'Abrupt' dip a daily irritant for commuters taking I-215

A piece of pavement is shaking up some Las Vegas motorists.

Within four years of its construction, a dip began to appear on Interstate 215, part of the Las Vegas Beltway. It has made for a bumpy ride for those driving west.

One big, jolting bump, to be precise.

The kind of bump that interrupts a really good daydream, sloshes coffee onto your car's upholstery and leaves you wondering, "What the ...?"

Bonita Bailey, of Henderson, said the dip in the road is a daily aggravation in her commute between Las Vegas and Henderson.

"One time I hit it so hard that it dumped my whole purse over," she said. "I know it is out there. But it is very abrupt. You certainly can feel it. But it is not easy to see when you're coming up on it."

The dip is in the westbound lanes about a half mile west of the Warm Springs Interchange on the left part of the beltway.

"We found out about these bumps back in November when a man contacted us and complained about hurting his back when he drove over it," said Adam Mayberry, spokesman for the Clark County Department of Aviation, which owns and paid for the construction of that portion of beltway near McCarrran International Airport.

The airport originally acquired the land because it provides access to the McCarran International Airport.

Mayberry said the airport is still investigating the insurance claim filed by Morley Gordon of Henderson and has not determined whether a payment should be made.

But Gordon said he has received a letter from the airport's insurance adjuster rejecting his claim. Gordon added he was not seeking a specific amount in damages.

An old back injury occasionally hurts more since driving over the unexpected dip in the road, Gordon said.

Later this month, the Nevada Department of Transportation is expected to take over the maintenance of the roadway.

"I don't think that bump really is much of a hazard. But I'll tell you what, it will wake you up if you don't expect it," said Gus Michaels, assistant district engineer for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

He said the dip in the roadway is about 2 or 3 inches deep.

"It's really much to-do about nothing, Mayberry said. "I drive all over this city and run over potholes a lot worse than that."

Mayberry said the dip does not warrant a warning sign.

Michaels agreed.

But Gordon said a sign should be there to warn motorists.

The dips formed after a faulty rubber seal between two sections of pavement allowed water to seep through and erode the soil beneath, Mayberry said.

He added the aviation department has agreed to give the state transportation department as much as $30,000 to have the spot fixed.

An exact date has not been set for repairing the wrinkle in the beltway, but state officials say it will take place soon.

"Sometime this month, we are going to get it fixed," Michaels said. "What are going to do is inject a plastic foam beneath the road to fill the void. We have had pretty good luck with this in the past."

archive