increase from the current $1.25 to $2 through 2010. And reduced-fare 30-day passes will increase to $25, from $20, in January. In 2010, they will be $30.

Reduced-fare, single-ride passes for the Deuce on the Strip will increase to $1.50, from $1, through 2010. And a new three-day, reduced-fare pass will cost $7.50.

Jack London asks: Can you tell me the status of the McCarran Airport runway under construction? It has caused major delays in our travel and airline officials are saying that it will take six months to complete.

A construction project to upgrade the surface of one of McCarran International's four runways for the next several months could affect arriving and departing flights, as well as motor vehicle traffic south of the airport.

Earlier this month, the Clark County Department of Aviation closed two-mile-long runway 25L/7R to replace its asphalt with a more-durable concrete surface, McCarran spokesman Chris Jones said.

The $75 million runway rehabilitation project is expected to be completed by May 1.

Jones said the closure is expected to affect arriving and departing flights over the next several months on windy days.

Under normal weather conditions, things should run fairly smoothly, Jones said.

Airport officials are not advising passengers on how they should adjust their schedules, just that they should be aware that delays are possible.

Air travelers should check their flight's status by contacting their airline before heading to the airport, Jones said.

And, because of construction traffic entering and exiting the work site, motorists are asked to take extra precaution near the intersection of Sunset and Bermuda roads and near the onramps and offramps from Sunset onto the Interstate 215 Airport Connector Tunnel.

A four-way traffic signal soon will be erected at Sunset and Bermuda.

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