New travel-time signs installed on Las Vegas Beltway

By Kyle B. Hansen (contact)

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011 | 2 a.m.

Motorists on the Las Vegas Beltway in the southern valley may have noticed some new signs along the side of the freeway over the past few weeks.

Once activated, the signs will give motorists travel time estimates, but unlike the dynamic message signs above some other valley freeways, these signs are on the side of the road and will display only numbers. The dynamic signs occasionally show other traffic alerts and travel information.

The signs were installed earlier this month. Crews are still working on the wiring for the signs and the flow detectors that will provide the time estimates, said Regional Transportation Commission spokeswoman Tracy Bower. The signs should be turned on in late December.

There are two signs on the westbound beltway, one west of Valle Verde Drive and one west of Pebble Road, and two signs on the eastbound beltway, one east of Wigwam Parkway and one east of Green Valley Parkway.

The signs are part of a RTC Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation, or FAST, project on the beltway between Windmill Parkway and U.S. 95. The project includes installing 7 miles of fiber optic cable, 17 new traffic cameras and 15 new traffic sensors in addition to the signs.