More road work, but that’s good news

With all the cones and road work signs throughout the valley, it's tough to believe there are still streets out there that are in awful shape. This week, quite a few residents share concerns about those roads and ask why they aren't being repaired. Apparently, stimulus funds will save the day.

This from Norma (and plenty of other readers agree): I travel Sahara Avenue between Nellis Boulevard all the way up to Abarth Street. It's so rough it shakes the car, and it's been that way for a long time. Others agree they avoid this stretch for fear of car damage.

Sahara between Nellis and the Las Vegas Wash is one of the repaving projects on Clark County's stimulus fund wish list. Clark County received about $16 million of the federal funding allocated for transportation projects. The Sahara job is expected to go out to bid early next year and is scheduled to be finished by the summer of 2010.

Bob would like to volunteer this: There is a stretch of road called Volunteer Boulevard, which heads west out of Sun City Anthem and gradually curves and turns into Executive Airport Drive heading north to St. Rose Parkway. It has been one of only two entrances that service 15,000 homes in six communities. Simply stated, Volunteer is a severely undermaintained road with just two narrow lanes and no lighting. What are the plans for improvement?

Well, here's a bit of good news, Bob. City of Henderson spokeswoman Kathleen Richards said this project is currently out to bid and construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2010.

The project will stretch from Executive Terminal Drive to the Anthem development.

Improvements to Volunteer were expected to begin a while ago, and they were supposed to be funded by the developers of the Inspirada master-planned community. The city took over the $1.2 million project when the housing market went down the tubes. Henderson recently secured the funding with federal stimulus funds.

One reader who apparently knows his history asks, "Que pasa?": The sign for the frontage road running westward along the Las Vegas Beltway from Decatur Boulevard reads, "Raphael Rivera." Mr. Rivera's first name was "Rafael" as it is written in Spanish. Raphael is phony and wrong. Would you alert the proper people about it?

When pondering the name for this frontage road, Clark County commissioners opted to honor the European, who ventured to the Las Vegas Valley as a scout for a trading expedition.

In its formal recommendation to planners, commissioners spelled the name "Raphael." Apparently, no one did their homework.

In all the material I dug up about Rivera, his name is spelled Rafael. In response to my inquiry regarding the spelling, the county provided a State Historic Preservation document that also spelled Rivera's name Rafael.

Consider the county alerted, but don't hold your breath for a new sign. They are expensive to replace, and unless it causes confusion, government agencies are not apt to make changes.

Elliot's frustrated with truckers: I noticed on Interstate 15 there are signs saying, "Trucks use right lane," however, while driving on Thursday, there were three trucks in the left lane and three in the middle. Is this law on the books or just a courtesy suggestion to truckers?

Truck drivers are not required by law to stay in the right lane; the signs are simply advisory, according to Alan Davidson of the Nevada Highway Patrol. The highway patrol would prefer that trucks stay out of the fast lane as they interrupt smooth commutes.

On the other hand, Davidson acknowledged that trucks that camp out in the far right lanes make it difficult for other vehicles to merge onto the highway.

Ideally, Davidson said, the trucks passing through town should stay in the center lanes.

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