I-95 project subject of meeting for public

Wednesday, June 21, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

Residents will be able to make their voices heard this month on one big road project and on a proposal to keep roads out of other areas.

The Nevada Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration will have a public meeting to discuss widening of U.S. 95 on Thursday.

The meeting, scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m., will focus on widening between Cheyenne Avenue and Craig Road. The meeting will be at the Molasky Middle School cafeteria at 7801 W. Gilmore Ave.

The widening plans from Cheyenne to Craig would expand the highway to six lanes, including "high-occupancy vehicle" lanes for car poolers and buses. Various types of sound-wall material and construction also will be discussed. NDOT is seeking public comment on the project.

Nearby neighbors have opposed the overall widening project, which will affect U.S. 95 from Martin Luther King Boulevard to Craig Road, but NDOT has argued that the effort will reduce congestion, improve air quality and increase highway safety.

More information on the public meeting can be obtained by calling the project office at 486-3540 or visiting the office at 123 E. Washington Ave., Building C, in Las Vegas.

Southern Nevada residents have a chance later this month to tell U.S. Forest Service officials what they think about a proposal to end road construction in nearly a quarter of the agency's 192 million acres of national forest.

Public hearings on the controversial roadless conservation measure are scheduled at 2, 4:30, 6 and 8:30 p.m. June 29 in Las Vegas' Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave.

Participants will have three minutes to comment on the proposal. The measure would affect 3.4 million acres of Nevada's Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest's 6.3 million acres.

Written comments also will be accepted at the hearings or may be faxed to (877) 703-2494 by July 17. For more information call Rick Connell, forest analyst, (775) 355-5388.