Editorial: Traffic changes can’t happen fast enough

Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003 | 9:05 a.m.

This week state transportation officials sought public input on proposals to improve traffic flow on Interstate 15 near the Spaghetti Bowl, where I-15 and U.S. 95 meet. The Spaghetti Bowl, even on good days, sees its share of traffic snarls during rush hour. Add in a wreck or a stalled vehicle and the delays can be maddening for commuters.

The Transportation Department is considering four major improvements to the area. One of these would connect Martin Luther King Boulevard with Industrial Road, a fix that could offer motorists a north-south alternative to I-15. Another plan would improve the entrances and exits on I-15 between Sahara and the Spaghetti Bowl. A new bridge on I-15 at Charleston Boulevard is under consideration since the current one isn't wide enough to handle all the traffic. In addition, and very importantly, engineers could try to improve the access to the city's 61-acre downtown redevelopment project, which is crucial to the city's revitalization.

The four projects, which wouldn't be expected to start until 2006 if they're given the go-ahead, could cost well over $100 million. Road improvements such as these should be a top priority -- and state officials should make sure there aren't delays if they move forward with them. After all, state transportation officials estimate that 250,000 vehicles every day travel on I-15 between the Spaghetti Bowl and Sahara Avenue, making it the busiest stretch of highway in Nevada. Construction could inconvenience nearby residents and, like other transportation projects, driving through the area itself could be a headache until the work is finished. But that would be worth it for relief that is long overdue.