The city of Henderson is the first in the Las Vegas Valley to install a new type of traffic signal designed to make left turns a little bit safer for motorists. We've anticipated that, since it has never been seen before, there would be questions about it so we'll head them off at the pass.
What does the flashing yellow left-turn arrow mean at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Van Wagenen Street?
The flashing yellow arrow replaces the green light that allows traffic turning left to do so by yielding to through traffic. Transportation officials have expressed concerns that the turning motorists forget to wait for oncoming traffic.
The flashing yellow arrow signals that you may turn left, but is a more obvious reminder that you should be yielding. When the flashing yellow arrow becomes a steady yellow arrow, this is a warning that the light is about to turn red, so prepare to stop.
"We're confident that the flashing yellow arrow signals will reduce accidents and we're looking forward to the signals being installed throughout the Las Vegas Valley beginning later this year," said Glenn Grayson, director of the Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation. These new arrows will be installed at 80 intersections throughout the city of Henderson at a total cost of $263,000.
Several readers have called with this question: What are the wrought-iron looking sculptures that have popped up along Highway 95 and at the base of onramps and offramps?
I always ask the caller if they're asking what the project is or, literally, what the sculptures are? If it's the first question, that is relatively easy. According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, they are part of an effort to make the freeway more aesthetically pleasing.
"It's proven that these aesthetics and landscaping projects on Blue Diamond Road and other portions of 95 are very popular," said NDOT's Bob McKenzie. Each time the state embarks on a road construction project funded by the federal recovery act, 3 percent of the funding is designated for landscaping. All the panels along Highway 95 cost a total of $583,000.
Now, what are they? Well, I thought one was a prepared turkey with the drumsticks protruding. A co-worker, apparently drunk on World Cup coverage, suggested the other sculpture was a soccer ball with ears. Turns out, one is a tortoise shell and the other a cactus flower.
John is sick of waiting: Have you ever tried to make a left turn onto Las Vegas Boulevard, toward Town Square, from the exit from Interstate 15? It can take you five lights and 15 minutes to get through there. Are there any plans to rectify this?
Yes, John, and it's happening soon, thank goodness. Anyone who uses I-15 south to get to Town Square will confirm that John is not exaggerating. The problem is dangerous, too, as cheaters cruise up the "through" lane and cut over to make the left turn in front of the more patient motorists. The good news is that a second left-turn lane should be in place within the next 30 days.
Don asks: On both Nellis and Lamb boulevards, south of Sahara alongside the Las Vegas Wash, there are walkovers spanning the streets. Both are very large, elaborate structures that look like they were designed to handle a lot of foot traffic. However, I travel one or both of these streets almost daily, and have never, I repeat, never seen anyone using either of them. Could you perhaps do a little research and tell us why these monstrosities were put there if there is no usage for them?
Clark County planners believe these pedestrian walkways are integral to the development of the Flamingo Arroyo Trail, an 11-mile multiuse pathway funded by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. The $9.8 million project includes nine bridges that span streets on the east side and three bridges over dry creek beds. The trail stretches from the Tropicana Avenue wash to the northwest area of the Wetlands Park.
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.
Beginning Monday and continuing for the next six months, expect lane restrictions on Cliff Shadows Parkway between Lone Mountain Road and the Las Vegas Beltway. Work will take place during the daytime hours, but Cliff Shadows will remain accessible. The improvement project is expected to be completed in early 2011.
■ Beginning Monday, expect lane restrictions on Main Street and Garces Avenue as the city of Las Vegas begins work on a new traffic signal. The work, which will occur during the day and night, is expected to be completed in four months.
■For the next four months, traffic from eastbound and westbound Blue Diamond Road to Interstate 15 north will be detoured onto temporary ramps.
■For the next six weeks, Sunset Road will be closed at Dean Martin Drive. Access to Sunset Road will be available from Valley View Boulevard.
■The ramp linking northbound I-15 to the westbound Las Vegas Beltway will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. today, Thursday and Sunday. The ramp linking Las Vegas Boulevard to the westbound Las Vegas Beltway will also be closed during those times and days.
■TRAFFIC NOTE: Expect intermittent delays because of President Barack Obama's visit Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. While law enforcement officers and transportation officials will not divulge the routes Obama will be taking, they said major freeways and arterials will not be completely closed. However, traffic control devices will be in place near McCarran International Airport, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Strip as he makes his way to speaking events.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
