Post by: gonealookin on November 27, 2018, 11:43:03 PM
There's no thread for general comments about Nevada so I thought I'd bring this up here. Lake Tahoe is mostly in California anyway, so, close enough.
In most of Nevada, either chains on the drive wheels or snow tires on all four make a vehicle legal when chain controls are in effect. Starting this winter, on Tahoe-area roads US 50 (Stateline to Carson City), NV 207 Kingsbury Grade (Stateline to Carson Valley) and NV 431 Mt. Rose Highway (Incline Village to south Reno), snow tires on a two-wheel drive vehicle don't make it legal. A two-wheel drive vehicle must don the chains in a chain control zone. Only four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles are legal with snow tires and no chains. The change brings these roads into conformity with California's R-2 chain control condition.
NDOT has changed the signage accordingly.
(https://i.imgur.com/IK1cbVh.jpg)
I'm not sure why they didn't include NV 28 from Incline Village to US 50 at Spooner Lake. Here's the NDOT press release on this change.
https://www.nevadadot.com/Home/Components/News/News/4074/395
This upcoming winter is my tenth living full-time at Tahoe and I haven't installed chains once in that time. The AWD Toyota RAV4 with Bridgestone Blizzaks is a very stable setup. I have the Blizzaks mounted on separate rims so it's 45 minutes at the tire store in early November and the middle of April; since that's the same store where I bought the tires and rims they do the swap for free.
Post by: roadfro on November 28, 2018, 03:38:24 AM
There's no thread for general comments about Nevada . . .
Taking a cue from the Northwest and Mountain West boards, I’ve been thinking about having general “state” topics for the Pacific Southwest board. This comment gave me the perfect reason to go ahead and implement it, so thanks!
I’ve made this thread a sticky for random observations or questions relating to Nevada. Moving forward, if a topic in this thread starts delving into detailed/extended conversation, I’ll likely split that discussion off to a more dedicated thread.
—Roadfro
Post by: roadfro on November 28, 2018, 03:51:19 AM
In most of Nevada, either chains on the drive wheels or snow tires on all four make a vehicle legal when chain controls are in effect. Starting this winter, on Tahoe-area roads US 50 (Stateline to Carson City), NV 207 Kingsbury Grade (Stateline to Carson Valley) and NV 431 Mt. Rose Highway (Incline Village to south Reno), snow tires on a two-wheel drive vehicle don't make it legal. A two-wheel drive vehicle must don the chains in a chain control zone. Only four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles are legal with snow tires and no chains. The change brings these roads into conformity with California's R-2 chain control condition.
NDOT has changed the signage accordingly.
(https://i.imgur.com/IK1cbVh.jpg)
I'm not sure why they didn't include NV 28 from Incline Village to US 50 at Spooner Lake. Here's the NDOT press release on this change.
https://www.nevadadot.com/Home/Components/News/News/4074/395
I had heard something briefly about chain controls changing, but never saw this press release. Thanks for sharing. Seems like a positive change.
I’m with you on SR 28...seems like it should be included with the others. I wonder if it has to do with SR 28 having less elevation change—it’s relatively flat (being mostly along the lake shore) compared to the others (which all traverse major inclines and passes from Tahoe through the Sierra Nevada down to populated valleys). It might also be a result of far fewer recorded crashes than the other highways.
Post by: gonealookin on November 28, 2018, 08:06:04 PM
I checked NV 28 today. Since every state-maintained highway it connects to (CA 28, NV 431, US 50) now uses the California R-2 standard, I thought maybe it had somehow just been omitted from the NDOT release. Nope, it still has the usual Nevada signage.
(https://i.imgur.com/pOCVovK.jpg)
I keep track of this because, when chain controls are in effect, I know I'm in compliance. If I'm in a crash, I'm looking at the other car to see if that one is legal as well.
Post by: Kniwt on February 08, 2019, 12:26:52 PM
https://elkodaily.com/news/local/state-raises-speed-limit-between-elko-and-wells/article_e0cc6575-2caa-5968-9df4-df8e04ff4c73.html
Quote
Traffic is moving faster between Elko and Wells these days. The speed limit on Interstate 80 has been raised from 75 to 80 miles per hour for most of the drive between the two Elko County towns.
Noticed this today because of this followup:
https://elkodaily.com/news/local/highway-patrol-strictly-enforcing-new-mph-speed-limit-in-elko/article_9cdb00dc-6aae-5a35-80e9-53a10a44ca51.html
Quote
“With the recent increase of the speed limit on additional sections of Interstate 80 in Nevada from 75 miles per hour to 80 miles per hour, we want to advise the motoring public that the Nevada Highway Patrol will be strictly enforcing the 80 miles per hour speed limit,” the agency announced.
Post by: ClassicHasClass on February 11, 2019, 01:49:32 AM
Curious why some highways don't have a "Welcome to Nevada" sign at the state line? Border monuments are on the way!
Ask Joe: Why no "Welcome to Nevada" sign at Bordertown? (https://mynews4.com/on-your-side/ask-joe/ask-joe-why-no-welcome-to-nevada-sign-at-bordertown), MyNews4, 11/30/18QuoteLast year NDOT set out to replace all the "Welcome to Nevada" signs, the ones showing a lone prospector with new versions which were designed by Nevada high school students.
Most of those have been installed but in spots like Bordertown NDOT is designing what it calls gateway monuments like this to welcome people into the state. There will be six of the gateway monuments. Here in the North, they'll be installed at Bordertown, Topaz Lake and Crystal Bay up at Lake Tahoe.
Wow, one on each stateline crossing of US 395. Not bad.
Post by: roadfro on February 21, 2019, 09:54:06 AM
Nevada lawmakers consider possibility of red light cameras (https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/2019-legislature/nevada-lawmakers-consider-possibility-of-red-light-cameras-1600905/), Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2/19/19
Quote
On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure heard Senate Bill 43, which would allow law enforcement agencies to use traffic cameras to cite drivers who fail to stop at a red light. The bill was requested by the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety.
Current state law reads that if a camera is used, a law enforcement officer must be present and the device must be handheld or installed in a vehicle.
<...>
If the bill is signed into law, it would be up to each jurisdiction to decide whether to implement the technology.
The jurisdiction would have to show just cause to install a camera — for example, a high rate of crashes occurring at a specific intersection — and must provide proof that other measures had failed to deter the problem.
<...>
If the bill is passed into law, Nevada would become the 25th state to use automated traffic enforcement.
Automated traffic enforcement was outlawed in Nevada in 1999, citing technology concerns. A similar bill was heard during the 2009 Legislative session, but was shot down.
NELIS overview page on Senate Bill 43 (https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bill/5962/Overview) (includes link to full text of bill).
While the article above seems to focus on red light cameras, the text of SB 43 indicates that automated enforcement devices could be used enforce the provisions of NRS 484B.300 (obedience to traffic control devices), NRS 484B.307 (traffic controlled by traffic control devices) or NRS 484B.600 (basic speed & speed limit rules).
Some other points, from reading the full text of the bill (as originally introduced):
- Jurisdictions must document for each location that either traditional enforcement measures have failed, there is a high violation rate of one of the three statutes mentioned, or high crash rate due to violations or one of the statutes.
- Installations must be to standards (yet to be developed) by NDOT, including a warning sign at least 300 feet in advance of any camera location and minimum yellow light time when enforcement cameras are used at intersections.
- Operation similar to other states (review by officer prior to sending notice to registered owner)
- Interestingly, violations and citations for these statutes issued via automated enforcement are not to be considered a moving traffic violation, are not to be recorded on a driver's DMV record, and automobile insurers may not increase rates nor cancel/refuse to re-insure a person's/group's rates based on automated enforcement violations.
Post by: ClassicHasClass on February 21, 2019, 02:42:46 PM
Not that I'm arguing for them!
Post by: Plutonic Panda on February 28, 2019, 11:43:19 AM
Post by: Kniwt on March 30, 2019, 12:43:11 AM
https://elkodaily.com/news/local/lamoille-summit-snow-closure-a-closer-look-at-what-went/article_51a91603-43a3-5256-a9fb-0ad47c02bce7.html
Quote
In the aftermath of the Feb. 13 snowstorm that led to car crashes and closure of Lamoille Highway, stranding Spring Creek residents, the Elko County Regional Transportation Commission is looking at emergency and long-term solutions.
Nevada Highway Patrol closed the highway over the summit on Feb. 13 because of “extreme whiteout conditions, drifting snow, stuck vehicles and crashes,” trooper Jim Stewart said the day after the closure.
The closure snarled traffic on the east side of Elko as motorists turned around and sought motel rooms when they believed they wouldn’t make it home that night. The highway, however, was reopened later that night.
Post by: roadfro on April 13, 2019, 11:15:56 AM
A bill currently proposed in the legislature will consider the possibility of automated enforcement cameras in Nevada.
Nevada lawmakers consider possibility of red light cameras (https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/2019-legislature/nevada-lawmakers-consider-possibility-of-red-light-cameras-1600905/), Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2/19/19
I sure hope they automated traffic enforcement bill dies a quick death!
Yesterday was the deadline for bills to make it out of committee in their original house.
SB 43 was heard in the Senate Growth & Infrastructure committee one time (2/19/19) but no action was taken. I don't see any further action (with me looking the morning after the deadline), although they could be slow on updating NELIS. But the early indication appears to be that the bill died in committee.
EDIT: Bill has died. Confirmed here: https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/2019-legislature/bill-to-end-executions-in-nevada-falls-short-1640252/
Post by: ClassicHasClass on April 13, 2019, 01:42:48 PM
Post by: Plutonic Panda on April 13, 2019, 04:34:41 PM
Post by: SoCal Kid on May 10, 2019, 01:00:57 AM
Post by: nexus73 on May 10, 2019, 10:19:27 AM
Is CC 215 the only CC freeway in the US?
Eugene has a short freeway called the Delta Highway, which runs from I-105 to SR 569 (Beltline Road). I am not sure if it is a city or a county freeway but it is not a state or Interstate freeway.
Rick
Post by: roadfro on May 10, 2019, 11:19:28 AM
Is CC 215 the only CC freeway in the US?
Given the "CC" stands for "Clark County", I'm not aware of any other Clark Counties that have a freeway numbered 215... :pan:
Doubtful that CC 215 is the only freeway maintained by a county agency in the US. But ISTR mention when it was first being planned that it was the first future interstate highway or beltway that was primarily planned/funded/constructed by a county agency (rather than a state DOT).
Post by: Mark68 on May 10, 2019, 01:39:05 PM
Post by: mrsman on May 11, 2019, 11:55:39 PM
Post by: SoCal Kid on May 12, 2019, 12:42:59 PM
CR 215* :banghead:Is CC 215 the only CC freeway in the US?
Given the "CC" stands for "Clark County", I'm not aware of any other Clark Counties that have a freeway numbered 215... :pan:
Doubtful that CC 215 is the only freeway maintained by a county agency in the US. But ISTR mention when it was first being planned that it was the first future interstate highway or beltway that was primarily planned/funded/constructed by a county agency (rather than a state DOT).
Post by: Max Rockatansky on May 12, 2019, 02:48:40 PM
CR 215* :banghead:Is CC 215 the only CC freeway in the US?
Given the "CC" stands for "Clark County", I'm not aware of any other Clark Counties that have a freeway numbered 215... :pan:
Doubtful that CC 215 is the only freeway maintained by a county agency in the US. But ISTR mention when it was first being planned that it was the first future interstate highway or beltway that was primarily planned/funded/constructed by a county agency (rather than a state DOT).
Personally I don’t see that necessarily as a bad thing that a county agency or city would want to get into the freeway building game. A local agency conceivably have more pull in getting through all the red tape than a State DOT could. Locally maintained freeways are far more common outside the United States, I recently drove two owned/maintained by the City of Hamilton in Ontario.
Post by: Bickendan on May 27, 2019, 11:52:50 PM
Lane County 1750Is CC 215 the only CC freeway in the US?
Eugene has a short freeway called the Delta Highway, which runs from I-105 to SR 569 (Beltline Road). I am not sure if it is a city or a county freeway but it is not a state or Interstate freeway.
Rick
Post by: nexus73 on May 28, 2019, 09:36:51 AM
Lane County 1750Is CC 215 the only CC freeway in the US?
Eugene has a short freeway called the Delta Highway, which runs from I-105 to SR 569 (Beltline Road). I am not sure if it is a city or a county freeway but it is not a state or Interstate freeway.
Rick
Must be the only section of freeway with a 4-digit number. It would be fun to see a route shield!
Rick
Post by: roadfro on June 15, 2019, 02:54:52 PM
https://www.reviewjournal.com/traffic/city-county-state-to-swap-various-las-vegas-valley-roadways-1684054/
Post by: vdeane on June 15, 2019, 09:12:09 PM
Post by: US 89 on June 15, 2019, 09:33:46 PM
Is some of I-215 county maintained? I'm having a hard time figuring out which portions of I-215/CR 215 are involved.
NDOT currently only maintains the portions of I-215 between 515 and Stephanie St and between Warm Springs Rd and I-15 (this western portion is maintained by NDOT even though it is owned by Clark County). The remainder of I-215 plus all of current CC 215 are county maintained.
Post by: gonealookin on June 18, 2019, 08:36:29 PM
There's a detour route for US 395 from Holbrook Junction, just north of Topaz Lake at the NV/CA state line, to Bridgeport CA, following NV 208, NV 829, NV 338 and CA 182. All but about 12 miles of the mileage of the detour route is in Nevada, but 98% of the bypassed portion of US 395 is in California. There must have been enough closures of that section of US 395 (slides in the Walker River canyon, wildfires, construction, whatever) that at some point Caltrans and NDOT agreed to put these assemblies in place. There must be over a dozen of them along the detour route. They're almost always turned away from the road, "Chains Required" style.
The one in these photos is in "downtown" Wellington NV, on NV 829 approaching NV 208. I like the irony that this one is directly across the road from NDOT's Wellington maintenance yard.
(https://i.imgur.com/JPHBLTa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HB3IXD6.jpg)
Post by: ClassicHasClass on June 18, 2019, 11:28:01 PM
Post by: roadfro on June 19, 2019, 11:45:28 AM
We did use to have one permanently-installed and traffic-facing California-style cutout, on US 93 at the Major's Place junction with US 6/50 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2014-08-09_11_31_57_Signs_along_southbound_U.S._Route_93_about_26.7_miles_north_of_the_Lincoln_County_line_near_Majors_Place,_Nevada.JPG). It appears to have been a contractor one-off, but was around for a while—according to Street View, it has since been replaced.
Post by: ClassicHasClass on June 19, 2019, 09:32:21 PM
Post by: roadfro on June 20, 2019, 10:11:57 AM
When was that? The last time I was out that way was '06.
I've never seen it in person myself. The cutout was there in a November 2007 Street View, and the photo I linked on Wikimedia Commons was taken in August 2014. The May 2018 Street View shows a standard US 93 shield (and the scenic route sign is gone).
Post by: Max Rockatansky on June 20, 2019, 10:16:06 AM
Post by: roadfro on June 20, 2019, 10:44:24 AM
I’ve seen a couple US 395 cut-outs in Nevada over the years, unfortunately didn’t have the presence in mind to take photos. I’ve also seen a stray cut-out US 95 shield between Fallon and Beaty which I’m assuming was just Caltrans surplus.
Hmm... I've made the drive between Reno and Las Vegas at least once a year for the past 17-18 years and not seen a US 95 cutout. I'll have to be more attentive.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on June 20, 2019, 11:52:55 AM
I’ve seen a couple US 395 cut-outs in Nevada over the years, unfortunately didn’t have the presence in mind to take photos. I’ve also seen a stray cut-out US 95 shield between Fallon and Beaty which I’m assuming was just Caltrans surplus.
Hmm... I've made the drive between Reno and Las Vegas at least once a year for the past 17-18 years and not seen a US 95 cutout. I'll have to be more attentive.
I want to say there is was at one or two south of Boulder City or at least before it was four-laned. I’m not seeing anything in my photo stock but I didn’t take highway shields seriously before 2016.
Post by: ClassicHasClass on June 21, 2019, 12:30:05 AM
Post by: andy3175 on June 21, 2019, 12:33:25 AM
I wonder if Caltrans provided the signs and NDOT put them up. I might have a drive out there and have a look at them.
Maybe. I don't see a "State of California" property label on any of the component signs. If this is not a California shield assembly, then maybe it was manufactured by a company that used California US shield specifications.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on June 21, 2019, 11:51:22 AM
It must have been prior to the 4-laning because I'm with roadfro here -- I drive that stretch about annually in both directions between I-40 and US 93 and don't recall a cutout going back at least to around 2005.
It’s certainly possible, I’ve been using US 95 between Fallon and Needles at least once a year since the turn of the century. Suffice to say there has been a ton of changes to the roadway, especially south of US 93. I quick look at the AAroads shield gallery, there wasn’t any additional California style cut-outs on there.
Post by: gonealookin on July 01, 2019, 12:44:27 PM
https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/hundreds-celebrate-opening-of-east-shore-trail-at-lake-tahoe/ (https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/hundreds-celebrate-opening-of-east-shore-trail-at-lake-tahoe/)
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 01, 2019, 04:41:34 PM
The ~3-mile off-highway bicycle and pedestrian path along NV 28 between the Ponderosa Ranch at Incline Village and the Sand Harbor portion of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park opened last Friday, June 28. That project went on for a few years and there was quite a bit of related work on NV 28 itself which caused quite a bit of traffic disruption along there, so it's good to have it done and open for multiple reasons. Watching the construction over that time it looks like a gorgeous path and I'll check it out once the Week From Hell At Tahoe, aka Fourth of July, is over and done with.
https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/hundreds-celebrate-opening-of-east-shore-trail-at-lake-tahoe/ (https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/hundreds-celebrate-opening-of-east-shore-trail-at-lake-tahoe/)
I’d be curious to see that turned out. We briefly looked at the construction of the bike path while visiting Sand Harbor last year.
Post by: roadfro on September 15, 2019, 11:54:13 AM
‘Extraterrestrial Highway’ sign removed before ‘Storm Area 51’ events (https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/extraterrestrial-highway-sign-removed-before-storm-area-51-events-1847672/), Las Vegas Review-Journal, 9/13/2019
Quote
The popular “Extraterrestrial Highway” sign has been abducted by state transportation officials ahead of next week’s planned “Storm Area 51” related events.
The large rectangle sign, with “Extraterrestrial Highway” across it in white letters, the state of Nevada and an aircraft on it, located at the junction of state Route 318 and state Route 375 just northwest of U.S. Highway 93, was removed Thursday by the Nevada Department of Transportation. The same sign located in Rachel near the Little A’ Le’ Inn is set to come down this weekend, too.
Since the sign already is a popular photo destination for travelers, transportation officials feared the expected mass of people traveling from Las Vegas to the Alien Research Center in Hiko and the Little A’ Le’ Inn in Rachel, might compound expected traffic issues by stopping to take photos of the sign.
“It’s due for replacement since it’s currently unreadable from stickers and other vandalism,” said Tony Illia, transportation department spokesman. “As such, we removed it and will replace the sign after ‘Alienstock’ to help reduce traffic congestion at this location from people stopping to take pictures.”
The stretch of highway was given its nickname on April 18, 1996 and the sign is among the most stolen highway signs in Nevada, Illia said.
Despite that, the state officials said they didn’t necessarily think someone would take the sign over the weekend.
“This is a newly created event,” Illia added. “As such, we have no historical frame of reference. Regardless, we are still committed to being as properly prepared as possible.”
Interesting to me was the tidbit about these signs being some of the most stolen in the state. Given the novelty, that's not super surprising—but it is surprising given the remoteness of these signs, since you'd really have to go out of your way to steal these signs.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on September 15, 2019, 01:00:26 PM
Post by: US 89 on September 15, 2019, 01:01:57 PM
Interesting to me was the tidbit about these signs being some of the most stolen in the state. Given the novelty, that's not super surprising—but it is surprising given the remoteness of these signs, since you'd really have to go out of your way to steal these signs.
Also somewhat surprising given the huge volume of stickers on those signs that make them essentially unreadable. If those signs really were stolen that often, you'd think there wouldn't be as many stickers since you'd be starting fresh every so often.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on September 15, 2019, 01:20:28 PM
Interesting to me was the tidbit about these signs being some of the most stolen in the state. Given the novelty, that's not super surprising—but it is surprising given the remoteness of these signs, since you'd really have to go out of your way to steal these signs.
Also somewhat surprising given the huge volume of stickers on those signs that make them essentially unreadable. If those signs really were stolen that often, you'd think there wouldn't be as many stickers since you'd be starting fresh every so often.
He was referring to the bit Extraterrestrial Highway sign. That sign is way too big to be casually stolen with a saw or socket wrench set hence why it was so heavily stickered. The NV 375 shields are easily grabbed given they just have a few bolts on a sign post.
Post by: corco on September 15, 2019, 01:45:01 PM
Post by: Max Rockatansky on September 15, 2019, 01:50:13 PM
I find it...fascinating that government officials actually seriously think there's going to be a massive influx of tourists at Area 51
My wife wanted to go watch the event until explained to her how remote the terrain really was. I was all up for a trip to Great Basin National Park by way of Tonopah and Ely. I would have gladly made time to see suburbanites shocked by the utter desolation of NV 375, US 6 and the Great Basin/Mojave Desert.
Post by: corco on September 15, 2019, 01:52:46 PM
I find it...fascinating that government officials actually seriously think there's going to be a massive influx of tourists at Area 51
My wife wanted to go watch the event until explained to her how remote the terrain really was. I was all up for a trip to Great Basin National Park by way of Tonopah and Ely. I would have gladly made time to see suburbanites shocked by the utter desolation of NV 375, US 6 and the Great Basin/Mojave Desert.
I just don't see what demographic actually goes out to Rachel, Nevada en masse for an event with no schedule or planning or lodging where you'd get cuffed and stuffed if you actually attempted to do what the fake event was ostensibly for. Maybe Burning Man-type folks...but they were just at Burning Man! They're not going to drive back out to rural Nevada for no reason two weeks later.
My guess is about 100 people show up. If that.
Edit: I see now there actually is a hastily organized event - I still don't think this is going to be much of a draw. The fact that there are still both tent and RV spots available at the Alien Research Center is telling.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on September 15, 2019, 01:55:52 PM
I find it...fascinating that government officials actually seriously think there's going to be a massive influx of tourists at Area 51
My wife wanted to go watch the event until explained to her how remote the terrain really was. I was all up for a trip to Great Basin National Park by way of Tonopah and Ely. I would have gladly made time to see suburbanites shocked by the utter desolation of NV 375, US 6 and the Great Basin/Mojave Desert.
I just don't see what demographic actually goes out to Rachel, Nevada en masse for an event with no schedule or planning or lodging where you'd get cuffed and stuffed if you actually attempted to do what the fake event was ostensibly for. Maybe Burning Man-type folks...but they were just at Burning Man! They're not going to drive back out to rural Nevada for no reason two weeks later.
My guess is about 100 people show up. If that.
Hell, I don’t even understand the appeal of Burning Man. I can only speak for myself why I like the back country of Nevada, suffice to say it has almost zero general appeal to the general masses nor is equipped to facilitate them. I guess with Burning Man you’re relatively close to Reno. The desolation of a lonely and very dry desert is enough to deter 99% of people even before you get to things like organizing an event...or lack thereof.
Post by: corco on September 15, 2019, 01:58:58 PM
I find it...fascinating that government officials actually seriously think there's going to be a massive influx of tourists at Area 51
My wife wanted to go watch the event until explained to her how remote the terrain really was. I was all up for a trip to Great Basin National Park by way of Tonopah and Ely. I would have gladly made time to see suburbanites shocked by the utter desolation of NV 375, US 6 and the Great Basin/Mojave Desert.
I just don't see what demographic actually goes out to Rachel, Nevada en masse for an event with no schedule or planning or lodging where you'd get cuffed and stuffed if you actually attempted to do what the fake event was ostensibly for. Maybe Burning Man-type folks...but they were just at Burning Man! They're not going to drive back out to rural Nevada for no reason two weeks later.
My guess is about 100 people show up. If that.
Hell, I don’t even understand the appeal of Burning Man. I can only speak for myself why I like the back country of Nevada, suffice to say it has almost zero general appeal to the general masses nor is equipped to facilitate them. I guess with Burning Man you’re relatively close to Reno.
I've always wanted to go to Burning Man once just to see it - I don't think it's my jam though, and going just to see it is frowned upon. I did gas up at the Love's in Fernley a couple weeks ago as Burning Man was ending, not realizing what was going on. Pulled into the crowded parking lot and all these out-of-state cars were just covered in dust and then went in and there were many oddly-dressed folks, standing in line to buy snacks with their Amex cards. In that little sampling, it struck me as the kind of thing I'd hate.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on September 15, 2019, 02:07:19 PM
I find it...fascinating that government officials actually seriously think there's going to be a massive influx of tourists at Area 51
My wife wanted to go watch the event until explained to her how remote the terrain really was. I was all up for a trip to Great Basin National Park by way of Tonopah and Ely. I would have gladly made time to see suburbanites shocked by the utter desolation of NV 375, US 6 and the Great Basin/Mojave Desert.
I just don't see what demographic actually goes out to Rachel, Nevada en masse for an event with no schedule or planning or lodging where you'd get cuffed and stuffed if you actually attempted to do what the fake event was ostensibly for. Maybe Burning Man-type folks...but they were just at Burning Man! They're not going to drive back out to rural Nevada for no reason two weeks later.
My guess is about 100 people show up. If that.
Hell, I don’t even understand the appeal of Burning Man. I can only speak for myself why I like the back country of Nevada, suffice to say it has almost zero general appeal to the general masses nor is equipped to facilitate them. I guess with Burning Man you’re relatively close to Reno.
I've always wanted to go to Burning Man once just to see it - I don't think it's my jam though, and going just to see it is frowned upon. I did gas up at the Love's in Fernley a couple weeks ago as Burning Man was ending, not realizing what was going on. Pulled into the crowded parking lot and all these out-of-state cars were just covered in dust and then went in and there were many oddly-dressed folks, standing in line to buy snacks with their Amex cards. In that little sampling, it struck me as the kind of thing I'd hate.
I’ve done some exploring out on the back roads in Northwest Nevada and had some run ins with the Burning Man crowds. About the nicest thing I can probably say they seemed out of place and really somewhat ill prepared to be there. I don’t know, when I think of worthwhile things to do in Nevada it would probably be something like; hiking, finding a ghost town, off roading or participating in some event like the Military vehicle convoy on the old Lincoln Highway. This whole Area 51 thing has that same feel that Burning Man kind of gave me.
Post by: roadfro on October 21, 2019, 02:13:40 AM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191021/a0be7cc13b9c89a50bec07c0ac57269f.jpg)
Post by: skluth on November 01, 2019, 08:29:22 PM
I wish we could upvote posts like this. That's hysterical. :clap:
Post by: X99 on November 07, 2019, 09:25:42 PM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^I said that on the "threads you'll never see on AARoads" thread a few days ago
I wish we could upvote posts like this. That's hysterical. :clap:
Post by: Kniwt on November 18, 2019, 10:09:23 PM
https://www.reviewjournal.com/traffic/major-las-vegas-strip-road-project-kicks-off-wednesday-1895788/
Quote
The initial lane closures are part of a $47.7 million portion of the project that will affect Las Vegas Boulevard from Spring Mountain to Sahara Avenue through early 2021.
... Each phase includes repaving Las Vegas Boulevard, water main replacements, adding an additional fourth lane where right of way allows, pedestrian enhancements, technology and infrastructure upgrades to the traffic system, adding LED lighting and enhancement to medians. Work on all of the phases is expected to take more than five years to complete.
... Road work will be halted during major holidays and special events such as the NFL Draft in April, CES in January and the National Finals Rodeo in December.
Project website: https://resortcorridor.com
Post by: roadfro on November 19, 2019, 10:49:58 AM
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that a five-year project begins this week to update 5.7 miles of the Strip from Spring Mountain to Sahara.
https://www.reviewjournal.com/traffic/major-las-vegas-strip-road-project-kicks-off-wednesday-1895788/
Thanks for sharing this, I hadn't seen it yet.
Correction to the bolded part: The 5.7-mile project goes from I-215 to Sahara. The first phase appears to be Spring Mountain to Sahara.
Post by: roadfro on November 30, 2019, 01:06:16 PM
If you're planning to "Storm Area 51", don't plan on taking a picture of the "Extraterrestrial Highway" signs along SR 375.
‘Extraterrestrial Highway’ sign removed before ‘Storm Area 51’ events (https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/extraterrestrial-highway-sign-removed-before-storm-area-51-events-1847672/), Las Vegas Review-Journal, 9/13/2019
Following up on this: The Extraterrestrial Highway sign has been restored. Actually a new one has been installed (identical design to previous) at a higher height to try and limit theft and vandalism.
‘Extraterrestrial Highway’ sign reappears after Storm Area 51 events (https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/extraterrestrial-highway-sign-reappears-after-storm-area-51-events-1897312/), Las Vegas Review-Journal, 11/20/19
Quote
After being “abducted” by road crews ahead of the Storm Area 51 events in September, the popular Extraterrestrial Highway sign has reappeared.
A new version of the sign was installed at the junction of state Routes 318 and 375 in Lincoln County after the former one, which was covered in stickers and graffiti, was taken down ahead of the Alienstock and Area 51 Basecamp events, the Nevada Department of Transportation said Wednesday.
The sign is the most stolen sign in the state and was installed at a taller height to reduce vandalism and theft, according to NDOT.
Post by: roadfro on December 07, 2019, 05:21:34 PM
Other states already using technology to combat wrong-way drivers (https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/other-states-already-using-technology-to-combat-wrong-way-drivers-1908982/), Las Vegas Review-Journal, 12/6/19
Quote
Technology in use in Rhode Island, Arizona and Texas may provide a road map to help Nevada prevent wrong-way crashes on Silver State roadways, officials say.
Since Nov. 14, four people have died in wrong-way crashes in Southern Nevada on Interstate 15 alone. The most recent occurred Thursday night, when two motorists were killed in a wrong-way crash on I-15 near Primm.
That crash happened just two days after a motorist was killed driving the wrong way on I-15 at Charleston Boulevard. Three weeks earlier, on Nov. 14, yet another wrong-way driver was killed on I-15 crash near Cheyenne Avenue.
<...>
Rhode Island installed a “a radar-based” detection system called the Rhode Island Wrong-Way Mitigation Project on 24 ramps. As a wrong-way driver enters the ramp, brightly lit LED signs warn the driver they are headed the wrong way.
“If the vehicle keeps going through a couple of different zones … it would set off an alarm in our transportation management system,” St. Martin said.
The system notifies the Rhode Island State Police of a wrong-way driver, takes a picture of the vehicle and, if necessary, displays a message on overhead electronic message signs on the highway to warn other drivers in the immediate area that a wrong-way driver is approaching.
Drivers turn around
The system has been remarkably effective.
“An apparent wrong-way driver has gone through the system approximately 150 times,” St. Martin said. “Of all those instances we have only had one crash and no fatalities. … In most of the cases we are seeing the drivers turning around. It takes photos and we see vehicles stop, make a three-point turn and turn around and go back.”
The Nevada Department of Transportation’s pilot program is similar. The pilot system is being installed at the U.S. Highway 95 off-ramp at Durango Drive in the northwest Las Vegas Valley. The system uses a camera and an electronic sensor, which alerts wrong-way drivers on the off-ramp by triggering strobe-like beacons on wrong-way signs. The system is expected to be up and running in early 2020. Each system costs roughly $100,000 and will also alert first responders and traffic management personnel to allow for electric signage notification of oncoming drivers.
This article fails to mention (but another recent article did) that NDOT has recently installed similar wrong-way driver systems in the Reno area. They were installed a year or two ago along all US 395 off ramps between I-80 and Bordertown, as part of a bigger ITS project (that also included travel time sensors & signs, traffic cameras and DMSs). Another system was just installed along I-80 off ramps between Keystone Ave (exit 12) and Verdi as part of a repaving and safety improvements project. So I'm not sure why NDOT is having to do a "pilot project" for southern Nevada when northern Nevada has had a system in place for at least a year and is expanding it...
EDIT 12/13/19: Added underlined text to clarify.
Post by: roadfro on December 13, 2019, 09:40:05 AM
Hundreds of wrong-way drivers reported on Nevada highways in 2019 (https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/hundreds-of-wrong-way-drivers-reported-on-nevada-highways-in-2019-1912833/), Las Vegas Review-Journal, 12/12/19
Quote
The Nevada Highway Patrol has been dispatched on nearly 400 calls for wrong-way drivers in Southern Nevada so far this year, according to the agency.
Trooper Jason Buratczuk said there have been 384 calls in 2019. In 2018, there were 443.
<...>
The Highway Patrol has been dispatched on 192 calls for wrong-way drivers in Northern Nevada so far this year and 157 calls in 2018, according to Buratczuk.
The article also includes a short video that shows what the wrong-way driver system looks like.
Post by: bing101 on December 20, 2019, 07:21:28 PM
Post by: Kniwt on January 14, 2020, 05:47:48 PM
https://www.reviewjournal.com/traffic/nearly-100m-contract-awarded-for-i-15-215-beltway-interchange-1935295
Quote
The Interstate 15-215 Beltway interchange project in North Las Vegas is set to go after the state awarded a nearly $100 million contract for the work.
Contractor Fisher Sand and Gravel was awarded a $99 million contract to construct the interchange project that includes two massive concrete dual lane flyovers, the Nevada Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.
The most notable feature of the project is a 51-foot-tall, 1,800-foot-long east-to-north connection ramp. The I-15 northbound to 215 westbound flyover will be longer than the Eiffel Tower on its side.
(https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/13239105_web1_beltway.jpg)
Post by: Kniwt on February 19, 2020, 11:42:35 PM
https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2020/02/18/9-million-freeway-project-planned-along-i-15-through-mesquite/4788039002/
Quote
The $9.1 million project is expected to start this spring and finish up in the late fall, according to a press release from the Nevada Department of Transportation. New asphalt will be laid in both directions of I-15, and signs, drains and lighting will be upgraded. Additionally, the freeway bridge decks at Exit 118 and 120 will be repaired and resurfaced.
The project spans 5.3 miles through Mesquite, starting just south of West Mesquite Boulevard and continuing to the Arizona border.
(https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2020/02/17/PSTG/a0dc1ac8-d1b2-4cbd-a237-7b10dc9363e9-mesquite_project.jpg)
Meanwhile, bridge work in the Virgin River Gorge continues on a project that's taken longer than planned:
Quote
The project was planned to be finished this spring, but because of the additional issues found, the project has been extended into the summer.
According to Ryan Harding, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Transportation, during the project, crews found issues that include "deteriorated concrete, bridge abutments that need renovation and corroded fasteners that join the bridge deck to the rest of the structure," he wrote in an email.
Post by: dbz77 on March 03, 2020, 11:29:29 PM
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports today that a $99 million contract has been awarded to replace the 15/215 interchange on the north side of Las Vegas:So CC 215 will finally be upgraded to freeway for its entire length.
https://www.reviewjournal.com/traffic/nearly-100m-contract-awarded-for-i-15-215-beltway-interchange-1935295QuoteThe Interstate 15-215 Beltway interchange project in North Las Vegas is set to go after the state awarded a nearly $100 million contract for the work.
Contractor Fisher Sand and Gravel was awarded a $99 million contract to construct the interchange project that includes two massive concrete dual lane flyovers, the Nevada Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.
The most notable feature of the project is a 51-foot-tall, 1,800-foot-long east-to-north connection ramp. The I-15 northbound to 215 westbound flyover will be longer than the Eiffel Tower on its side.
(https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/13239105_web1_beltway.jpg)
I suspect it will spur development of the northwest section of the valley.
Post by: roadfro on March 04, 2020, 11:03:49 AM
So CC 215 will finally be upgraded to freeway for its entire length.
I suspect it will spur development of the northwest section of the valley.
Perhaps you meant the *northeast* section of the valley?
The Valley's big housing development boom of the 1990s was majorly focused in the northwest Las Vegas valley, long before the 215 beltway even existed in that part of town. Development in the northwest has continued since (slowed substantially during the recession), but seems that the southwest valley and north/northeast are now seeing much more activity now.
The last remaining non-freeway stretch of 215 (Losee - Pecos - Lamb - just short of Range Road) is currently under conversion to freeway. After that project is done, it will just be the northern system interchanges at US 95 and I-15 that will still need work—I-15 interchange being addressed with this project, and US 95 interchange being addressed in upcoming phases of a different corridor project.
Post by: Plutonic Panda on March 04, 2020, 11:05:13 AM
Post by: roadwaywiz95 on March 25, 2020, 08:10:25 AM
Post by: roadwaywiz95 on April 06, 2020, 06:33:09 PM
The event will kick off on Saturday (4/11) at 6 PM ET and we look forward to seeing you there!
Post by: Kniwt on May 14, 2020, 07:15:00 PM
https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2020/05/14/speed-limit-southeast-connector-raised-55-mph/5189897002/
Quote
After a speed study on the SouthEast Connector in east Reno showed the "vast majority" of commuters traveled above the posted 45 mph speed limit, the city of Reno opted to raise the maximum speed to 55 mph.
The speed increase is effective today, according to a press released from the city of Reno. Public works crews will be installing new speed limit signs today.
The SouthEast Connector, a 5.5 mile road that stretches through Reno, Sparks and Washoe County, was opened to the public in 2018 as a northern extension of Veterans Parkway.
While the majority of the connector will increase to 55 mph, the bridge on the very northern end will increase from 40 to 45 mph. Veterans Parkway south of South Meadows Parkway will remain 45.
Post by: roadfro on May 14, 2020, 08:37:57 PM
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that the speed limit on most of the new-ish Southeast Connector has been increased.
https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2020/05/14/speed-limit-southeast-connector-raised-55-mph/5189897002/QuoteAfter a speed study on the SouthEast Connector in east Reno showed the "vast majority" of commuters traveled above the posted 45 mph speed limit, the city of Reno opted to raise the maximum speed to 55 mph.
The speed increase is effective today, according to a press released from the city of Reno. Public works crews will be installing new speed limit signs today.
The SouthEast Connector, a 5.5 mile road that stretches through Reno, Sparks and Washoe County, was opened to the public in 2018 as a northern extension of Veterans Parkway.
While the majority of the connector will increase to 55 mph, the bridge on the very northern end will increase from 40 to 45 mph. Veterans Parkway south of South Meadows Parkway will remain 45.
Thanks for posting this. I would have missed it.
50 or 55 should have been the speed limit all along... 45mph with three lanes each way, almost out in the middle of nowhere, was way too slow.
I agree with keeping the 45mph south of South Meadows Pkwy given it narrows to two lanes and has more residential abutting. I have an office colleague who lives off of that stretch who says people speed through there all the time, and it's become worse since the SouthEast Connector portion was finished. (Although personally, that portion of Veterans Pkwy has long been planned to be part of the connector corridor, so I think planners shouldn't have allowed residential streets to open up directly to it.)
Post by: mrsman on May 15, 2020, 07:57:44 AM
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that the speed limit on most of the new-ish Southeast Connector has been increased.
https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2020/05/14/speed-limit-southeast-connector-raised-55-mph/5189897002/QuoteAfter a speed study on the SouthEast Connector in east Reno showed the "vast majority" of commuters traveled above the posted 45 mph speed limit, the city of Reno opted to raise the maximum speed to 55 mph.
The speed increase is effective today, according to a press released from the city of Reno. Public works crews will be installing new speed limit signs today.
The SouthEast Connector, a 5.5 mile road that stretches through Reno, Sparks and Washoe County, was opened to the public in 2018 as a northern extension of Veterans Parkway.
While the majority of the connector will increase to 55 mph, the bridge on the very northern end will increase from 40 to 45 mph. Veterans Parkway south of South Meadows Parkway will remain 45.
Thanks for posting this. I would have missed it.
50 or 55 should have been the speed limit all along... 45mph with three lanes each way, almost out in the middle of nowhere, was way too slow.
I agree with keeping the 45mph south of South Meadows Pkwy given it narrows to two lanes and has more residential abutting. I have an office colleague who lives off of that stretch who says people speed through there all the time, and it's become worse since the SouthEast Connector portion was finished. (Although personally, that portion of Veterans Pkwy has long been planned to be part of the connector corridor, so I think planners shouldn't have allowed residential streets to open up directly to it.)
From just a quick GSV, it appears that a road like this is quite similar to the "La Cienega Expy" through the Baldwin Hills of Los Angeles. Basically an expressway, with a few occasional traffic signals. La Cienega has even more of the characteristics of a freeway as it was planned to be part of the Laurel Canyon Freeway. The road is now 55 mph and has been for quite a few years. When I was younger, I remember it being signed as 45 to account for the occasional traffic signal, but I'm glad that the county raised it to a more practical speed limit (I beleive it occurred around the same time that most freeways were raised from 55 to 65).
Veterans Pkwy looks like a beautiful road.
Post by: Kniwt on May 15, 2020, 11:54:22 AM
https://twitter.com/nevadadot/status/1261311905165127680
https://twitter.com/nevadadot/status/1261306368964911105
Photo from Esmeralda County Sheriff's Office:
(https://i.imgur.com/gTpQLhL.jpg)
Post by: roadfro on May 16, 2020, 02:52:31 PM
After this morning's M6.5 earthquake near Tonopah, NDOT has closed US 95 from Coaldale Junction to NV 360.
https://twitter.com/nevadadot/status/1261311905165127680
https://twitter.com/nevadadot/status/1261306368964911105
Photo from Esmeralda County Sheriff's Office:
(https://i.imgur.com/gTpQLhL.jpg)
The road reopened later in the afternoon after NDOT did an emergency repair.
Some of the images on NDOT's Instagram page showed earthquake caused cracks creating up to 4" gap in the asphalt and vertical surface displacements up to 4". Quite interesting.
Post by: nexus73 on May 16, 2020, 06:10:38 PM
If you want to see some dramatic destroyed pavement photos, go check out the ones from the 1964 Good Friday quake that did so much damage to Anchorage. Huge ground plunging took place. Very scary looking!
Nevada got off easy in comparison.
Rick
Post by: skluth on May 21, 2020, 01:30:18 AM
^^^^^ Pix like this just crack me up! ^^^^^The 1964 Alaska Earthquake was second strongest earthquake ever measured. Horizontal shifting up to 60 feet, vertical up to 30 feet. Let’s hope never to see a repeat, though we know from the geological record another monster quake like that is inevitable.
If you want to see some dramatic destroyed pavement photos, go check out the ones from the 1964 Good Friday quake that did so much damage to Anchorage. Huge ground plunging took place. Very scary looking!
Nevada got off easy in comparison.
Rick
Post by: gonealookin on May 31, 2020, 11:09:40 PM
Quote
The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is temporarily closing U.S. Highway 95 between the U.S. Route 6 and State Route 360 junctions from 6 a.m., June 3, through 4 p.m., June 17, in Esmeralda and Mineral counties. (This stretch of highway averages about 2,300 vehicles daily). The temporary closure is needed for $2.43 million in federally funded emergency pavement repairs along U.S. Highway 95 between Mile Markers 88.7 and 90 and Mile Marker 95 in Esmeralda County, as well as Mile Marker 2 in Mineral County.
The detour is 45 miles long, and forces trucks to climb to roughly the 7000-foot elevation at the intersection of US 6 and NV 360.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on May 31, 2020, 11:27:42 PM
21 miles of US 95 will be closed for two weeks for permanent repair of the earthquake damage. NDOT News Release (https://www.nevadadot.com/Home/Components/News/News/6162/395)QuoteThe Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is temporarily closing U.S. Highway 95 between the U.S. Route 6 and State Route 360 junctions from 6 a.m., June 3, through 4 p.m., June 17, in Esmeralda and Mineral counties. (This stretch of highway averages about 2,300 vehicles daily). The temporary closure is needed for $2.43 million in federally funded emergency pavement repairs along U.S. Highway 95 between Mile Markers 88.7 and 90 and Mile Marker 95 in Esmeralda County, as well as Mile Marker 2 in Mineral County.
The detour is 45 miles long, and forces trucks to climb to roughly the 7000-foot elevation at the intersection of US 6 and NV 360.
Damn, at that rate it probably would be more efficient to take NV 264 and dip into California via CA 266/NV 266.
Post by: bing101 on July 21, 2020, 11:32:39 AM
Interstate kyle does a tour on Las Vegas Freeways.
Post by: roadfro on August 06, 2020, 10:20:47 AM
www.nevadadot.com/sign
Winning messages will be announced next month and will be used on VMSs statewide.
Post by: Plutonic Panda on August 11, 2020, 10:15:32 PM
More info here:
https://www.nevadadot.com/Home/Components/News/News/6330/395?fsiteid=1
Post by: rte66man on August 12, 2020, 03:05:18 PM
NDOT will be upgrading 32 of US-95 in NYE county to the tune of 17 million. Pavement replacement, passing lanes, shoulder improvements, and fiber optic cables are part of of the project.
More info here:
https://www.nevadadot.com/Home/Components/News/News/6330/395?fsiteid=1
32 inches? 32 yards?
<ducks and runs>
Post by: Sub-Urbanite on August 21, 2020, 12:45:26 PM
NDOT will be upgrading 32 of US-95 in NYE county to the tune of 17 million. Pavement replacement, passing lanes, shoulder improvements, and fiber optic cables are part of of the project.
More info here:
https://www.nevadadot.com/Home/Components/News/News/6330/395?fsiteid=1
See, I don't get this. Why spend $17 million on this project to essentially rebuild the 2 lane roadway when NDOT knows that it'll be twinning this at some point? Make the extra investment and take it to 4. I'm not saying to give it the full freeway treatment, but this is one stretch where a new alignment is highly unlikely (and would render this investment obsolete anyway).
Post by: skluth on August 21, 2020, 02:49:28 PM
NDOT will be upgrading 32 of US-95 in NYE county to the tune of 17 million. Pavement replacement, passing lanes, shoulder improvements, and fiber optic cables are part of of the project.
More info here:
https://www.nevadadot.com/Home/Components/News/News/6330/395?fsiteid=1
See, I don't get this. Why spend $17 million on this project to essentially rebuild the 2 lane roadway when NDOT knows that it'll be twinning this at some point? Make the extra investment and take it to 4. I'm not saying to give it the full freeway treatment, but this is one stretch where a new alignment is highly unlikely (and would render this investment obsolete anyway).
This project will be done by next spring. Unless the four-laning is done within the next ten years, this is probably the only improvement on this stretch for the near future. It's not like US 95 is already four lanes to Beatty. Nevada isn't showing much urgency in their desire to complete I-11 given the Alternatives Analysis from a couple years ago (https://www.nevadadot.com/projects-programs/programs-studies/future-i-11-alternatives-analysis-las-vegas-valley-to-i-80) states, "Construction of the roughly 450-mile long future I-11 could be phased over future decades as environmental impact reviews are completed and funding is prioritized." (Emphasized text mine) This project could easily be twenty years in the past by the time NDOT gets around to making this stretch four lanes, and probably to full freeway at that time. A parallel road bed for 32 miles is considerably more expensive than $17M and might face considerably more environmental opposition (a new freeway anywhere grabs considerably more attention than a simple highway improvement).
Post by: Sub-Urbanite on August 21, 2020, 06:00:42 PM
NDOT will be upgrading 32 of US-95 in NYE county to the tune of 17 million. Pavement replacement, passing lanes, shoulder improvements, and fiber optic cables are part of of the project.
More info here:
https://www.nevadadot.com/Home/Components/News/News/6330/395?fsiteid=1
See, I don't get this. Why spend $17 million on this project to essentially rebuild the 2 lane roadway when NDOT knows that it'll be twinning this at some point? Make the extra investment and take it to 4. I'm not saying to give it the full freeway treatment, but this is one stretch where a new alignment is highly unlikely (and would render this investment obsolete anyway).
This project will be done by next spring. Unless the four-laning is done within the next ten years, this is probably the only improvement on this stretch for the near future. It's not like US 95 is already four lanes to Beatty. Nevada isn't showing much urgency in their desire to complete I-11 given the Alternatives Analysis from a couple years ago (https://www.nevadadot.com/projects-programs/programs-studies/future-i-11-alternatives-analysis-las-vegas-valley-to-i-80) states, "Construction of the roughly 450-mile long future I-11 could be phased over future decades as environmental impact reviews are completed and funding is prioritized." (Emphasized text mine) This project could easily be twenty years in the past by the time NDOT gets around to making this stretch four lanes, and probably to full freeway at that time. A parallel road bed for 32 miles is considerably more expensive than $17M and might face considerably more environmental opposition (a new freeway anywhere grabs considerably more attention than a simple highway improvement).
True, but if they're following the ADOT approach, then piecemeal twinning is the path to victory. Remember, the first segment of the US 93 twinning between I-40 and US 60 – which at times was called wasteful – started around 25 years ago.
Post by: roadfro on August 21, 2020, 11:05:52 PM
I concur that it wouldn't make sense to start doing expressway-style upgrades instead of a project like this. $17m for what is amounting to safety improvements and minor resurfacing of 32 miles of existing two-lane highway seems like a reasonable investment at this time. It'll probably be a lengthy amount of time (measured in decades) before this stretch sees significant upgrades.NDOT will be upgrading 32 of US-95 in NYE county to the tune of 17 million. Pavement replacement, passing lanes, shoulder improvements, and fiber optic cables are part of of the project.
More info here:
https://www.nevadadot.com/Home/Components/News/News/6330/395?fsiteid=1
See, I don't get this. Why spend $17 million on this project to essentially rebuild the 2 lane roadway when NDOT knows that it'll be twinning this at some point? Make the extra investment and take it to 4. I'm not saying to give it the full freeway treatment, but this is one stretch where a new alignment is highly unlikely (and would render this investment obsolete anyway).
This project will be done by next spring. Unless the four-laning is done within the next ten years, this is probably the only improvement on this stretch for the near future. It's not like US 95 is already four lanes to Beatty. Nevada isn't showing much urgency in their desire to complete I-11 given the Alternatives Analysis from a couple years ago (https://www.nevadadot.com/projects-programs/programs-studies/future-i-11-alternatives-analysis-las-vegas-valley-to-i-80) states, "Construction of the roughly 450-mile long future I-11 could be phased over future decades as environmental impact reviews are completed and funding is prioritized." (Emphasized text mine) This project could easily be twenty years in the past by the time NDOT gets around to making this stretch four lanes, and probably to full freeway at that time. A parallel road bed for 32 miles is considerably more expensive than $17M and might face considerably more environmental opposition (a new freeway anywhere grabs considerably more attention than a simple highway improvement).
True, but if they're following the ADOT approach, then piecemeal twinning is the path to victory. Remember, the first segment of the US 93 twinning between I-40 and US 60 – which at times was called wasteful – started around 25 years ago.
If they were going to twin a rural stretch of US 95, this would not be the stretch to do it. Based on my observations over time, Beatty to Tonopah segment this project lies in tends to have the least traffic over the four major segments of the entire Vegas-to-Reno drive. If anything, four-laning from Mercury to Beatty would be the first step and a reasonable segment of independent utility.
Post by: Kniwt on October 21, 2020, 02:49:52 PM
https://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2020/10/20/production-car-sets-world-speed-record-road-near-las-vegas/5998947002/
Quote
A car built in Washington, that took 10 years to design, engineer and build, set a speed record on highway 160 in Southern Nevada between Las Vegas and Pahrump on Oct. 10. The car, built by SSC North America and called a 'Tuatara' averaged 316 mph on its two runs that day.
The car driven by Oliver Webb, 29, hit 301 mph on its first run, then, an hour later, hit 331 mph, for a 316 average.
Two runs completed within an hour, in opposite directions, are required to establish a record and the average is used.
The seven-mile stretch of highway was shut down for the attempt.
Post by: nexus73 on October 21, 2020, 08:40:10 PM
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that a production-car speed record has been set on NV 160 near Pahrump: 331mph.
https://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2020/10/20/production-car-sets-world-speed-record-road-near-las-vegas/5998947002/QuoteA car built in Washington, that took 10 years to design, engineer and build, set a speed record on highway 160 in Southern Nevada between Las Vegas and Pahrump on Oct. 10. The car, built by SSC North America and called a 'Tuatara' averaged 316 mph on its two runs that day.
The car driven by Oliver Webb, 29, hit 301 mph on its first run, then, an hour later, hit 331 mph, for a 316 average.
Two runs completed within an hour, in opposite directions, are required to establish a record and the average is used.
The seven-mile stretch of highway was shut down for the attempt.
That is what one could call rapid transit!
Rick
Post by: TheGrassGuy on October 23, 2020, 05:50:28 PM
Post by: gonealookin on October 23, 2020, 06:53:06 PM
Is NV-781 signed? I'm making a list of shortest state routes in each state, and was kind of surprised to learn that NV-822 was indeed signed.
Wow, that's digging deep to find NV 781. I'm pretty sure I'll never drive that one.
If I had to guess I'd say it might be marked with California-style white paddles. That's the case in my area with NV 705 (a former alignment of US 50 that dips into Douglas County but only serves properties in Carson City, so Douglas County didn't want it). Also, westbound NV 760 is marked with a shield as it leaves US 50, but the only marking eastbound is a white paddle at its west end.
Post by: TheGrassGuy on October 23, 2020, 06:57:01 PM
Is NV-781 signed? I'm making a list of shortest state routes in each state, and was kind of surprised to learn that NV-822 was indeed signed.
Wow, that's digging deep to find NV 781. I'm pretty sure I'll never drive that one.
If I had to guess I'd say it might be marked with California-style white paddles. That's the case in my area with NV 705 (a former alignment of US 50 that dips into Douglas County but only serves properties in Carson City, so Douglas County didn't want it). Also, westbound NV 760 is marked with a shield as it leaves US 50, but the only marking eastbound is a white paddle at its west end.
You mean these things (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1139004,-119.7822364,3a,22.7y,310.25h,73.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQgHElJS08hTBrIWPJCaacQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)? Those don't really count. NV-822 is signed the real way.
There's a reason why NY reference routes are considered "unsigned", even though they have similar markings that are greener and smaller.
Post by: US 89 on October 24, 2020, 01:22:46 AM
http://corcohighways.org/?p=9921933
Post by: TheGrassGuy on October 24, 2020, 11:49:41 AM
Corco's website shows there is at least one postmile:
http://corcohighways.org/?p=9921933
By "signed", I mean an actual shield, not just a postmile or whatever.
In NJ, they've started adding postmiles everywhere obsessively around 2017 or so. Even on hitherto unsigned routes, such as NJ-13 (a bridge) and NJ-167 (a former alignment of US-9 with a gap due to a long-demolished bridge that's now hardly anything but a dirt road).
If a route is only marked on postmiles or other similar markers (such as NV-705, the NY reference roads, or the two in NJ I just mentioned), I don't consider them to be "signed".
Post by: roadfro on October 24, 2020, 01:18:57 PM
Post by: Kniwt on January 23, 2021, 12:25:29 PM
https://elkodaily.com/news/local/u-s-93-getting-more-passing-lanes-this-year/article_86fb62e1-5cd9-5bc1-93f2-bacd91d8608a.html
Quote
Nevada Department of Transportation has awarded an $8.8 million contract for the construction of roughly six miles of passing lanes north of Wells on U.S. 93, and Elko County Commissioners have asked NDOT to keep them on as a top priority for the future.
... The north and south passing lanes will be between mileposts 101 and 107 just north of the HD Summit and just north of the turnoff to the Winecup Gamble Ranch, which is in an area where NDOT already has the right of way, he said.
Commissioner Cliff Eklund said the passing lanes planned are needed because “there has been a dramatic increase in traffic” on U.S. 93, with truckers coming from Las Vegas and headed to Idaho. He said there is a need for a larger project.
“I think eastern Elko County feels U.S. 93 is very important, and I suppose you understand it,” Commissioner Wilde Brough told Mortensen. Brough said by phone earlier this week that US. 93 is crucial to economic development in eastern Elko County and “it’s crucial to all of the eastern side of Nevada.”
... Mortensen said NDOT staff also is evaluating U.S. 93 south of Wells and all the way to Las Vegas.
Post by: Sub-Urbanite on January 25, 2021, 11:55:45 AM
Post by: roadfro on January 26, 2021, 11:30:33 AM
The last time I drove 93 north of Wells I was surprised by the traffic. Not sure it should be at the top of NDOT's 4-laning priority list but it at least should be on the list.
I recall during the I-11 corridor study that while the US 95 to northwestern Nevada corridor won out over US 93 and eastern Nevada, it was acknowledged that the US 93 corridor will likely need some attention in long-range planning.
Post by: bing101 on January 31, 2021, 07:53:55 PM
The Nevada DOT is closing the Spaghetti Bowl in the Reno area. That's right Reno also has a Spaghetti Bowl interchange. I remember in the past whenever we talked about the Spaghetti Bowl interchange it was in the Las Vegas area.
Post by: roadfro on February 01, 2021, 11:52:21 AM
https://mynews4.com/news/local/spaghetti-bowl-closures-beginning-january-31
The Nevada DOT is closing the Spaghetti Bowl in the Reno area. That's right Reno also has a Spaghetti Bowl interchange. I remember in the past whenever we talked about the Spaghetti Bowl interchange it was in the Las Vegas area.
They are closing certain ramps/interchanges overnight and/or weekends to accommodate construction activity.
We've discussed Reno's Spaghetti Bowl in a dedicated thread on this board (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=21998.0), so let's keep discussion there. (Bing101, you've actually posted a link to a video in that thread previously...)
But an interesting tidbit: The linked article uses a picture of the Spaghetti Bowl in Las Vegas—specifically it's a rendering of the new HOV flyover from Project Neon construction.
EDIT: Fixed link tag
Post by: US 89 on February 01, 2021, 03:42:12 PM
That's right Reno also has a Spaghetti Bowl interchange. I remember in the past whenever we talked about the Spaghetti Bowl interchange it was in the Las Vegas area.
Yep, there are quite a few Spaghetti Bowl interchanges (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaghetti_junction#United_States) in the US and elsewhere around the world. The one I'm most familiar with is in Salt Lake City where I-15, I-80, and SR 201 all meet up, which is why it always throws me off for a second whenever someone mentions either of the ones in Nevada.
Post by: 1995hoo on February 04, 2021, 01:57:50 PM
https://twitter.com/davidbobzien/status/1357383931713101825
https://twitter.com/davidbobzien/status/1357384856359981056
https://twitter.com/davidbobzien/status/1357386753460428802
https://twitter.com/davidbobzien/status/1357396587832479744
Post by: AlexandriaVA on February 04, 2021, 02:14:58 PM
It's not as if the EV will have a dual mode engine that can switch to gasoline when they roll up to his filling station.
Post by: jdbx on February 04, 2021, 02:44:06 PM
I can't begin to understand the logic of the gas station owner/operator who doesn't want to be in the EV business because it allegedly cuts into his gasoline sales.
It's not as if the EV will have a dual mode engine that can switch to gasoline when they roll up to his filling station.
The logic is particularly absurd, since most gas station profits are earned in the convenience store, NOT at the pump. EV's take at least 30 minutes to charge, even on the fastest superchargers. I know this because I drive one myself. I don't like sitting in my car while it charges, so I usually take advantage of the time to buy a cold drink, something to eat, restroom, etc from the adjacent businesses.
Post by: 1995hoo on February 04, 2021, 04:54:08 PM
.... What I found myself wondering, and what I might ask him, is why the charging station at Valmy can't be installed at the rest area Google Maps shows on the other side of I-80.
https://twitter.com/davidbobzien/status/1357439998191042560
Post by: roadfro on February 07, 2021, 05:28:17 PM
RTC, NDOT, partners receive $6 million in federal funding for emerging technologies to mitigate traffic congestion and enhance road safety (https://www.rtcsnv.com/news/rtc-ndot-partners-receive-6-million-in-federal-funding-for-emerging-technologies-to-mitigate-traffic-congestion-and-enhance-road-safety/)
Quote
LAS VEGAS – The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and partners received a $6 million grant to expand emerging technologies on Las Vegas freeways. The five-mile expansion will extend west of downtown Las Vegas between I-15 and Summerlin Parkway on U.S. 95, a critical corridor that carries approximately 230,000 vehicles daily. These technologies will help enhance safety by mitigating congestion, decreasing the number of crashes, reducing travel time and increasing overall efficiency of the freeway.
The $6 million in funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) program. The ATCMTD program funds early deployments of forward-looking technologies that can serve as national models.
<...>
Some technologies that will be deployed along U.S. 95 include wrong-way sensors that alert drivers immediately if they’re traveling in the wrong direction; occupancy detection sensors in HOV lanes that collect data to reduce congestion and emissions; and overhead signs that warn motorists about incidents, speed reduction and lane closures ahead to mitigate crashes resulting from sudden braking.
<...>
And a short video from the RTC about this:
The most interesting thing to me is the overhead incident signage. This will be an expansion of the system recently deployed as part of Project Neon—a small bit of this stretch (mostly southbound approaching I-15) has this signage installed already through that project, but expanding and having incident signage in both directions along more of US 95 should prove to be beneficial.
Post by: MikeG on March 05, 2021, 03:43:25 PM
MOD NOTE: Removed unrelated quoted material. —Roadfro
Post by: skluth on March 05, 2021, 09:05:40 PM
Now Open in Nevada! - NV-375, The "Extra-Terrestral Hwy" now has a gas station and general store open in Rachel, NV. Campground / RV hookups coming soon.
Cool. Rachel even has 4G LTE cell coverage for my phone according to Spectrum.
Post by: ClassicHasClass on March 07, 2021, 03:01:24 PM
Post by: roadfro on March 19, 2021, 11:44:21 AM
I'm curious why they switched...maybe since they're not a commercial enterprise? But it's not like the ".gov" domain is new... *shrug*
Post by: Ketchup99 on April 18, 2021, 08:31:17 PM
What's up with this? I thought Nevada (like every state but Texas) never posted above 70 on at-grade highways.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on April 18, 2021, 08:36:46 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1966947,-114.8542744,3a,30.1y,339.33h,88.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-i3bz8aqcgrq5jGzTzBOfA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
What's up with this? I thought Nevada (like every state but Texas) never posted above 70 on at-grade highways.
Really it could be 85 MPH south of Boulder City on most of US 95 to the State Line. Aside from Searchlight it doesn’t get any straighter or easier of a drive.
Post by: Ketchup99 on April 18, 2021, 08:38:04 PM
I just thought Nevada didn't allow over 70 on at-grades. Are there other examples of something like this?
Post by: Max Rockatansky on April 18, 2021, 08:39:56 PM
Oh, I don't doubt that at all. :D
I just thought Nevada didn't allow over 70 on at-grades. Are there other examples of something like this?
I believe so for grade separated expressways. I want to say US 95 north of Las Vegas approaching Mercury is like this now also.
Post by: Plutonic Panda on April 18, 2021, 11:21:07 PM
Post by: skluth on April 19, 2021, 01:16:17 AM
Post by: Plutonic Panda on April 19, 2021, 04:36:35 AM
Outside of drunk drivers and a few speed enthusiasts, I don’t see many opting to go that fast anyways maybe 85-90. Only reason it wouldn’t be safe is the plague of left lane campers in this country. If anything I do think the limit should at least be 85 from Barstow to Rose PKWY.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on April 19, 2021, 08:09:13 AM
Post by: roadfro on April 19, 2021, 10:35:28 AM
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1966947,-114.8542744,3a,30.1y,339.33h,88.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-i3bz8aqcgrq5jGzTzBOfA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
What's up with this? I thought Nevada (like every state but Texas) never posted above 70 on at-grade highways.
You'd have to better define "at-grade highway" (which I don't think is a term regularly used).
NDOT doesn't post two-lane highways above 70. The vast majority of two-lane highway mileage in the state is posted at 70.
US 95 is mostly a divided highway between Boulder City and the SR 163/Laughlin Hwy turnoff (the linked view becomes divided once you get past the turn for the gas station) with very few turnoffs or intersections. As such, 75 is appropriate.
Oh, I don't doubt that at all. :D
I just thought Nevada didn't allow over 70 on at-grades. Are there other examples of something like this?
I believe so for grade separated expressways. I want to say US 95 north of Las Vegas approaching Mercury is like this now also.
Unless anything has changed since early January 2021, the divided highway section of US 95 between SR 156/Kyle Canyon Rd (urban limit of Las Vegas) and the Mercury interchange is posted at 70 mph (except for the 45 zone through Indian Springs).
I'm not aware of any other non-Interstate divided highway stretches in Nevada that are posted higher than 70. Only other one I can think of that comes close is US 395 between Carson City and Minden, and that is posted at 65.
Post by: roadfro on May 05, 2021, 04:33:50 PM
$52.4M contract awarded for Laughlin-to-Bullhead City bridge (https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/52-4m-contract-awarded-for-laughlin-to-bullhead-city-bridge-2347294/) Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/5/2021
Quote
The Clark County Commission Tuesday approved the lowest submitted bid of $52.4 million from contractor Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. to build the five-span, 724-foot long bridge.
Nearly $26 million of the project’s cost will come from the Regional Transportation Commission. Another $20.9 million will come from the federal government, earmarked in 2005 by then Sen. Harry Reid, $4.5 million from Bullhead City and $1.1 million from Clark County.
<...>
Construction is slated to begin by year’s end and work crews have 730 days to complete the project, according to the bid agreement.
The new bridge will take some of the traffic volume off the existing four-lane bridge that connects Highways 95 and 68 in Arizona with Highway 163 in Nevada, according to the Associated Press. That bridge was completed in 1987 and has since seen over 600 million people travel across it.
<...>
“Twenty years ago the need was identified and now, with over 30,000 vehicles traveling on Highway 95 through Bullhead City every day, the need is becoming more urgent,” he said. “Both Bullhead City and Laughlin are growing at a tremendous pace and this bridge will create a circular loop connecting both of our communities.”
Post by: roadfro on May 31, 2021, 03:17:01 AM
NDOT Launches Regional Twitter Accounts (https://www.dot.nv.gov/Home/Components/News/News/6996/395), NDOT press release, 5/17/21
Quote
(...)
With nearly 35,000 followers, NDOT’s long-standing @NevadaDOT statewide Twitter account, which launched in 2009, will continue to provide transportation updates and insight with statewide, programmatic, or unique regional significance.
However, the following three regional accounts will be the new location to find automated traffic alerts specific to each region:
@NevadadotVegas- Clark, Nye, Esmeralda and Lincoln counties. Southern Nevada from Mina to Searchlight.
@NevadadotReno- Washoe, Douglas, Churchill, Storey, Lyon, Pershing and Mineral counties. Northwestern Nevada from Reno-Tahoe to Lovelock and from northern Washoe County to Hawthorne.
@NevadadotElko- Elko, Humboldt, White Pine, Eureka and Lander counties. Northeastern Nevada from Winnemucca to West Wendover and from Jackpot to Ely.
The change means that automated regional highway alerts such as roadway lane closures and wind warnings previously posted to the statewide @NevadaDOT account will now instead be posted to the respective regional accounts, providing targeted traffic alerts such as:
- Highway and state road construction updates and closures
- High-profile vehicle wind prohibitions on wind-prone highway such as Interstate 580 in Washoe Valley
- Snow tire and chain requirements
- Parade or other special events temporarily restricting highway travel
(...)
NDOT will continue selectively sharing automated traffic alerts on the main @NevadaDOT account until mid-June. Nevadans are encouraged to continue following @NevadaDOT for statewide transportation information and begin following the regional NDOT Twitter accounts of interest.
This is a welcome change. There are days where the traffic alerts really clutter up the Twitter feed on the main account, especially with all the shenanigans that can happen on Vegas roadways.
I seem to recall years ago that NDOT used to have a separate account for the Vegas area, but that has long since been discontinued...probably now that many social media postings can be automated, multiple accounts are now easier to maintain.
It appears the coverage areas for the three regional accounts roughly correspond to the NDOT maintenance district boundaries...noting that the locations of these regional accounts are also the cities in which the three districts’ main offices are located.
Post by: Plutonic Panda on May 31, 2021, 09:52:51 AM
Post by: roadfro on June 13, 2021, 08:25:32 PM
Most minor traffic violations decriminalized in Nevada (https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/2021-legislature/most-minor-traffic-violations-decriminalized-in-nevada-2373882/), Las Vegas Review-Journal, 6/08/2021
Quote
CARSON CITY — Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak on Tuesday signed a bill [AB 116] into law that decriminalizes most minor traffic offenses, classifying them instead as civil infractions.
The reclassification means that jail time would be off the table for a large swath of traffic offenses, such as minor speeding, violating an HOV lane restriction, making an illegal turn, not wearing a seat belt, or driving without a child safety seat.
When traffic offenses are considered criminal misdemeanors, a court could issue a warrant if the person does not appear in court or fails to pay their fine on time.
<...>
The bill marked the fifth time lawmakers in Nevada had pushed some form legislation to reclassify minor traffic infractions in the last decade. This time, the bill faced little resistance in the Legislature and passed with only one “no” vote [in both] the Assembly and the Senate.
<...>
Sisolak on Tuesday also signed Senate Bill 219, which removes a court’s authority to suspend a person’s driver’s license or prevent them from applying for one based on an unpaid fine, administrative assessment or other type of fee.
<...>
Post by: nexus73 on June 14, 2021, 08:07:10 AM
Rick
Post by: roadfro on June 14, 2021, 09:34:17 AM
Scofflaws are going to love that bit of legislation. I guess that fines which go unpaid will wind up submitted to a collections agency.
The legislation is a growing trend. The article notes that Nevada joins 37 other states that have already done this.
Post by: Sub-Urbanite on June 17, 2021, 10:57:49 AM
Scofflaws are going to love that bit of legislation. I guess that fines which go unpaid will wind up submitted to a collections agency.
Rick
It'd be great if this was handled fairly, but the most recent data (which admittedly is 18 years old) shows that Black and Hispanic drivers were more likely to be pulled over than whites or Asians, and, more starkly, Black and Hispanic residents made up 2/3rds of Las Vegas' arrest warrants for unpaid traffic violations.
Also notably, when Carson City adopted this policy in 2019, collection on unpaid traffic fines went up.
Basically, it doesn't make sense to throw someone in jail for three days and have them deal with the disruption that comes from that, if we want people to actually pay their fines.
Post by: nexus73 on June 18, 2021, 09:51:09 AM
Scofflaws are going to love that bit of legislation. I guess that fines which go unpaid will wind up submitted to a collections agency.
Rick
It'd be great if this was handled fairly, but the most recent data (which admittedly is 18 years old) shows that Black and Hispanic drivers were more likely to be pulled over than whites or Asians, and, more starkly, Black and Hispanic residents made up 2/3rds of Las Vegas' arrest warrants for unpaid traffic violations.
Also notably, when Carson City adopted this policy in 2019, collection on unpaid traffic fines went up.
Basically, it doesn't make sense to throw someone in jail for three days and have them deal with the disruption that comes from that, if we want people to actually pay their fines.
I had a buddy (who was white) in the Air Force, back in the Seventies, who did not pay his fines on time, so when he was caught doing something wrong while driving, off to jail he went in San Diego County! That got his attention.
If 2/3'rds of blacks and Hispanics are nonpayers, then the number you quoted is just reflecting the situation. One would have to know what each race's behavior was like in order to truly know what is going on.
I have a stepnephew, also white, that lives in Vegas. He had accumulated a few thousand dollars in unpaid fines. Tossing him into the hoosegow also got his attention. Eventually he did straighten out his life but it took some judicial action before he did.
Why let bad behaviors go unpunished? Driving is a privilege, not a right.
Rick
Post by: roadfro on June 18, 2021, 10:28:25 AM
Scofflaws are going to love that bit of legislation. I guess that fines which go unpaid will wind up submitted to a collections agency.
Rick
It'd be great if this was handled fairly, but the most recent data (which admittedly is 18 years old) shows that Black and Hispanic drivers were more likely to be pulled over than whites or Asians, and, more starkly, Black and Hispanic residents made up 2/3rds of Las Vegas' arrest warrants for unpaid traffic violations.
Also notably, when Carson City adopted this policy in 2019, collection on unpaid traffic fines went up.
Basically, it doesn't make sense to throw someone in jail for three days and have them deal with the disruption that comes from that, if we want people to actually pay their fines.
I had a buddy (who was white) in the Air Force, back in the Seventies, who did not pay his fines on time, so when he was caught doing something wrong while driving, off to jail he went in San Diego County! That got his attention.
If 2/3'rds of blacks and Hispanics are nonpayers, then the number you quoted is just reflecting the situation. One would have to know what each race's behavior was like in order to truly know what is going on.
I have a stepnephew, also white, that lives in Vegas. He had accumulated a few thousand dollars in unpaid fines. Tossing him into the hoosegow also got his attention. Eventually he did straighten out his life but it took some judicial action before he did.
Why let bad behaviors go unpunished? Driving is a privilege, not a right.
Rick
Asking this question at the risk of derailing this thread of discussion... but what do you mean by the bolded statement? Generalizing by race or ethnicity should not be necessary in the context of individuals' traffic law violations and their ability to resolve them.
I agree generally with not letting bad behaviors go unpunished, but misdemeanors and possible jail time for minor traffic violations doesn't seem like the way to go. Now, if someone racks up multiple traffic infractions and doesn't pay them (or do some equivalent amount of community service if unable to pay, assuming that is an option), I would say that additional steps should be taken at that point.
Post by: nexus73 on June 18, 2021, 01:13:24 PM
Rick
Post by: Alps on June 18, 2021, 03:47:18 PM
What you "bolded" refers to accumulating the statistics. If the stats match up rather closely to the amount of people present in those races, then we are not dealing with racism. If the stats are way different, then the question becomes one of racism vs cultural approaches, which would be a Pretty Tough One to answer in terms of pure numbers.Not necessary to know. If minorities are being disproportionately jailed to their overall numbers, there is a problem rooted in racism. If the jail sentences are actually proportional to the crimes being commited, that informs you that the problem is socially endemic and we need to develop equity over generations. If the sentences are not proportional, then you have systemic racism. The truth is in between and we have both.
Rick
Post by: nexus73 on June 19, 2021, 10:17:52 AM
What you "bolded" refers to accumulating the statistics. If the stats match up rather closely to the amount of people present in those races, then we are not dealing with racism. If the stats are way different, then the question becomes one of racism vs cultural approaches, which would be a Pretty Tough One to answer in terms of pure numbers.Not necessary to know. If minorities are being disproportionately jailed to their overall numbers, there is a problem rooted in racism. If the jail sentences are actually proportional to the crimes being commited, that informs you that the problem is socially endemic and we need to develop equity over generations. If the sentences are not proportional, then you have systemic racism. The truth is in between and we have both.
Rick
While living in Tangipahoa Parish (Louisiana) back in the second half of the Nineties, I saw work groups from the county jail doing various cleaning tasks. It was rare to see a white person despite the parish population being rather evenly split between black and white. That was something I had not expected to see.
Black thug culture had taken over the outdoors so much that children never played outside nor did any of them ever go trick or treating on Hallowe'en. Drug dealers gathered in packs both in the cities and countryside. Police actually protected the drug trade so they could have informers. which the Hammond LA police chief said accounted for 99% of crimes solved. Black neighborhoods looked totally run down while the mostly white neighborhoods had the classic middle class look. Hammond and Ponchatoula high schools had to be moved out of town and the campuses closed to hold down the troubles.
Very Third World were the conditions. Oh well, at least the food was good.
Rick
Post by: Alps on June 19, 2021, 10:32:34 PM
I'm not sure what you're getting at. You mention thug culture and third world conditions - please elaborate on why you are not a racist this Juneteenth.What you "bolded" refers to accumulating the statistics. If the stats match up rather closely to the amount of people present in those races, then we are not dealing with racism. If the stats are way different, then the question becomes one of racism vs cultural approaches, which would be a Pretty Tough One to answer in terms of pure numbers.Not necessary to know. If minorities are being disproportionately jailed to their overall numbers, there is a problem rooted in racism. If the jail sentences are actually proportional to the crimes being commited, that informs you that the problem is socially endemic and we need to develop equity over generations. If the sentences are not proportional, then you have systemic racism. The truth is in between and we have both.
Rick
While living in Tangipahoa Parish (Louisiana) back in the second half of the Nineties, I saw work groups from the county jail doing various cleaning tasks. It was rare to see a white person despite the parish population being rather evenly split between black and white. That was something I had not expected to see.
Black thug culture had taken over the outdoors so much that children never played outside nor did any of them ever go trick or treating on Hallowe'en. Drug dealers gathered in packs both in the cities and countryside. Police actually protected the drug trade so they could have informers. which the Hammond LA police chief said accounted for 99% of crimes solved. Black neighborhoods looked totally run down while the mostly white neighborhoods had the classic middle class look. Hammond and Ponchatoula high schools had to be moved out of town and the campuses closed to hold down the troubles.
Very Third World were the conditions. Oh well, at least the food was good.
Rick
Post by: nexus73 on June 20, 2021, 08:39:21 AM
I'm not sure what you're getting at. You mention thug culture and third world conditions - please elaborate on why you are not a racist this Juneteenth.What you "bolded" refers to accumulating the statistics. If the stats match up rather closely to the amount of people present in those races, then we are not dealing with racism. If the stats are way different, then the question becomes one of racism vs cultural approaches, which would be a Pretty Tough One to answer in terms of pure numbers.Not necessary to know. If minorities are being disproportionately jailed to their overall numbers, there is a problem rooted in racism. If the jail sentences are actually proportional to the crimes being commited, that informs you that the problem is socially endemic and we need to develop equity over generations. If the sentences are not proportional, then you have systemic racism. The truth is in between and we have both.
Rick
While living in Tangipahoa Parish (Louisiana) back in the second half of the Nineties, I saw work groups from the county jail doing various cleaning tasks. It was rare to see a white person despite the parish population being rather evenly split between black and white. That was something I had not expected to see.
Black thug culture had taken over the outdoors so much that children never played outside nor did any of them ever go trick or treating on Hallowe'en. Drug dealers gathered in packs both in the cities and countryside. Police actually protected the drug trade so they could have informers. which the Hammond LA police chief said accounted for 99% of crimes solved. Black neighborhoods looked totally run down while the mostly white neighborhoods had the classic middle class look. Hammond and Ponchatoula high schools had to be moved out of town and the campuses closed to hold down the troubles.
Very Third World were the conditions. Oh well, at least the food was good.
Rick
These are just mentions of the reality that was in place about a quarter century ago. My wife was black (she died of a seizure back in 2009) by the way so take your "woke" self out for a reality check by going there to see what is going on.
Rick
Post by: Kniwt on December 06, 2021, 02:06:23 PM
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/news-columns/road-warrior/new-road-to-provide-traffic-relief-to-booming-west-henderson-2491709/
Quote
Construction on the $38 million, 2.75-mile Via Nobila arterial road project began on Nov. 1 and is expected to wrap up by the end of 2022, according to the city of Henderson.
The scope of the project calls for Via Nobila to consist of two lanes in each direction, with underground water lines, sewer, storm drains, infrastructure for traffic signals, and a bridge that will cross over a wash along the planned road.
A full traffic signal will be installed and operating at the future intersection of Via Nobila and Via Inspirada.
... Not part of the current scope of work is a future I-15 interchange for Via Nobila. Henderson officials have been working with NDOT, the Regional Transportation Commission and Clark County on initial planning for the interchange.
The parties are in the early design phase of the I-15 interchange, which isn’t expected to be under construction until between 2026 and 2030, according to the State Transportation Improvement Plan.
(https://res.cloudinary.com/review-journal/image/upload/v1638777243/vianobila.jpg?is-pending-load=1)
Post by: brad2971 on December 06, 2021, 06:01:55 PM
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that a new 2.75-mile arterial will be built across the booming Inspirada area of Henderson, with a possible connection to I-15 in the 2026-2030 time frame.
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/news-columns/road-warrior/new-road-to-provide-traffic-relief-to-booming-west-henderson-2491709/QuoteConstruction on the $38 million, 2.75-mile Via Nobila arterial road project began on Nov. 1 and is expected to wrap up by the end of 2022, according to the city of Henderson.
The scope of the project calls for Via Nobila to consist of two lanes in each direction, with underground water lines, sewer, storm drains, infrastructure for traffic signals, and a bridge that will cross over a wash along the planned road.
A full traffic signal will be installed and operating at the future intersection of Via Nobila and Via Inspirada.
... Not part of the current scope of work is a future I-15 interchange for Via Nobila. Henderson officials have been working with NDOT, the Regional Transportation Commission and Clark County on initial planning for the interchange.
The parties are in the early design phase of the I-15 interchange, which isn’t expected to be under construction until between 2026 and 2030, according to the State Transportation Improvement Plan.
(https://res.cloudinary.com/review-journal/image/upload/v1638777243/vianobila.jpg?is-pending-load=1)
I wonder if NDOT and the city of Henderson will do with the future Via Nobila interchange on I-15 what the city of Lone Tree and CDOT did with the Ridgegate Pkwy interchange on I-25. When the Ridgegate Pkwy interchange was constructed, CDOT got rid of the very substandard Exit 191 and built a frontage road (Havana St) on the east side of I-25 to connect Ridgegate Pkwy with Castle Pines Pkwy (Exit 188).
In the case of this future Via Nobila interchange, NDOT could easily get rid of the Sloan exit and have everyone use Las Vegas Blvd to reach those businesses at that exit while building the new Via Nobila interchange to the correct standards.
Post by: Plutonic Panda on December 06, 2021, 11:14:49 PM
Post by: skluth on December 07, 2021, 03:52:25 PM
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that a new 2.75-mile arterial will be built across the booming Inspirada area of Henderson, with a possible connection to I-15 in the 2026-2030 time frame.
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/news-columns/road-warrior/new-road-to-provide-traffic-relief-to-booming-west-henderson-2491709/QuoteConstruction on the $38 million, 2.75-mile Via Nobila arterial road project began on Nov. 1 and is expected to wrap up by the end of 2022, according to the city of Henderson.
The scope of the project calls for Via Nobila to consist of two lanes in each direction, with underground water lines, sewer, storm drains, infrastructure for traffic signals, and a bridge that will cross over a wash along the planned road.
A full traffic signal will be installed and operating at the future intersection of Via Nobila and Via Inspirada.
... Not part of the current scope of work is a future I-15 interchange for Via Nobila. Henderson officials have been working with NDOT, the Regional Transportation Commission and Clark County on initial planning for the interchange.
The parties are in the early design phase of the I-15 interchange, which isn’t expected to be under construction until between 2026 and 2030, according to the State Transportation Improvement Plan.
(https://res.cloudinary.com/review-journal/image/upload/v1638777243/vianobila.jpg?is-pending-load=1)
I wonder if NDOT and the city of Henderson will do with the future Via Nobila interchange on I-15 what the city of Lone Tree and CDOT did with the Ridgegate Pkwy interchange on I-25. When the Ridgegate Pkwy interchange was constructed, CDOT got rid of the very substandard Exit 191 and built a frontage road (Havana St) on the east side of I-25 to connect Ridgegate Pkwy with Castle Pines Pkwy (Exit 188).
In the case of this future Via Nobila interchange, NDOT could easily get rid of the Sloan exit and have everyone use Las Vegas Blvd to reach those businesses at that exit while building the new Via Nobila interchange to the correct standards.
A future Via Nobila interchange bridge would be about a mile south of the St Rose Parkway bridge over I-15. The Sloan exit is another mile further south from the future Via Nobila. The I-15 ramps for St Rose Parkway are quite long, extending almost a half mile south of the Parkway itself. A new interchange should include C/D lanes even if they remove the Sloan exit, though NDOT has plenty of experience building C/D lanes in Clark County.
Post by: roadfro on December 09, 2021, 10:25:46 AM
I wonder if NDOT and the city of Henderson will do with the future Via Nobila interchange on I-15 what the city of Lone Tree and CDOT did with the Ridgegate Pkwy interchange on I-25. When the Ridgegate Pkwy interchange was constructed, CDOT got rid of the very substandard Exit 191 and built a frontage road (Havana St) on the east side of I-25 to connect Ridgegate Pkwy with Castle Pines Pkwy (Exit 188).
In the case of this future Via Nobila interchange, NDOT could easily get rid of the Sloan exit and have everyone use Las Vegas Blvd to reach those businesses at that exit while building the new Via Nobila interchange to the correct standards.
A future Via Nobila interchange bridge would be about a mile south of the St Rose Parkway bridge over I-15. The Sloan exit is another mile further south from the future Via Nobila. The I-15 ramps for St Rose Parkway are quite long, extending almost a half mile south of the Parkway itself. A new interchange should include C/D lanes even if they remove the Sloan exit, though NDOT has plenty of experience building C/D lanes in Clark County.
There are long-term plans to rebuild the Sloan interchange. This has actually been in long-term plans since the I-15 south EIS was completed circa 2008—that study led to several projects that have since been constructed, including the major I-15 widening and C/D road project that included reconstruction of the Blue Diamond interchange, the added Silverado Ranch interchange, and the recent added Cactus Ave interchange.
However, it now looks like the Sloan interchange project is renamed Via Inspirada in NDOT's latest major project quarterly update report. So I assume that the Sloan interchange is now not going to be rebuilt in its current location, but rather a bit to the north. If a Via Nobila interchange (formerly Bermuda Rd in earlier project updates) is also being built in between Via Inspirada and St Rose Pkwy, there's no way these three don't at least have braided ramps (I think C/D roads are unlikely).
Post by: roadfro on May 27, 2022, 10:34:24 AM
Video via KVVU Fox5 & Facebook Watch:
https://fb.watch/dgClRK_LRJ/
Seems a bit draconian to me... I get it for certain intersections (especially turns across 3+ opposing lanes with 45mph speed limits where prevailing speeds are likely higher), but it would be better to evaluate this on a case-by-case basis.
City of Las Vegas has had a similar time-of-day setup at select (but not all) PPLT intersections for years. They even had this pre-FYA by using a modified 5-section PPLT display.
Post by: jdbx on May 27, 2022, 01:37:35 PM
Clark County turning off Flashing Yellow Arrow left turn signals during peak periods in Las Vegas (or at least, the unincorporated areas of the valley).
Video via KVVU Fox5 & Facebook Watch:
https://fb.watch/dgClRK_LRJ/
Seems a bit draconian to me... I get it for certain intersections (especially turns across 3+ opposing lanes with 45mph speed limits where prevailing speeds are likely higher), but it would be better to evaluate this on a case-by-case basis.
City of Las Vegas has had a similar time-of-day setup at select (but not all) PPLT intersections for years. They even had this pre-FYA by using a modified 5-section PPLT display.
Agreed. I'd bet that there are only a handful of problem intersections. Better to address them case-by-case than delay every left-turning driver everywhere else.
Post by: compdude787 on June 11, 2022, 04:08:47 PM
Post by: roadfro on June 14, 2022, 12:04:53 AM
If there's so much oncoming traffic that it's not safe to even turn left, then it makes sense to get rid of the flashing yellow arrow.But that's the issue... They aren't doing a study to see if there really is too much oncoming traffic causing insufficient gaps, they're just turning the FYAs off during the peak period.
Post by: roadfro on June 14, 2022, 12:16:11 AM
A traffic signal was knocked down in Flamingo Rd at Fort Apache Dr in southwest Las Vegas.
From the Vegas ABC affiliate:
https://www.ktnv.com/news/traffic-signal-down-on-ft-apache-flamingo-road
Seems a bit weird that wind would knock down a signal mast. They're usually built to withstand higher sustained winds than you typically see in Vegas. Makes me think there was a structural defect or something else that contributed.
Post by: stevashe on June 14, 2022, 11:46:11 AM
Post by: roadfro on June 27, 2022, 11:55:51 PM
Since the predominant movements are to/from Lemmon Drive to the north and US 395 to the south, it's a prime location for a DDI.
Post by: bing101 on June 28, 2022, 04:32:06 PM
Post by: bing101 on July 13, 2022, 09:49:39 AM
Post by: pderocco on July 14, 2022, 07:39:12 PM
Here is a good scenic drive on Pyramid Lake.
I took that ride once. When it deviates from the shore, it becomes clay, and continues that way to the California line, after which it is paved again. It ends up on US-395 near Susanville. Looks like there are interesting ways to get up to Gerlach and the Black Rock Desert, and to Cedarville CA in Surprise Valley.
Someday, I'd like to pay the Indian toll and drive up to Anaho Island and The Pyramid beyond it. There are also tufa formation at the north end of the lake (The Needles), but we palefaces aren't allowed up there. I don't think they're as photogenic as South Tufa at Mono Lake, though.
Hard to believe that's mostly water that was once in Lake Tahoe.
Post by: Stephane Dumas on July 29, 2022, 06:14:35 PM
https://twitter.com/eha_news/status/1553000299161260032
https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/1553001523550031872
Post by: roadfro on July 30, 2022, 05:15:17 PM
The effects of flash flooding in Las Vegas have greatly diminished in the last decades due largely to the efforts of the Clark County Regional Flood Control District (https://www.regionalflood.org). The CCRFCD has built over 200 miles of flood control channels and 82 flood detention basins in the Las Vegas Valley since the organization was formed in the mid-1980s, and they still have a lot of work to do on their master plan. But even with those efforts, there are still perennial trouble spots. The video in the second tweet showing the flooded parking garage I assume is at the Linq—this is adjacent to/on top of the Flamingo Wash, and I can recall many reports of this flooding during heavy rains when I was growing up (back when the property was the Imperial Palace). Another one was the Charleston Blvd underpass at the UPRR, which would often flood even during light rains (and invariably at least one vehicle would get stuck down there every time) until a project in the last decade finally fixed it. Local news stations would often send reporters and camera to these two locations in advance when strong rains were predicted.
This time of year, it is common to see ads/public service announcements from the CCRFCD reminding people to stay out of flood channels and to not drive through flooded streets—a refrain used for as long as I can remember is "turn around, don't drown". A long-running campaign played off of Nevada's culture of personalized license plates to warn of the dangers or lament boneheaded decisions regarding flooding—this was very popular on billboards around town, and had a few TV commercials over the years (here's a couple from 2010 and 2012 via their YouTube channel).
Post by: Scott5114 on July 30, 2022, 06:57:52 PM
Flash flooding is not all that rare in Las Vegas—I think people just think it is because of the desert climate. Having grown up in Vegas, it's something that was ingrained in me over the years. This part of summer is monsoon season (which starts up around mid-June and can last until September) where weather patterns can bring on thunderstorms quickly. Due to the type of soil around the valley (most of which is not very permeable) and all the development, quick downpours don't have a chance to soak into the soil and can cause flooding because the relatively high amount of rain in a short time frame can have nowhere to go. Flash flooding has probably occurred less in recent years due to ongoing drought, so it's probably not really at the forefront of people's minds.
The effects of flash flooding in Las Vegas have greatly diminished in the last decades due largely to the efforts of the Clark County Regional Flood Control District (https://www.regionalflood.org). The CCRFCD has built over 200 miles of flood control channels and 82 flood detention basins in the Las Vegas Valley since the organization was formed in the mid-1980s, and they still have a lot of work to do on their master plan. But even with those efforts, there are still perennial trouble spots. The video in the second tweet showing the flooded parking garage I assume is at the Linq—this is adjacent to/on top of the Flamingo Wash, and I can recall many reports of this flooding during heavy rains when I was growing up (back when the property was the Imperial Palace). Another one was the Charleston Blvd underpass at the UPRR, which would often flood even during light rains (and invariably at least one vehicle would get stuck down there every time) until a project in the last decade finally fixed it. Local news stations would often send reporters and camera to these two locations in advance when strong rains were predicted.
It's really interesting to me that this time of year is monsoon season in Nevada, when it's the precise time of year that Oklahoma gets practically no rain at all.
Looking around at the maps, it looks like CCRFCD has built the system to channel all of that flood water into Lake Las Vegas and then on to Lake Mead. Hopefully that means all this flooding will raise the level of Lake Mead a bit.
Post by: US 89 on July 31, 2022, 01:00:11 AM
It's really interesting to me that this time of year is monsoon season in Nevada, when it's the precise time of year that Oklahoma gets practically no rain at all.
Which is actually correlated. In general, the high pressure system that parks over the plains and keeps you high and dry in mid to late summer is the same pattern that steers moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf of California into the southwest.
Post by: roadfro on July 31, 2022, 02:01:28 PM
Looking around at the maps, it looks like CCRFCD has built the system to channel all of that flood water into Lake Las Vegas and then on to Lake Mead. Hopefully that means all this flooding will raise the level of Lake Mead a bit.
Yeah, most of the flood control infrastructure conveys flood waters towards a few of the natural washes, which all eventually feed into the Las Vegas Wash (which is the main outflow from the Las Vegas Valley) toward Lake Mead. Lake Las Vegas is a reservoir built along the wash just outside the valley, but is more a commercial venture—apparently there are bypass pipes under the lake that carry the actual flows from the wash through.
Unfortunately, the rain and floodwater received in Vegas recently is really just a drop in the bucket for Lake Mead. Lake Mead's water is mostly snow melt from further up the Colorado River. A recent local news explanation: How Southern Nevada's recent storms have affected Lake Mead (https://news3lv.com/news/local/how-southern-nevadas-recent-storms-have-affected-lake-mead-las-vegas-drought-monsoon-colorado-river-lake-powell-bureau-reclamation), KSNV News3 7/29/2022
Post by: Kniwt on August 01, 2022, 01:46:27 PM
A recent local news explanation: How Southern Nevada's recent storms have affected Lake Mead (https://news3lv.com/news/local/how-southern-nevadas-recent-storms-have-affected-lake-mead-las-vegas-drought-monsoon-colorado-river-lake-powell-bureau-reclamation), KSNV News3 7/29/2022
And more recent: Rain helps Lake Mead rise — 3 inches (https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/rain-helps-lake-mead-rise-3-inches-2616180/), R-J 7/31/2022
Post by: roadfro on August 14, 2022, 04:06:30 PM
This project launched at the end of July and is going to last until Spring 2024. Improvements include added auxiliary lanes on I-515 between Charleston and Eastern, widened ramps, more turn lane capacity on Charleston, and upgrades/new/replacement sound walls, landscaping and lighting.
Post by: roadfro on August 14, 2022, 04:35:59 PM
https://www.dot.nv.gov/Home/Components/News/News/7584/395
The press release indicates that the current mileposts start at 27 near the Elko Regional Airport, reflecting that NDOT used to own the road south from there. However, I can't really make out where the highway would have extended southeast of the airport. SR 225 was part of SR 51 prior to the 1976 renumbering, and extended further south along what is now the I-80 corridor and SR 278, so maybe the mileposts reflect that old mileage within Elko County?
Post by: Bruce on August 25, 2022, 01:23:29 AM
Post by: pderocco on August 25, 2022, 06:16:08 PM
I'll be in Reno and Las Vegas in a few weeks. Any particular projects or interesting roads I should check out?If I went to Vegas right now, I'd go check out the two beltway projects, the US-95 interchange and the north I-15 interchange, to see how they're coming.
If it's been four years or more, check out I-11. Go SB (EB?) so you can stop at the overlook.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on August 25, 2022, 06:29:33 PM
I'll be in Reno and Las Vegas in a few weeks. Any particular projects or interesting roads I should check out?
- NV 431 Mount Rose Highway
- Circle tour Lake Tahoe via US 50, CA 89 and CA/NV 28
- NV 341/Geiger Grade
- Check out the surrounding in Goldfield on US 95. It’s one of Nevada’s best semi-ghost towns and the rate of crumbling decay is fascinating to see.
- Rhyolite off of NV 374 west of Beatty is another ghost town worth seeing and easy get to.
- NV 156 and NV 157 looping Mount Charleston
- Valley of Fire Road, lots of Old Arrowhead Trail segments which now park trail.
- Red Rock Scenic Loop Drive
- NV 172 aka Old US 93-466 over Hoover Dam.
- NV 165 to Nelson.
- Dantes View Road in Death Valley National Park (if open)
Depending on how far you want to go from Las Vegas there is other good stuff reasonably close Arizona and Utah.
Post by: gonealookin on August 25, 2022, 07:07:42 PM
I'll be in Reno and Las Vegas in a few weeks. Any particular projects or interesting roads I should check out?
The major ongoing project in Reno is the expansion of I-580/US 395 from I-80 south past the Grand Sierra and to the airport. If you do any driving at all in Reno you certainly don't have to go out of your way; it's pretty much unavoidable.
Post by: roadfro on August 26, 2022, 09:54:53 AM
If you haven't been in Vegas in the last 5 years or so but were familiar with the area highways, you may want to drive I-15 near US 95 just to see the results of Project Neon. Taking US 95 south to I-15 south may be quite illustrative with the way they built that long ramp/connector (but not quite a C/D) road.
Post by: Bruce on August 27, 2022, 02:54:51 AM
If I went to Vegas right now, I'd go check out the two beltway projects, the US-95 interchange and the north I-15 interchange, to see how they're coming.
If it's been four years or more, check out I-11. Go SB (EB?) so you can stop at the overlook.
Will definitely do all of current I-11. I'm 50-50 on doing the beltway, though it'd be fun to do some of the county-owned parts.
- NV 431 Mount Rose Highway
- Circle tour Lake Tahoe via US 50, CA 89 and CA/NV 28
- NV 341/Geiger Grade
- Check out the surrounding in Goldfield on US 95. It’s one of Nevada’s best semi-ghost towns and the rate of crumbling decay is fascinating to see.
- Rhyolite off of NV 374 west of Beatty is another ghost town worth seeing and easy get to.
- NV 156 and NV 157 looping Mount Charleston
- Valley of Fire Road, lots of Old Arrowhead Trail segments which now park trail.
- Red Rock Scenic Loop Drive
- NV 172 aka Old US 93-466 over Hoover Dam.
- NV 165 to Nelson.
- Dantes View Road in Death Valley National Park (if open)
I'll see what I can do. I only have a few days split across other activities, so I don't know if I'll be able to do all that much.
The major ongoing project in Reno is the expansion of I-580/US 395 from I-80 south past the Grand Sierra and to the airport. If you do any driving at all in Reno you certainly don't have to go out of your way; it's pretty much unavoidable.
Already planning on it, as my route from Reno to Vegas is mostly on US 395.
The previous three replies hit all the scenic drives I would have come up with around Reno and Las Vegas, as well as the big construction projects currently underway in each.
If you haven't been in Vegas in the last 5 years or so but were familiar with the area highways, you may want to drive I-15 near US 95 just to see the results of Project Neon. Taking US 95 south to I-15 south may be quite illustrative with the way they built that long ramp/connector (but not quite a C/D) road.
This will be my first time in Nevada, so I'm not really familiar with Vegas. What should I look out for wrt. Project Neon?
Post by: pderocco on August 28, 2022, 07:24:30 PM
Already planning on it, as my route from Reno to Vegas is mostly on US 395.
That's good. US-395 all the way down to Lone Pine is much nicer than US-95, in my opinion. From there, I recommend CA-136 along Owens Lake, CA-190 to Death Valley Junction (spectacular), local roads to Pahrump (ugly), and NV-160 into Vegas.
Post by: roadfro on August 28, 2022, 10:00:39 PM
The previous three replies hit all the scenic drives I would have come up with around Reno and Las Vegas, as well as the big construction projects currently underway in each.
If you haven't been in Vegas in the last 5 years or so but were familiar with the area highways, you may want to drive I-15 near US 95 just to see the results of Project Neon. Taking US 95 south to I-15 south may be quite illustrative with the way they built that long ramp/connector (but not quite a C/D) road.
This will be my first time in Nevada, so I'm not really familiar with Vegas. What should I look out for wrt. Project Neon?
Well if you've not been to Vegas previously, then you won't know any different as you drive around freeways in the center of the city.
Project Neon was NDOT's name for the massive project that rebuilt and expanded I-15 between US 95 and Sahara Ave, added HOV lanes and a dedicated HOV exit on I-15 within that same stretch, built an HOV direct connect flyover between I-15 and US 95 at the Spaghetti Bowl, implemented some ramp braiding and other separation to significantly reduce the weaving between US 95 south and the Charleston & Sahara interchanges, (re-)constructed several adjacent/surrounding arterial streets and established a few new arterial connections to improve nearby traffic circulation, and installed giant active traffic management signs along I-15 and US 95. To date, it's the most expensive and complex highway project NDOT has ever taken on. We had a dedicated thread for Project Neon (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=11091.msg264134#msg264134) over about 6 years and 4 pages, if you want to learn more.
Post by: ClassicHasClass on August 29, 2022, 12:25:40 PM
Quote
local roads to Pahrump (ugly)
This got better. It used to be absolutely dire, but when we were in Death Valley a couple years ago (in the winter, fortunately), the drive from Furnace Creek to Pahrump wasn't too bad.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on August 29, 2022, 03:09:11 PM
Quotelocal roads to Pahrump (ugly)
This got better. It used to be absolutely dire, but when we were in Death Valley a couple years ago (in the winter, fortunately), the drive from Furnace Creek to Pahrump wasn't too bad.
At some point this past decade Stateline Road was repaved. It wasn’t exactly “hellacious” but it was pretty rough until traffic got to Death Valley Junction.
Post by: pderocco on August 30, 2022, 04:19:56 AM
Quotelocal roads to Pahrump (ugly)
This got better. It used to be absolutely dire, but when we were in Death Valley a couple years ago (in the winter, fortunately), the drive from Furnace Creek to Pahrump wasn't too bad.
At some point this past decade Stateline Road was repaved. It wasn’t exactly “hellacious” but it was pretty rough until traffic got to Death Valley Junction.
Actually, I was referring to the ride through Pahrump, which seems pretty grim. Lots of cheap casinos. The road from DVJ is okay, nothing special though.
Post by: Sub-Urbanite on August 30, 2022, 11:25:13 AM
Quotelocal roads to Pahrump (ugly)
This got better. It used to be absolutely dire, but when we were in Death Valley a couple years ago (in the winter, fortunately), the drive from Furnace Creek to Pahrump wasn't too bad.
At some point this past decade Stateline Road was repaved. It wasn’t exactly “hellacious” but it was pretty rough until traffic got to Death Valley Junction.
Actually, I was referring to the ride through Pahrump, which seems pretty grim. Lots of cheap casinos. The road from DVJ is okay, nothing special though.
Pahrump is … Pahrump. It's no different than Barstow or Bullhead City or Kingman or any other godforsaken small city of the desert. The mountains around it are pretty. I think the drive between Pahrump and Shoshone at sunset is one of the prettiest in the desert southwest.
Post by: Max Rockatansky on August 30, 2022, 11:43:45 AM
Post by: dbz77 on September 05, 2022, 01:12:50 PM
It is sduch a shame, as it featuyred prominently in Hotel Nevada's marketing.
Post by: Kniwt on September 08, 2022, 04:29:49 AM
https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/traffic/roundabouts-may-be-coming-to-route-159-near-red-rock-route-160-in-pahrump-2635151/
Quote
The Nevada Department of Transportation kicked off a virtual public meeting Tuesday regarding the long-term outlook of Routes 159 and 160, with four in-person meetings also scheduled this month.
... Plans for Route 159 include upgrades for the Red Rock area, which serves as a popular destination for residents and visitors.
Initial plans include adding four roundabouts at side streets that experience high use. Those include the entrance to Calico Basin, the Red Rock visitor center entrance, Red Rock Canyon overlook and the Red Rock scenic loop exit.
... Route 160 is set be widened from one travel lane in each direction to two travel lanes both ways from Road Runner to just past Hafen Ranch Road. Widening the two-lane road to four lanes with a center turn lane or raised median island would provide a consistent roadway throughout the developed area. In addition, roundabouts are slated to be added at Hafen Ranch, the entrance to the Mountain Falls community and at Calvada Boulevard. Improvements to the the busy intersection of Route 160 and State Route 372 are also in the tentative plans.
Project website: https://www.ndotsr160.com/
Post by: roadfro on September 08, 2022, 11:48:41 AM
The traffic signal on 5th and Aultman in Ely, nevada is now gone.
It is sduch a shame, as it featuyred prominently in Hotel Nevada's marketing.
Looks like they also removed a signal at E 11th & Aultman, in addition to the one at W 5th. I'm willing to bet that neither of those signals has met warrants in a long time...
Post by: SSR_317 on September 08, 2022, 04:11:06 PM
Except that Parhump has ONE thing those other places don't... Legal Brothels!
Pahrump is … Pahrump. It's no different than Barstow or Bullhead City or Kingman or any other godforsaken small city of the desert. The mountains around it are pretty. I think the drive between Pahrump and Shoshone at sunset is one of the prettiest in the desert southwest.
Post by: pderocco on September 09, 2022, 11:54:10 PM
I actually kind of liked Bullhead City. They had some interesting roads, water access and a cool back way out via Oatman Highway. Usually I would stay at the Edgewater across the River when I had to work in the area. The Buffet was full of deliciously bad for you fatty foods.
Oatman Hwy goes to Topock. Are you thinking of the graded dirt Silver Creek Rd?
Post by: pderocco on September 09, 2022, 11:57:04 PM
I suppose that's okay, if you're into broth...Except that Parhump has ONE thing those other places don't... Legal Brothels!
Pahrump is … Pahrump. It's no different than Barstow or Bullhead City or Kingman or any other godforsaken small city of the desert. The mountains around it are pretty. I think the drive between Pahrump and Shoshone at sunset is one of the prettiest in the desert southwest.
Post by: brad2971 on September 10, 2022, 08:57:16 AM
The traffic signal on 5th and Aultman in Ely, nevada is now gone.
It is sduch a shame, as it featuyred prominently in Hotel Nevada's marketing.
Looks like they also removed a signal at E 11th & Aultman, in addition to the one at W 5th. I'm willing to bet that neither of those signals has met warrants in a long time...
Other than the traffic light at US 93 and US 6, what other intersection in the Ely area could justify a traffic light? While we're at it, why hasn't US 93 been rerouted onto US 6 and SR 318? It's a shorter route to Vegas from Ely, and easily gets more traffic than the current routing of US 93 gets.
Post by: dbz77 on September 10, 2022, 12:06:42 PM
I am guessing the signal at 5th and Aultman was placed there to make it easier for guests of Hotel Nevada to cross US 50.The traffic signal on 5th and Aultman in Ely, nevada is now gone.
It is sduch a shame, as it featuyred prominently in Hotel Nevada's marketing.
Looks like they also removed a signal at E 11th & Aultman, in addition to the one at W 5th. I'm willing to bet that neither of those signals has met warrants in a long time...
Other than the traffic light at US 93 and US 6, what other intersection in the Ely area could justify a traffic light? While we're at it, why hasn't US 93 been rerouted onto US 6 and SR 318? It's a shorter route to Vegas from Ely, and easily gets more traffic than the current routing of US 93 gets.
I wonder when those signals were installed. Are there any forum members from the Ely area who can shed light on this.
Post by: Kniwt on September 10, 2022, 12:23:46 PM
I am guessing the signal at 5th and Aultman was placed there to make it easier for guests of Hotel Nevada to cross US 50.
I wonder when those signals were installed. Are there any forum members from the Ely area who can shed light on this.
That got me doing some quick research. The best I've found so far is a postcard dated by the owner as just "1950s" with the signal visible: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/rppc-ely-nv-hotel-nevada-autos-adv-410137107
(https://i.imgur.com/QTyOec7.jpg)
Post by: US 89 on September 10, 2022, 01:29:31 PM
The traffic signal on 5th and Aultman in Ely, nevada is now gone.
It is sduch a shame, as it featuyred prominently in Hotel Nevada's marketing.
Looks like they also removed a signal at E 11th & Aultman, in addition to the one at W 5th. I'm willing to bet that neither of those signals has met warrants in a long time...
They were gone when I drove through Ely in June 2019.
Post by: roadfro on September 11, 2022, 07:21:43 PM
The traffic signal on 5th and Aultman in Ely, nevada is now gone.
It is sduch a shame, as it featuyred prominently in Hotel Nevada's marketing.
Looks like they also removed a signal at E 11th & Aultman, in addition to the one at W 5th. I'm willing to bet that neither of those signals has met warrants in a long time...
Other than the traffic light at US 93 and US 6, what other intersection in the Ely area could justify a traffic light?
There appears to be a traffic signal at Aultman St & Great Basin Blvd (US 50/93 junction). That and the Great Basin Blvd & Veterans Blvd (US 6/50/93 junction) are probably the only ones.
I am guessing the signal at 5th and Aultman was placed there to make it easier for guests of Hotel Nevada to cross US 50.
I wonder when those signals were installed. Are there any forum members from the Ely area who can shed light on this.
That got me doing some quick research. The best I've found so far is a postcard dated by the owner as just "1950s" with the signal visible: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/rppc-ely-nv-hotel-nevada-autos-adv-410137107
(https://i.imgur.com/QTyOec7.jpg)
I'm not from Ely, but a semi-educated guess: Except for the post-mounted signals for the W 5th side street approaches, the removed signal installations were all single overhead signal head on short double-guy mast arms. That's a signal design that was probably more commonly installed in Nevada from the 1960s probably the late 1970s (if that long). So at least the removed equipment was likely from that vintage. But signals at those locations likely predate this, as the 1950s-era photo shows an older 4-way.
(By contrast, I'd say the signal equipment at Aultman & Great Basin is probably of 1990s/early 2000s vintage, and likely an upgrade of older signal hardware—I can't imagine there not being a signal at this junction prior to this. The signal at Great Basin & Veterans was installed between 2008 & 2011, according to Street View.)
That double-guy mast arm style is basically an endangered species in Nevada. Probably less than 10 of them left...
Post by: roadfro on September 11, 2022, 07:48:22 PM
While we're at it, why hasn't US 93 been rerouted onto US 6 and SR 318? It's a shorter route to Vegas from Ely, and easily gets more traffic than the current routing of US 93 gets.
The routing of US 93 in eastern Nevada dates to when US 93 was extended southward from its original terminus at Wells, NV. At the time, the only road leading south of Ely was what was then SR 7—which basically followed the present-day US 93 alignment from Ely south via Pioche and Caliente to the SR 168 junction. US 93 served the largest towns with decent population in this part of the state. It wouldn't be until later that SR 38 (which later became SR 318) was established, and later still until that route was fully paved—and even once established, there wasn't really much of anything along that route.
So I think ultimately, NDOT never had an appetite for changing the routing, despite SR 318 to US 6 now being the shorter path and improved to similar standards. And now, I think Pioche and Caliente would probably have a fit if NDOT were to try to move US 93 to the shorter path.
NDOT does recognize that the SR 318/US 6 path is shorter and more traveled. One testament to this is the fact that the section of US 6 from SR 318 to Ely and the entirety of SR 318 are both included in Nevada's National Highway System mileage while the analogous section of US 93 (where not concurrent with US 6/50) is not. And whenever SR 318 is closed (such as for the annual Silver State Classic Challenge open road race), there is abundant temporary signage and notice to make motorists aware of the closure.
Post by: US 89 on September 11, 2022, 10:03:19 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/9vh4Vz2.jpeg)
Post by: cl94 on September 11, 2022, 11:54:06 PM
That double-guy mast arm style is basically an endangered species in Nevada. Probably less than 10 of them left...
Now I'm trying to remember where I have seen them, because that number seems low. I could swear I've seen at least half a dozen around Reno/Sparks alone, but I very well might be counting some twice.
Post by: dbz77 on September 12, 2022, 01:41:38 AM
https://unr.dgicloud.com/islandora/object/spphotoscollection%3A4465
https://nvdnp.wordpress.com/nevada-history/ely-nevada/
(There was also a signal at 6th and Aultman, which was removed long ago.)
Post by: roadfro on September 12, 2022, 05:16:10 PM
That double-guy mast arm style is basically an endangered species in Nevada. Probably less than 10 of them left...
Now I'm trying to remember where I have seen them, because that number seems low. I could swear I've seen at least half a dozen around Reno/Sparks alone, but I very well might be counting some twice.
Make sure you're not confusing a curved mast arm for a double-guy curved mast arm. Curved mast arms (a la California) are still in plentiful abundance around Reno-Sparks (smaller example (https://goo.gl/maps/59YaEDWUTk7GXYDg7) & larger example (https://goo.gl/maps/vMBPpJAqgceLYSAm9)), but I can't think of any double-guy mast arms around here. The double-guy mast arms are very thin, and have the two guy wires strung from the mast that support the arm, and the mast arms themselves are only about a lane wide.
Here's some double-guy mast arm signals, all in the city of Las Vegas:
- Charleston Blvd, just west of Shadow Ln (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8): Controls a crosswalk outside of University Medical Center (Vegas area's main hospital). Interesting because the road is 3 lanes in each direction with center turn, and there's only one overhead signal head, so it doesn't remotely meet modern NV signal standards.
- Alta Dr (WB) & Brush St (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8) (Used to have similar installation EB)
- Two of the three signals at Ogden Ave & 3rd St (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8) in downtown
- Three of the four signals at Maryland Pkwy & Oakey Blvd (https://goo.gl/maps/UAnRaBq13TSHBH2A6): Northbound also is 3 lanes with one overhead signal. This also has the also now rare post-mounted (5-section horizontal) left turn signal in a narrow median. (Also unusual, there's a fire hydrant in that median! :-o)
Note also that the Las Vegas area still has many of these double-guy mounts in use for other purposes like school zone flashers, but I'm only counting actual traffic signals in my endangered species claim.
Post by: dbz77 on September 12, 2022, 06:38:09 PM
I also add Presidio and Highland (https://goo.gl/maps/Mtdw1u8rW2oLXSSNA). The street view is from January of 2021, though I can personally attest driving through there in March of 2022.That double-guy mast arm style is basically an endangered species in Nevada. Probably less than 10 of them left...
Now I'm trying to remember where I have seen them, because that number seems low. I could swear I've seen at least half a dozen around Reno/Sparks alone, but I very well might be counting some twice.
Make sure you're not confusing a curved mast arm for a double-guy curved mast arm. Curved mast arms (a la California) are still in plentiful abundance around Reno-Sparks (smaller example (https://goo.gl/maps/59YaEDWUTk7GXYDg7) & larger example (https://goo.gl/maps/vMBPpJAqgceLYSAm9)), but I can't think of any double-guy mast arms around here. The double-guy mast arms are very thin, and have the two guy wires strung from the mast that support the arm, and the mast arms themselves are only about a lane wide.
Here's some double-guy mast arm signals, all in the city of Las Vegas:So that's eight double-guys that I can think of, and I can't think of any outside of Vegas. So maybe "less than 10" is an exaggeration, but it's probably not that far off. There used to be a lot more of these double-guy around downtown Las Vegas, but several have been replaced in the last decade or so as the city/RTC have done street modifications and have been replaced with signal hardware that matches new street scape elements and conforms to more modern design standards.
- Charleston Blvd, just west of Shadow Ln (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8): Controls a crosswalk outside of University Medical Center (Vegas area's main hospital). Interesting because the road is 3 lanes in each direction with center turn, and there's only one overhead signal head, so it doesn't remotely meet modern NV signal standards.
- Alta Dr (WB) & Brush St (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8) (Used to have similar installation EB)
- Two of the three signals at Ogden Ave & 3rd St (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8) in downtown
- Three of the four signals at Maryland Pkwy & Oakey Blvd (https://goo.gl/maps/UAnRaBq13TSHBH2A6): Northbound also is 3 lanes with one overhead signal. This also has the also now rare post-mounted (5-section horizontal) left turn signal in a narrow median. (Also unusual, there's a fire hydrant in that median! :-o)
Note also that the Las Vegas area still has many of these double-guy mounts in use for other purposes like school zone flashers, but I'm only counting actual traffic signals in my endangered species claim.
I am surprised it was ever installed, considering it is just an industrial neighborhood.
Another thing I wonder is if those double-guy curved mast arms are recycled for use in other intersections (either as temporary or permanent installations)
Post by: Urban Prairie Schooner on September 29, 2022, 11:04:17 PM
Does anyone have any insight as to why this was done? This is certainly not a frontage road.
Post by: roadfro on September 30, 2022, 12:53:13 PM
I noticed in Nevada DOT's State Maintained Highways Description Index that SR 121 in Churchill County has been reclassified as a frontage road (FRCH08). Streetview as of August 2022 still shows signage for SR 121 at the southern terminus.
Does anyone have any insight as to why this was done? This is certainly not a frontage road.
I didn't even catch that change.
This is Dixie Valley Road, which leads to Dixie Valley. The maps in NDOT's SMH book show it as a "site", which typically denotes a former town site with little to no permanent population. If that's the case, and there's no other important uses served by the road (such as industrial sites, mines, military installations, state park, state prison, etc.), then I can see downgrading the route from a primary state highway. This keeps the route under state maintenance, but probably not at the funding and maintenance level of a state highway.
NDOT does not have a bunch of different route type classifications. Even the current state route numbering system adopted in 1976 was based on Federal Aid Highway system classifications and funding levels (100-400's as primary state highways, 500-600's as urban highways, 700-800's as state aid [kind of a defacto "secondary" tier]), but I don't think they've used that for funding purposes since roughly 1991. NDOT has a few other road classifications: FR (frontage road), SP (state park), CD (collector-distributor), AR (access road), RP (roads and parking lots serving rest parks), ER (escape ramps).
NDOT puts a lot of things that wouldn't typically be considered a "frontage road" into the FR category. For instance, many urban roads that interchange with a freeway are maintained as a FR within the NDOT ROW of the interchange area (especially if the intersecting road had once been a state-maintained highway)...examples include Keystone Ave at I-80 in Reno (FRWA55), Neil Road at I-580/US 395 in Reno (FRWA44, formerly SR 671), Spring Mountain Road at I-15 in Las Vegas (FRCL51, formerly SR 591), Sunset Road at I-515 in Las Vegas (FRCL63, formerly part of SR 562), etc. There are also some other frontage roads in Carson City that are not connected to the rest of the state highway system, but are part of roads adjacent to NDOT headquarters.
I'm not sure what NDOT's criteria are for some of the classifications, but it seems like many assets, including this downgrade of SR 121, might fit better in the AR category than FR...
Post by: Scott5114 on October 25, 2022, 08:48:26 PM
Post by: cl94 on October 25, 2022, 11:31:27 PM
I also add Presidio and Highland (https://goo.gl/maps/Mtdw1u8rW2oLXSSNA). The street view is from January of 2021, though I can personally attest driving through there in March of 2022.That double-guy mast arm style is basically an endangered species in Nevada. Probably less than 10 of them left...
Now I'm trying to remember where I have seen them, because that number seems low. I could swear I've seen at least half a dozen around Reno/Sparks alone, but I very well might be counting some twice.
Make sure you're not confusing a curved mast arm for a double-guy curved mast arm. Curved mast arms (a la California) are still in plentiful abundance around Reno-Sparks (smaller example (https://goo.gl/maps/59YaEDWUTk7GXYDg7) & larger example (https://goo.gl/maps/vMBPpJAqgceLYSAm9)), but I can't think of any double-guy mast arms around here. The double-guy mast arms are very thin, and have the two guy wires strung from the mast that support the arm, and the mast arms themselves are only about a lane wide.
Here's some double-guy mast arm signals, all in the city of Las Vegas:So that's eight double-guys that I can think of, and I can't think of any outside of Vegas. So maybe "less than 10" is an exaggeration, but it's probably not that far off. There used to be a lot more of these double-guy around downtown Las Vegas, but several have been replaced in the last decade or so as the city/RTC have done street modifications and have been replaced with signal hardware that matches new street scape elements and conforms to more modern design standards.
- Charleston Blvd, just west of Shadow Ln (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8): Controls a crosswalk outside of University Medical Center (Vegas area's main hospital). Interesting because the road is 3 lanes in each direction with center turn, and there's only one overhead signal head, so it doesn't remotely meet modern NV signal standards.
- Alta Dr (WB) & Brush St (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8) (Used to have similar installation EB)
- Two of the three signals at Ogden Ave & 3rd St (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8) in downtown
- Three of the four signals at Maryland Pkwy & Oakey Blvd (https://goo.gl/maps/UAnRaBq13TSHBH2A6): Northbound also is 3 lanes with one overhead signal. This also has the also now rare post-mounted (5-section horizontal) left turn signal in a narrow median. (Also unusual, there's a fire hydrant in that median! :-o)
Note also that the Las Vegas area still has many of these double-guy mounts in use for other purposes like school zone flashers, but I'm only counting actual traffic signals in my endangered species claim.
I am surprised it was ever installed, considering it is just an industrial neighborhood.
Another thing I wonder is if those double-guy curved mast arms are recycled for use in other intersections (either as temporary or permanent installations)
South Virginia Street at State/Court Streets (https://goo.gl/maps/J2AkZMfZYQ4aV5CC9) has two as of last weekend. There's a third in front of Harvey's Lake Tahoe (https://goo.gl/maps/DLgVotkuSjwgc4E68). Mast is in Nevada, but Caltrans maintains the signal. I could swear there are more, but again, could be mistaken.
Post by: roadfro on October 26, 2022, 04:38:46 PM
Well I'll be, those two in Reno escaped my notice, and I pass through the regularly enough (although usually at night, when it's harder to notice).I also add Presidio and Highland (https://goo.gl/maps/Mtdw1u8rW2oLXSSNA). The street view is from January of 2021, though I can personally attest driving through there in March of 2022.That double-guy mast arm style is basically an endangered species in Nevada. Probably less than 10 of them left...
Now I'm trying to remember where I have seen them, because that number seems low. I could swear I've seen at least half a dozen around Reno/Sparks alone, but I very well might be counting some twice.
Make sure you're not confusing a curved mast arm for a double-guy curved mast arm. Curved mast arms (a la California) are still in plentiful abundance around Reno-Sparks (smaller example (https://goo.gl/maps/59YaEDWUTk7GXYDg7) & larger example (https://goo.gl/maps/vMBPpJAqgceLYSAm9)), but I can't think of any double-guy mast arms around here. The double-guy mast arms are very thin, and have the two guy wires strung from the mast that support the arm, and the mast arms themselves are only about a lane wide.
Here's some double-guy mast arm signals, all in the city of Las Vegas:So that's eight double-guys that I can think of, and I can't think of any outside of Vegas. So maybe "less than 10" is an exaggeration, but it's probably not that far off. There used to be a lot more of these double-guy around downtown Las Vegas, but several have been replaced in the last decade or so as the city/RTC have done street modifications and have been replaced with signal hardware that matches new street scape elements and conforms to more modern design standards.
- Charleston Blvd, just west of Shadow Ln (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8): Controls a crosswalk outside of University Medical Center (Vegas area's main hospital). Interesting because the road is 3 lanes in each direction with center turn, and there's only one overhead signal head, so it doesn't remotely meet modern NV signal standards.
- Alta Dr (WB) & Brush St (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8) (Used to have similar installation EB)
- Two of the three signals at Ogden Ave & 3rd St (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8) in downtown
- Three of the four signals at Maryland Pkwy & Oakey Blvd (https://goo.gl/maps/UAnRaBq13TSHBH2A6): Northbound also is 3 lanes with one overhead signal. This also has the also now rare post-mounted (5-section horizontal) left turn signal in a narrow median. (Also unusual, there's a fire hydrant in that median! :-o)
Note also that the Las Vegas area still has many of these double-guy mounts in use for other purposes like school zone flashers, but I'm only counting actual traffic signals in my endangered species claim.
I am surprised it was ever installed, considering it is just an industrial neighborhood.
Another thing I wonder is if those double-guy curved mast arms are recycled for use in other intersections (either as temporary or permanent installations)
South Virginia Street at State/Court Streets (https://goo.gl/maps/J2AkZMfZYQ4aV5CC9) has two as of last weekend. There's a third in front of Harvey's Lake Tahoe (https://goo.gl/maps/DLgVotkuSjwgc4E68). Mast is in Nevada, but Caltrans maintains the signal. I could swear there are more, but again, could be mistaken.
I'm also curious if the signal at Tahoe is maintained by Nevada. NDOT went through a could years ago and put yellow reflective strips on all signal backplates located within state highway ROWs. I don't think California is nearly as proactive with that.
Post by: cl94 on October 27, 2022, 12:50:46 AM
Well I'll be, those two in Reno escaped my notice, and I pass through the regularly enough (although usually at night, when it's harder to notice).I also add Presidio and Highland (https://goo.gl/maps/Mtdw1u8rW2oLXSSNA). The street view is from January of 2021, though I can personally attest driving through there in March of 2022.That double-guy mast arm style is basically an endangered species in Nevada. Probably less than 10 of them left...
Now I'm trying to remember where I have seen them, because that number seems low. I could swear I've seen at least half a dozen around Reno/Sparks alone, but I very well might be counting some twice.
Make sure you're not confusing a curved mast arm for a double-guy curved mast arm. Curved mast arms (a la California) are still in plentiful abundance around Reno-Sparks (smaller example (https://goo.gl/maps/59YaEDWUTk7GXYDg7) & larger example (https://goo.gl/maps/vMBPpJAqgceLYSAm9)), but I can't think of any double-guy mast arms around here. The double-guy mast arms are very thin, and have the two guy wires strung from the mast that support the arm, and the mast arms themselves are only about a lane wide.
Here's some double-guy mast arm signals, all in the city of Las Vegas:So that's eight double-guys that I can think of, and I can't think of any outside of Vegas. So maybe "less than 10" is an exaggeration, but it's probably not that far off. There used to be a lot more of these double-guy around downtown Las Vegas, but several have been replaced in the last decade or so as the city/RTC have done street modifications and have been replaced with signal hardware that matches new street scape elements and conforms to more modern design standards.
- Charleston Blvd, just west of Shadow Ln (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8): Controls a crosswalk outside of University Medical Center (Vegas area's main hospital). Interesting because the road is 3 lanes in each direction with center turn, and there's only one overhead signal head, so it doesn't remotely meet modern NV signal standards.
- Alta Dr (WB) & Brush St (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8) (Used to have similar installation EB)
- Two of the three signals at Ogden Ave & 3rd St (https://goo.gl/maps/kjCizFtKbUj8SyEq8) in downtown
- Three of the four signals at Maryland Pkwy & Oakey Blvd (https://goo.gl/maps/UAnRaBq13TSHBH2A6): Northbound also is 3 lanes with one overhead signal. This also has the also now rare post-mounted (5-section horizontal) left turn signal in a narrow median. (Also unusual, there's a fire hydrant in that median! :-o)
Note also that the Las Vegas area still has many of these double-guy mounts in use for other purposes like school zone flashers, but I'm only counting actual traffic signals in my endangered species claim.
I am surprised it was ever installed, considering it is just an industrial neighborhood.
Another thing I wonder is if those double-guy curved mast arms are recycled for use in other intersections (either as temporary or permanent installations)
South Virginia Street at State/Court Streets (https://goo.gl/maps/J2AkZMfZYQ4aV5CC9) has two as of last weekend. There's a third in front of Harvey's Lake Tahoe (https://goo.gl/maps/DLgVotkuSjwgc4E68). Mast is in Nevada, but Caltrans maintains the signal. I could swear there are more, but again, could be mistaken.
I'm also curious if the signal at Tahoe is maintained by Nevada. NDOT went through a could years ago and put yellow reflective strips on all signal backplates located within state highway ROWs. I don't think California is nearly as proactive with that.
The intersection is officially under Caltrans control per the internal data I have access to (and it would be an authoritative source for the basin). That mast arm might be owned by Nevada. The state line runs along the northeast side of Stateline Avenue.
Caltrans D3 has been going crazy with yellow reflective backing, particularly in the Tahoe basin. That might be a TRPA funding thing.
Post by: jdbx on October 27, 2022, 03:58:59 PM
Post by: mgk920 on October 29, 2022, 01:33:16 PM
Caltrans has added the yellow reflective border to all of the signals that they maintain statewide. I believe it was in response to the widespread PSPS power outages over the past few years.
IMHO, it's a good idea anyways, besides making it easier for those with red/green colorblindness to safely navigate streets, also making the signals easier to see in the morass of a commercial 'strip' area. I'd love to see them be made mandatory in the next MUTCD update (c'mon, get with the program NYCDOT!)
Mike
Post by: sbeaver44 on February 03, 2023, 07:58:11 PM
I was looking at I-80 in Nevada on GSV. What is the history of the block (now occupied by a Walgreens) where I-80 passes under US 395 BUS in downtown Reno?
Looking at historic aerials the Walgreens appears to be in the last 30 years, what was there before? And why is just that block capped over I-80?
The Walgreens itself doesn’t really look like a typical Walgreens store; but then again, most Walgreens do not have an Interstate highway below them.
Thanks!
Post by: Kniwt on February 03, 2023, 10:19:31 PM
Looking at historic aerials the Walgreens appears to be in the last 30 years, what was there before? And why is just that block capped over I-80?
https://www.rgj.com/story/life/2016/05/13/breck-walgreens-atop--80-freeway/84345082/
Post by: sbeaver44 on February 04, 2023, 07:20:46 PM
Post by: cl94 on February 04, 2023, 07:53:08 PM
Post by: roadfro on February 05, 2023, 10:24:22 PM
Aside from the location above the freeway and the unusual trusses that are part of its architecture, there is nothing special about this Walgreens. It has a typical Walgreens layout and offerings, except that this location might have a bit more in the way of Reno/Nevada souvenirs than the average store.
As cl94 noted, it is close to the UNR campus within walking distance of the university's residence halls (which are all on the west side of campus along Virginia St between 10th St and College Dr) as well as two privately-owned large student apartment complexes (with several more further up Virginia). It's the only place nearby to campus to purchase grocery items and basic personal goods, so has been well frequented by students without vehicles. (As of a few years ago, UNR now owns the whole block across the street on the north side of Maple St/I-80 WB ramps, with plans to build a new business building and potentially a hotel/conference center on the property in what is being called the university's "Gateway District".) Additionally, it's also the only store of this type in the downtown Reno area—there used to be another chain drugstore of smaller size (maybe a Longs Drugs?) on the southwest corner of Sierra St & 2nd St, but I think this closed in the mid-2000s—so that also helps drive business from tourists people living around downtown.
So despite the odd backstory, the Walgreens has fared decently well over the years. I seem to remember hearing at one point that this location was one of the top performing Walgreens locations in the country—not sure how accurate that may be, but I wouldn't doubt that it's at least near the top of locations in this part of the country.
Post by: roadfro on February 05, 2023, 11:10:14 PM
Ask the RGJ: Why is I-580 at Moana so rough? It's overdue for repair (https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2023/01/27/ask-the-rgj-why-is-i-580-at-moana-so-rough-its-overdue-for-repair/69842683007/) Reno Gazette-Journal 1/27/2023 (may be paywalled)
Quote
Key Points:
- I-580 was constructed in 1979 and designed for a 35-year lifespan.
- Because of plans for Spaghetti Bowl improvements, funding was not available to fix the Moana section in 2014-15 when other work was done.
- Plans to repair I-580 at Moana Lane are set for this summer.
- NDOT assesses interstate and state roads every year using the "International Roughness Index."
<...>
What upgrades are planned for I-580?
From Peckham to Moana, age-related cracking on the concrete will first be filled and then resurfaced with one inch of asphalt over the existing surface, both northbound and southbound.
From Moana to Mill, the following is planned:
- Nine inches of cracking interstate concrete surface in the travel lanes will be removed and replaced with new asphalt surface in both directions between Moana and Plumb lanes, equaling approximately 33,000 tons of new asphalt.
- Nine inches of cracking interstate concrete surface will be removed and replaced with new asphalt surface in the northbound direction between Villanova Drive and Mill Street, equaling approximately 2,000 tons of new concrete. The southbound interstate will not be resurfaced. (In 2014-2015, NDOT previously reconstructed four lanes of southbound I-580 between Mill Street and Villanova Drive.)
- Bridge deck and maintenance improvements in both northbound and southbound directions will be made on the bridge viaduct structure carrying I-580 over the Regional Transportation Commission bus facilities between Plumb Lane and Villanova Drive.
- Bridge deck and maintenance improvements in the northbound direction will be made at Vassar Street, Mill Street, East Second Street, Kietzke Lane and East Fourth Street.
<...>
This segment of I-580 was originally constructed in 1979 and was designed for a 35-year lifespan.
In 2014-2015, NDOT completely reconstructed four lanes of old, deteriorating concrete on southbound I-580 between Mill Street and Villanova Drive.
Because NDOT has future plans to reconstruct other areas of interstate as part of future phases of Spaghetti Bowl improvements, funding was not available as part of these 2014-2015 improvements to also reconstruct other areas of I-580, only to remove that new interstate for these future Spaghetti Bowl improvements.
But, in 2014-1015, NDOT placed a polymer/epoxy resin to help seal roadway cracking on segments of the interstate that were not reconstructed as part of interstate renovations. Similar crack-sealing repairs were made again in 2021.
Post by: cl94 on February 06, 2023, 11:08:20 PM
And this doesn't include the potential freeway link between 395 and 445, with the first phase of that project (445 widening) already underway as of last weekend. Going to be a busy several years of road construction in Truckee Meadows.
Post by: roadfro on February 07, 2023, 12:02:37 PM
And this doesn't include the potential freeway link between 395 and 445, with the first phase of that project (445 widening) already underway as of last weekend. Going to be a busy several years of road construction in Truckee Meadows.
Might have to take a look at this. I hadn't heard this had started, and I couldn't find any press releases. This RTC update page (https://www.rtcwashoe.com/engineering-project/pyramid-highway-us-395-connection-project/l) seems to indicate that construction may start soon, and there could be utility work taking place in advance. I'll have to do more research
EDIT: Fixed link
Post by: cl94 on February 07, 2023, 01:37:57 PM
And this doesn't include the potential freeway link between 395 and 445, with the first phase of that project (445 widening) already underway as of last weekend. Going to be a busy several years of road construction in Truckee Meadows.
Might have to take a look at this. I hadn't heard this had started, and I couldn't find any press releases. This [ur=https://www.rtcwashoe.com/engineering-project/pyramid-highway-us-395-connection-project/l]RTC update page[/url] seems to indicate that construction may start soon, and there could be utility work taking place in advance. I'll have to do more research
Might just be utility work, but there has been plenty of clearing and staking.
Post by: cl94 on February 10, 2023, 10:39:33 PM
For new major roads, we have these. Most I knew about, but one was a nice surprise to see.
- USA Parkway northern extension: This would extend USA Parkway (SR 439) northwest to Spanish Springs. On the Spanish Springs side, it would line up with La Posada Drive and Eagle Canyon Drive. Similar to the rest of USA Parkway, construction would be dependent on private funding. I could see either NDOT or Washoe County maintaining this. Appears to be planned for 2040-2050.
- South Meadows Parkway eastern extension: This would extend South Meadows Parkway on the south side of Reno east to USA Parkway (SR 439) at the industrial park. Didn't know this was even proposed, but I'd appreciate the redundancy. Construction is again dependent on private funding and I'd assume this would be an NDOT road once complete. Appears to be planned for 2040-2050
- US 395-SR 445 connector: the only real freeway project planned in Northern Nevada for the next couple decades, this will build a freeway link between US 395 and SR 445 southeast of Sun Valley and then convert part of existing SR 445 to freeway through northern Sparks and part of Spanish Springs. First phase of this (445 widening) has already begun and it'll continue through the next 20 or so years. I could see NDOT rerouting 445 along this freeway and redesignating part of current 445 as a 600-series urban route and/or downloading a portion to Sparks.
- West Sun Valley Arterial: new 4-lane road around the northwest side of Sun Valley linking 395 and the above connector freeway to Eagle Canyon Drive in Spanish Springs, lining up with Calle de la Plata. Projected construction between 2030 and 2040, I'd expect this to be a county road.
- Eagle Canyon Drive extension: extends Eagle Canyon Drive west from the Reno Sparks Indian Colony to Lemmon Drive just northeast of Swan Lake. Projected 2040-2050, I again expect this to be county.
As far as widening projects along state roads, the remaining 4-lane portions of McCarran Blvd are likely to be widened to 6 with added multimodal capabilities. Most segments of freeway in Reno and Sparks are expected to be widened, including most of 80 between Exits 5 and 32 and most of 580/395 between Neil Road and Red Rock Canyon Road (excluding what was just widened around the Spaghetti Bowl).
Post by: cl94 on February 23, 2023, 05:34:03 PM
Post by: roadfro on April 08, 2023, 03:22:26 PM
This is not surprising. This is the curvy section that follows the Truckee River, much of which has minimal shoulders. Given the increased traffic over the last decade or so (most of which is commuters heading to/from facilities in TRIC along USA Pkwy) and rising accident rates (there's been several big crashes with the craziness of this winter's weather), I'm actually surprised it didn't happen sooner.
Post by: TheStranger on May 28, 2023, 12:24:29 PM
Poor lighting, faded lane lines, and lack of reflectors or anything on most of those stretches. That was a challenge!
Post by: Occidental Tourist on May 28, 2023, 01:20:38 PM
Post by: gonealookin on May 28, 2023, 06:18:29 PM
A striping job never survives even a mild Tahoe winter. Our roads have to be restriped every spring. Caltrans seems to be more diligent in getting that done than NDOT.
Most of the meteor crater potholes on the main roads have received at least a band-aid patch. Watch out for those on side roads though.
Post by: roadfro on May 28, 2023, 08:31:50 PM
NDOT uses raised pavement markers in several areas of District 1, but that's primarily within Clark County. You go much north of urban limits of Las Vegas, and it's all paint.
LG-H871
Post by: cl94 on May 29, 2023, 08:58:30 PM
NDOT has trialed recessed/snowplowable reflectors in the past, but does not currently use them. Old ones exist along I-80 east of Sparks and along US 95 in Winnemucca. It should be noted that Caltrans doesn't use them in most of the Sierra, despite recessed reflectors being used in other mountainous parts of the state. Just too much snow for them to survive. Nor do most other states/regions with extreme snowfall have them.
For surface markers, NDOT and local agencies will throw them on raised medians and curbs in Northern Nevada, but never on the driving surface. Only Clark County gets the "traditional" surface markers.