Commission names beltway after prime mover Woodbury

Wednesday, March 3, 2004 | 8:37 a.m.

The Las Vegas Beltway, which Bruce Woodbury helped fund and build as a Clark County Commissioner, will now bear his name.

The Clark County Commission formally changed the name of the beltway, which also sports the monikers Interstate 215 and Clark County 215, to the Bruce Woodbury Beltway in honor of the commissioner's work on transportation issues over more than two decades.

The county funded the $900 million project and built 53 miles of the roadway in 11 years. Work continues to widen it to a full interstate highway that runs from Henderson in a wide loop through Summerlin and on through North Las Vegas.

Among other transportation-related activities, Woodbury, chairman of the Regional Transportation Commission, helped shepherd the $2.7 billion tax package, Question 10, past the voters and the Legislature in 2002 and 2003. The money goes to transportation and mass transit improvements over the next 25 years.

The proposition had the endorsements of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.; Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev.; Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev.; Gov. Kenny Guinn; Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt; the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas; and the Regional Transportation Commission.

The commission vote to name the beltway after Woodbury was 6-0, with Woodbury abstaining.

"I've always had a great deal of respect for the collective wisdom and judgment of my colleagues up here," Woodbury said. "Until today."

He said the efforts of many people have helped improve transportation in Clark County.

"Thank you so much for overlooking my many imperfections and putting up with me for so many years," said Woodbury, who has served as a county commissioner for 23 years.

The beltway is the not the only place in the region that bears Woodbury's name. Last year the post office in Woodbury's hometown, Boulder City, was named after him.