Funds OK’d to continue U.S. 95 work

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004 | 11:04 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn called a lawsuit delaying the widening of U.S. 95 in Las Vegas "way off base" Tuesday as he asked the state Transportation Board to authorize other work to proceed on the freeway project.

The Sierra Club sued the Federal Highway Administration, charging the environmental impact study failed to adequately address health risks and the possibility that emissions along the freeway could be linked to cancer once it is widened from six to 10 lanes.

The case is before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and construction of the highway is on hold until the court decides.

Guinn called the suit "frivolous," adding that the highway "safety issue" is what concerns Southern Nevada residents.

The transportation board, of which Guinn is chairman, approved spending $4.4 million for utility relocation and drainage work that was scheduled to be done later. If this work were not accomplished, another year would be lost in the completion of the project, Guinn said.

Meadow Valley Contractors will receive $3.2 million to do the utility relocation and Frehner Construction Co. will get $1.2 million for the drainage work. They both have contracts on the stalled project from Interstate 15 to Rainbow Boulevard.

Jeff Fontaine, director of the state Department of Transportation, said he hoped for a decision from the circuit court by December.

Meanwhile, Federal Highway Administrator Mary E. Peters is scheduled to meet with Guinn in Las Vegas Thursday to talk about the stalled construction project. A news conference will follow.

Peters, according to a press release from her agency, wants to focus on the "project's potential to improve safety, mobility and economic opportunity in Southern Nevada."

The transportation board agreed to budget $221.3 million for construction along U.S. 95 from I-15 to Craig Road if the court rejects the Sierra Club appeal during the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The project would be financed by bonds issued by the state.

The discussion over the U.S. 95 widening came as the transportation board adopted a $933.8 million construction program for fiscal 2005, with $489 million targeted for Clark County.

One major project planned in Southern Nevada calls for $36 million to construct a new six-lane roadway on Blue Diamond Road from Valley View Boulevard to Rainbow Boulevard and to realign Jones Boulevard to intersect with Blue Diamond Road.

This would be financed by Clark County allocating $15 million, the Regional Transportation Commission contributing $10 million from the gas tax and the state putting up $11 million.

The budget includes $33.9 million for construction of a six-lane overpass at the Martin Luther King Boulevard/Industrial Road connector from Palomino to Wyoming Avenue. Of the total, $30 million would come from the gas tax collected by the Regional Transportation Commission and $3.9 million from Clark County.

The department is planning a $32.5 million widening of Interstate 15 northbound near St. Rose Parkway and $30.6 million for a feasibility study and construction of a six-lane overpass on U.S. 95 from Grand Canyon Drive to Fort Apache Road.

Also budgeted for 2005 are $23 million for an interchange at I-15 at Charleston Boulevard and $25.8 million for widening to six lanes Craig Road from Berg Street to Pecos Road

The department is also setting aside $7 million to build new headquarters in Las Vegas. It is now looking at possible sites on some of the land it owns.

The budget calls for $272.4 million to be spent in Washoe County and $172 million in the balance of the state.