Guardrail project on deadly stretch of U.S. 95 is complete

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002 | 9:08 a.m.

A $700,000 project to install guardrails along a 2.5-mile length of U.S. 95 between Craig and Ann roads is complete, state transportation officials said Monday.

The project was originally slated for completion Sept. 24. Work began Sept. 4 on the project, which installs center guardrails to separate northbound and southbound traffic.

Five deaths by crashes on the stretch of highway in 14 months prompted requests from political and community voices for the guardrail.

Two people died last month when Spring Crothers lost control of a minivan after swerving to avoid debris, then overcorrecting.

Her vehicle went into a northbound lane and hit a truck. Crothers and her 4-year-old son, Austin, were killed.

Nevada Department of Transportation Director Tom Stephens said the guardrails are needed because traffic along the highway has increased 53 percent over the last three years, and the population continues to grow.

"The guardrails on the ... inside lanes should improve the safety of this increasingly used corridor in the fastest growing area in the nation," Stephens said.

He said cooperation between contractor United Rentals, the NDOT design team and NDOT's Las Vegas district office was important in bringing the project in ahead of schedule.