Feds give preliminary OK for widening of U.S. 95

CARSON CITY -- The state Transportation Department gained preliminary federal approval Thursday to go forward with a $500 million improvement to U.S. 95 in northwest Las Vegas to relieve growing traffic congestion.

John Price, division administrator for the Federal Highway Administration, said his agency found, after review, that there would be "no significant environmental impact" in the road expansion.

Price signed the letter Thursday and its findings will be forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, which will publish them in the federal register for 30 days for public comment.

"If there are no adverse public comments received during that period, I will sign it," said Price, referring to the final approval.

He hopes that can be issued in early January.

Jeff Fontaine, deputy director of the state Transportation Department, said his staff is poised to accelerate the project. On Tuesday the department will interview engineering consultants and one should be hired by the end of the month to design the section from Rainbow Boulevard to Craig Road, a five-mile strip on U.S. 95.

On Nov. 12 Gov. Kenny Guinn, chairman of the state Transportation Board, told the agency it needs to speed up the work. Traffic can be backed up for miles if there's a minor accident and the governor said he can understand how motorists develop "road rage" in these circumstances.

The governor suggested paying extra for the design consultant so the project could be speeded up.

The section from Rainbow to Craig calls for expansion from four to six lanes at a cost of about $20 million.

"We're looking how to expedite design and construction of the Rainbow to Craig section or a substantial portion of it," Fontaine said. Guinn said there's no right of way to acquire on this section so the work should move quickly.

The second phase of the project calls for building bridges over U.S. 95 at Valley View and Decatur boulevards and Torrey Pines Drive. The department, Fontaine said, will be interviewing engineering consultants for that project on Dec. 13.

The bridges must be completed before the third phase between Rainbow to the Spaghetti Bowl can be started. That expansion would be from six to 10 lanes. And it may be three years before it can be started.

Guinn told the transportation board, "This is a dynamite problem for the northwest and it's growing bigger every day."

Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone raised the issue two weeks ago with complaints that the state department was dragging its feet on starting the improvements.

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