Plans made for new traffic light

Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 | 9:29 a.m.

A traffic light sought by residents of a neighborhood in southwest Las Vegas could be installed and operating within the next two to three months, Clark County Public Works said Thursday.

The County Commission scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday to consider a contract with North Las Vegas-based Roadrunner Electric to install the traffic light at Desert Inn Road and Hualapai Way. Bobby Shelton, Public Works Department spokesman, said if the contract is approved by the commission, the light could be operating in 60 to 90 days.

The project would cost $225,000.

The lack of a light at the intersection sparked sharp criticism from neighbors after the death of a 7-year-old girl in September. Debbie Blinder died after a collision with a car that police said ran a stop sign at the intersection.

The intersection, like 87 others in the county's jurisdiction, is controlled only by stop signs. Public Works earlier this week announced a program to install warning lights at the stop signs in an effort to discourage running through the intersections.

The final price tag for the overall project has not been set, but county officials estimate it could cost at least several million dollars.