U.S. 95 median barrier nears completion

Friday, Sept. 13, 2002 | 9:45 a.m.

Construction of a median barrier on a stretch of U.S. 95 in northwest Las Vegas could be completed as soon as next week, a Nevada Transportation Department spokesman said Wednesday.

Work is progressing seven days a week from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and is ahead of schedule, department spokesman Bob McKenzie said. Contractors are obligated to finish the $717,000 project by Sept. 24. Work began Sept. 4.

"They're moving right along," McKenzie said. "They've made the connection from Ann Road to Craig, and now they're working northbound."

The project was spurred by five deaths in crashes on the stretch of highway between Ann and Craig roads in the last 14 months. Last month two people were killed when Spring Crothers lost control of her minivan after she swerved to avoid tire tread in her lane.

She then overcorrected and her vehicle went into a northbound lane, where it hit a dump truck. Crothers and her 4-year-old son, Austin, were killed.

Transportation Department officials had originally set a four-month time line for construction of the 10,000-foot center guard rail, but accelerated the project in response to requests from community and political leaders.

McKenzie said department engineers agreed that the barrier was needed, particularly because of a 53 percent increase in traffic over the past three years. The northwest part of the Las Vegas Valley is one of the fastest-growing residential areas in the country.

The work essentially extends the "urban corridor" of U.S. 95, McKenzie said. Further increases in traffic volume would extend that corridor farther, he said.

McKenzie said his agency is constantly evaluating the traffic pressure and would take steps to improve safety when they are needed.

"We're continually looking at the growth in the northwest area," he said. "We're now in the process of planning widening U.S. 95 north of Ann Road."

McKenzie warned that the barrier will only do so much for safety. The responsibility for safety still rests with the drivers, he said.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Jim Olschlager agreed. He said that while the barrier could save some lives, he has seen other accidents worsened by similar guard rails.

"It could help us. It could hurt us," Olschlager said. "Every accident is different."

Olschlager and McKenzie asked drivers to be particularly careful in the construction zone. Olschlager said troopers are looking for speeders, who would receive double fines and points on their licenses for infractions within the work zones.