LV, flood district double-team underpass problem

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1998 | 11 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council has unanimously approved a contract with the Clark County Regional Flood Control District that will help fast-track flood prevention measures at the Charleston Underpass.

The action Monday was taken without comment as the council took a big step toward resolving the problem of high flood waters that close the underpass to the major artery during nearly every significant storm.

The flood control board on Sept. 10 approved the project that is expected to be completed by October 2000 -- four years sooner than originally was planned.

The three phases of the project are projected to cost $13.77 million on top of $36 million that already has been spent on Charleston Underpass improvements. The work is expected to begin in October 1999.

The contract approved at Monday's meeting includes work on a freeway channel from Alta Drive to Sahara Avenue and a bypass facility from Wall Street to Sahara Avenue.

This part of the project, to be paid for by the Regional Flood Control District, is expected to cost about $1.5 million and include piping, inlet systems, channels, embankments, billboard relocations and channel structures.

The council also approved contracts for five other city projects that the Regional Flood Control District put on the fast track at its September meeting.