Monday, April 25, 2005 | 11:03 a.m.
A federal environmental study has tabbed a $345 million southern route that bypasses Boulder City as the alternative for upgrading U.S. 93 to the Nevada border.
The so-called Boulder City bypass has long had the support of most Boulder City residents who prefer that desert alternative to two others that would have had trucks rolling through the community. With the release of the study, the southern route, as expected, has received the official backing of the National Highway Administration and Nevada Department of Transportation even though the other two options cost $220 million.
"That is the one the public wanted, and we are certainly thankful that was chosen," said Boulder City Mayor Bob Ferraro who was in Washington, D.C., this week to seek additional federal funding. "If they would have chosen one of the other routes, that would have been disastrous because that would have put everything right through town."
In a 1999 advisory measure, 61 percent of Boulder City residents backed a southern route.
The environmental report said the southern route would create less noise and would lessen air quality, visual and social impacts to Boulder City. It would also cause less disruption to traffic and be easier to construct.
But the study also went on to say that the southern route would have greater impact on wildlife, erosion and water quality, and on the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. By bypassing the city, the route would harm Boulder City businesses because there would be less traffic, the report said. That could result in 30 to 40 businesses closing and a reduction of 200 jobs.
The release of the study was delayed when the Environmental Protection Agency expressed concerns that the bypass would harm the migration pattern of bighorn sheep. Those fears have been addressed by including more crossings under the freeway and Boulder City's plan to set aside an undetermined amount of its property for a sheep preserve on both sides of the freeway, city officials said.
The environmental review process is slated to be wrapped up once public comments are taken on the document. The deadline to comment is May 9.
Jane Feldman, conservation chairwoman for the Southern Nevada group of the Sierra Club, said she doesn't know if her organization will respond to the review. She questioned the need for a bypass in undeveloped areas for the sole purpose of truck and through-traffic. She said highways should be situated closer to where people can access them.
"A bypass really doesn't end up being a bypass because a highway creates activity around it," Feldman said. "They are going to find out there will be increasing pressure for the land around the highway to be developed."
City officials estimate 40 percent to 50 percent of the bypass will fall in the city limits on property owned by Boulder City. The city will dedicate the land for building the highway to the state of Nevada.
The environmental study is required before federal funding can be secured for its construction. Ferraro, City Manager Vicki Mayes and Councilman Roger Tobler met this week with Nevada's congressional delegation in the nation's capital about securing some of the $345 million the project will cost. Those figures are based on 2002 estimates and could be higher given inflation and the need for more bighorn sheep crossings.
The House has backed a highway bill that allocates $10 million for the bypass project, an amount that will help pay for design.
Some $110 million is needed for a 5-mile first phase of the project that starts at Wagon Wheel Drive in Henderson and goes southeast to the U.S. 93 and U.S. 95 interchange, west of Boulder City. The remaining 10 miles of the bypass at a cost of $135 million would head southeast and east through desert before swinging north through mountains to tie in with a bridge over the Colorado River that will be open by the end of 2008.
"It is going to be an adventure because anytime you are looking for $300 million-plus, it is not going to be a walk in the park," said Assemblyman Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, who added that he remains optimistic the project ultimately will be funded.
Boulder City officials are hoping construction on the first phase could begin within two years at the earliest. That phase will take two years to construct. Traffic in the meantime will continue on the present routes toward Hoover Dam.
The entire 15-mile stretch, however, may not be completed until 2012, and maybe even later if funding isn't available, city officials said. That would mean Boulder City residents would have to deal with heavy truck traffic once the new bridge downstream from Hoover Dam opens by the end of 2008.
Construction on the $234 million bridge project started in January, and it will include a 3.5-mile stretch of new road that will tie into U.S. 93 in Nevada. A 2.5-mile stretch of new roadway will tie into U.S. 93 in Arizona.
Because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and concerns over an attack against Hoover Dam, truck traffic on U.S. 93 has been rerouted to U.S. 95 through Laughlin. Given the growth in the region and additional truck traffic coming through Arizona from Mexico, there is expected to be plenty of congestion once the new bridge opens.
"It is has been several years since people have had that kind of traffic, and there are a lot of people who have moved here who have never experienced the pre-9/11 traffic," said Boulder City Public Works Director Phil Henry. "It is going to be quite a bit worse than people remember. It will be sticker shock."
The existing stretch of U.S. 93 to the Hoover Dam is 10.4 miles. It varies from a four-lane to two-lane highway that is considered unsafe with traffic congestion and fatal accidents. The bypass is part of a larger improvement of the federal highway system that will upgrade U.S. 93 to Interstate 40 in Kingman, Ariz. The highway improvements will make it easier for Las Vegas residents traveling to Phoenix or connecting with I-40 heading east.
Among the impacts cited in the environmental report:
Building the southern route will impact the endangered desert tortoise, gila monster and chuckwalla populations, according to the study. The use of fencing and other barriers will prevent animals from entering the roadway, it said.
The southern route will also cross several roads currently used as recreational and equestrian trails with access to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area east of Boulder City. The study said roads will be realigned to prevent any impact.
Another anticipated result of the bypass will be an impact on downtown businesses. Citing one study, the environmental report said there could be as much as a 50 percent reduction in tourism expenditures. That would mean an $18 million reduction in sales.
That's why the newly formed Boulder City Tourism Commission has secured $100,000 in funding to launch a marketing campaign to primarily attract more Las Vegas, Henderson and Clark County residents to the community to shop and dine.
The environmental report is available at www.bouldercitystudy.com.
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