Study: Continued growth to hamper highway flow

Lisa Snedeker

Tuesday, May 4, 1999 | 11:37 a.m.

A study of the southern Interstate 15 corridor between Lake Mead Drive and Interstate 215 reveals that if growth in the south valley continues at its current pace, additional interchanges and lanes will be needed.

Those additions would include widening I-15 between the Sloan interchange and Tropicana Avenue to 10 lanes, widening Las Vegas Boulevard between Lake Mead Drive and Tropicana to eight lanes and locating interchanges on I-15 at Pebble, Gomer and Silverado Ranch roads and Cactus, Starr and Bruner avenues.

Nevada Department of Transportation officials recently presented the study's results to the Henderson City Council, Clark County Commission and Enterprise Town Board.

"The most important thing the valley can learn is not to ignore growth. You have to deal with it sooner or later," Kent Cooper, NDOT program development manager, said.

The study was to identify future transportation needs and reserve rights of way.

"No one wants a repeat of past failures," Cooper said, referring to the U.S. 95 widening project in the northwest. No one wants to take out homes and businesses in 20 years, he added.

Kristine Bunnell, NDOT southern division program development manager, emphasized the plan's importance, saying that in the past the public perception has been that NDOT is always trying to play catch-up.

"This is what we see in the next 20 or 30 years," she said. "If development occurs as anticipated, this is what we would need out there."

For example, Bunnell said, the agency has an aggressive plan to obtain rights of way.

"That's not just so we can go out and build roads everywhere," she said, adding that if there is going to be a trail for horses or bikers in the future, room must be set aside now.

Before any proposal becomes reality, it must be approved by the Regional Transportation Commission, Bunnell said. Plans also must meet such standards as air quality, and funding has to be in place.

Cooper said the study will be presented to the Regional Transportation Commission by the end of the month.

The study shows the transportation needs if the valley's population reaches 2.5 million.

"It's a little further reaching than a 20-year study," Cooper said. "What is important now is to match the transportation as the development occurs. Where we do (projects) and in what order depends on how the area develops."