Residents in northwest review plans for beltway

Angela Soo

Friday, Sept. 21, 2001 | 9:08 a.m.

Residents living in the northwest had little to complain about Thursday during a public hearing on the latest proposed extension of the Las Vegas Beltway.

The Clark County Public Works Department held a forum at the Mountain Crest Neighborhood Services Center at 4701 N. Durango Drive to get feedback on the design work completed so far for the extension between Cheyenne Avenue and El Capitan Way.

"Everything is in place for the initial facilities, and we expect this portion to be completed by the end of 2003," said Bobby Shelton, a department spokesman.

This seven-mile segment sits in the northwest corner of the beltway, Interstate 215, and would have four lanes, two lanes in each direction. Three exits, at Lone Mountain Road and Hualapai and El Capitan ways, are proposed.

One resident thought three exits were not enough.

"We need more exits in this portion of the beltway," Tim O'Neill said. "The Town Center corridor is very commercial and like a second downtown. We have had so much growth in the northwest, but many people who live here are still in the concept that it's rural."

Most residents were looking forward to the overall development of the beltway because the new roadway would take pressure off other surface streets and provide more transportation options for those who dread taking U.S. 95.

"It makes airport travel a lot easier now," said Mike Cline, a geologist consultant. "Instead of having to go down 95 and then onto Interstate 15, I can just zip down the 215 and it'll take me right to the airport."

The remaining part of the northern segment from El Capitan Way to Interstate 15 is already under construction and should be finished by August 2002. The entire beltway will be 53 miles long when completed.

But plans to make future upgrades on the initial beltway facilities may be hampered by the recent terrorist attacks because development may slow down, making it difficult to find funding sources, Shelton said.

Funds for the current projects, he said, were secured in 1990 when voters approved a tax initiative to finance local transportation projects.

Residents who have additional comments must submit them by 5 p.m. Oct. 1 to Robert Herr, project engineer, Clark County Public Works, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway.