Latest news with #NevadaDepartmentofTransportation
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I-15 lane reductions in southern Las Vegas valley begin next week
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Long-term lane reductions will hit parts of the I-15 in the southern Las Vegas valley starting next week. According to a release from the Nevada Department of Transportation, the reductions are part of the ongoing I-15 South Widening Project. The reductions will cause significant travel delays, particularly on northbound I-15 between Silverado Ranch Boulevard and Blue Diamond Road. NDOT encourages drivers to plan ahead, allow for extra travel times, and consider alternate routes when they are able. The restrictions will be necessary for guardrail repair, roadway excavation, and paving operations. The lane restrictions are as follows: 24/7 from Tuesday, May 27, through July 2025: Northbound I-15 reduced to four lanes between Silverado Ranch Boulevard and Blue Diamond Road (auxiliary lane closed) Nightly (8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.) Tuesday, May 27 to Thursday, May 29: Northbound I-15 reduced to one lane between Silverado Ranch Boulevard to Blue Diamond Road 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 27 to 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 28: Southbound I-15 reduced to one lane from St. Rose Parkway to Sloan Road Northbound I-15 reduced to one lane from Sloan Road to St. Rose Parkway Nightly (8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.) Sunday, June 1 through Friday, June 6: Southbound I-15 reduced to one lane between Blue Diamond Road and Silverado Ranch Boulevard Nightly (8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.) Sunday, June 8 through Friday, June 13: Southbound I-15 reduced to one lane between Silverado Ranch Boulevard and Cactus Avenue Nightly (8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.) Sunday, June 15 through Friday, June 20: Northbound I-15 reduced to one lane between Starr and Cactus avenues Ongoing work: 24/7 through June 2025: Southbound I-15 reduced to four lanes from Warm Springs to Blue Diamond roads (auxiliary lane closed) The schedule is subject to change due to weather and other factors. Additional state highway information is available at or by calling (775) 888-7000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I-15 closures planned overnight before all lanes fully open Friday
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The Nevada Department of Transportation announced that there will be a series of overnight closures to complete final striping along I-15. The work will mark a milestone in the I-15 and Tropicana Interchange Project. Southbound lanes along I-15 will be closed between Flamingo and Russell roads on Wednesday, May 14, starting at 9 p.m. Lanes will reopen on Thursday, May 15, at 5 a.m., however, northbound lanes along I-15 between 215 and Flamingo Road will close at 9 p.m. Southbound I-15 CLOSED between Flamingo Rd and Russell Rd Flamingo Rd on-ramp to southbound I-15 CLOSED Southbound I-15 off-ramp to eastbound Flamingo Rd CLOSED Harmon Ave on-ramp to southbound I-15 CLOSED Southbound I-15 off-ramp to westbound Tropicana Ave CLOSED Southbound I-15 flyover ramp to eastbound Tropicana Ave CLOSED Southbound I-15 off-ramp to Russell Rd CLOSED Northbound I-15 CLOSED between I-215 and Flamingo Rd Russell Rd on-ramp to northbound I-15 CLOSED Northbound I-15 off-ramp to Tropicana Ave CLOSED Tropicana Ave on-ramp to northbound I-15 CLOSED Northbound I-15 off-ramp to Frank Sinatra Dr/Arena Dr CLOSED Northbound I-15 off-ramp to Harmon Ave CLOSED Northbound I-15 off-ramp to Flamingo Rd CLOSED West and Eastbound I-215 ramp to northbound I-15 CLOSED By Friday morning, all lanes on I-15 will be fully open. HOV lanes will remain temporarily open to all drivers until paving and final striping are completed this summer. Additional state highway information is available at or by calling 775-888-7000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Major closure at Tropicana Interchange set to start Wednesday morning
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) –The Tropicana Interchange is set to reopen to near-full capacity after a major 20-hour closure starting Wednesday morning. The closure is set to last from Wednesday, April 30 at 9 a.m. to Thursday, May 1 at 5 a.m. and is necessary for crews to complete striping and traffic signal calibration, the Nevada Department of Transportation said. The overnight closures include: East and westbound Tropicana Avenue closed between Polaris Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard Southbound I-15 off-ramp to westbound Tropicana Avenue closed Southbound I-15 flyover ramp to eastbound Tropicana Avenue closed Tropicana Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-15 closed Northbound I-15 off-ramp remains closed Tropicana Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-15 remains closed After the closures, NDOT is set to reopen a new and improved Tropicana Avenue at full capacity with four lanes in each direction from Polaris Avenue to Las Vegas Boulevard. There will also be a newly widened northbound I-15 off-ramp to east and westbound Tropicana Avenue, a newly reconstructed Tropicana Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-15, and additional lanes on the southbound I-15 flyover ramp to eastbound Tropicana Ave, according to NDOT. Tropicana Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-15 will remain at reduced capacity temporarily. For more information including a full list of restrictions, schedules, and frequently asked questions, visit the I-15/Tropicana Project website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Summer heat in Las Vegas brings roadside hazards as cars stall out; NDOT has safety reminders
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Stephen San Filippo with Nevada Department of Transportation's Freeway Service Patrol embraces his job. He helps people who break down on the side of the road, but often he must brace for his own life. 'There was one time I was going to put out cones and I had to jump over the wall to avoid being hit. So far, my car has been hit twice,' San Filippo said. Due to so many close calls, NDOT released a video montage highlighting the problem. One video shows a car that crashes into another car and then takes off. With summer around the corner, the heat means more vehicles could stall out, so more service calls are expected. San Filippo said he sees a lot of charging system issues and broken belts, and drivers running low on motor oil. For assistance, motorists can reach out to the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol at star (*) 647. It's a free service and they will even move your car to a safer location. Nevada State Police Sgt. Chris Brown reminded drivers of the 'Move Over Law,' which requires drivers to get in another lane to give space for vehicles stopped on the side of the road. 'Anytime you see flashing lights on the shoulder, you are required to slow down and move over. This law saves lives. And we've seen way too many construction workers, troopers and officers killed because people don't move over and slow down,' Brown said. San Filippo said the moment you see a stranded car on the side of the road, make it a priority to move as far away from it as safely possible. 'There are times where these drivers come through and are looking at their phones. Some of them fall asleep, and then some of them are DUI and putting all of us at risk. It's becoming very concerning,' San Filippo added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
28-03-2025
- General
- Forbes
Nevada Desert Tortoises Face New Threats In Federal Funding Freeze
Mojave desert tortoise in danger walking along the highway. Part of what makes America beautiful is its special creatures like the prehistoric-looking Mojave desert tortoise, whose survival in Nevada is more dire since a federal grant awarded to protect it from being run over by cars is among those frozen. Far from Washington politics, people in Nevada who want to save these strange-looking, sleepy-eyed reptiles rejoiced that U.S. Department of Transportation officials in their sleek office tower near the Washington Nationals Park decided to answer their call for help and award a $16.8 million grant. The federal dollars were to build 61 wildlife crossings and install 68 miles of protective fencing in a God forsaken desert area beside U.S. Highway 93 in southern Nevada. The Mohave desert tortoise weigh from 8 to 15 pounds and have brown, gray or black shells that blend into the mocha-colored barren desert landscape. It's not easy to see them crawling around out there in the best of conditions. Tiny Mojave desert tortoise traveling across the highway in Nevada where many of them are run over. Uncle Sam was going to extend a hand across America to build safe passageways and fencing to guide these slow-moving small creatures to safely cross the long stretch of highways where cars zoom through the middle of nowhere in habitats where these threatened species have always lived for hundreds of years. But they're dying out now and most people don't know or even care. Federal decision-makers will determine what is wasteful spending and what is worth paying for. Where do the natural wonders of America's wildlife in its mute creatures—the tortoises, birds, bumblebees, flowers, fish and forests—fit in the fiscal tug-of-war amid current political winners and losers? I'm one of the old-school journalists. I do try hard to keep my opinions—which have changed throughout my life and matter to no one but me—out of my work. I still believe in the mantra drilled into the heads of journalists way back when about the 'people's right to know' and giving the American people the facts so they can make up their own minds. What you've just read isn't what I intended to write when I reached out in January to interview the Nevada Department of Transportation about how they were going to spend their new federal grant. They haven't received the $16.8 million from DC and the project is on hold. But just in case a miracle happens and they do get the grant, I'm now going to write how they wanted to spend the federal dollars and why it was important to them. Coyote Springs Project area 'NDOT's efforts demonstrate the power of proactive infrastructure to address wildlife conservation and public safety simultaneously. By integrating state-of-the-art wildlife crossings with federal, state, and private funding, NDOT tackles pressing environmental challenges while improving roadway safety. This innovative program serves as a blueprint for other states, showing how transportation systems can harmonize with ecological needs,' stated Kelsey McFarland, NDOT spokesperson, in my interview with her before the funding freeze. For 35 years, the Mojave desert tortoise has been federally listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. To stave off extinction, in 1994 critical habitats for this tortoise were designated in Nevada, Arizona, California and Utah and Arizona. 'This project is not just beneficial—it is vital for ensuring the long-term survival of the Mojave desert tortoise and other affected species,' McFarland said. 'The Coyote Springs Wildlife Crossings project is critical to the survival of the Mojave desert tortoise, as it addresses the last unfenced highway section within U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-designated critical habitat in Nevada.' Mojave desert tortoise taking it easy in Nevada. The Coyote Springs Valley is thought to have about 2 tortoises per square kilometer—when double that amount is needed for them to find mates and maintain a stable population. Other factors decreasing the survival of these tortoises are lost habitat, predators, disease and road mortality. 'Conservation strategies, such as constructing barrier fencing and wildlife crossings, play an essential role in mitigating road mortality and preserving habitat connectivity. These measures allow tortoises to safely access vital resources and potential mates while reducing injuries and fatalities, particularly among adult tortoises, which are crucial for population stability and recovery,' McFarland noted. NDOT wanted to build the 61 wildlife crossings and 68 miles of barrier fencing to also improve highway safety for all travelers by minimizing human-wildlife collisions. A Mojave desert tortoise unwisely decides to stop and move no further on highway shoulder in Nevada. 'Fencing this stretch of highway will also reduce the road effect zone—the distance from pavement that wildlife avoids due to noise, vibration, and other impacts—allowing desert tortoises and other species to safely access more of their habitat. Protecting critical habitat not only benefits the tortoise but also supports the ecosystems and species that share these landscapes,' she added. NDOT has a record of successful transportation safety projects involving wildlife. It has developed a robust network of wildlife crossings statewide, including 24 large animal over- and underpasses. Sample tortoise crossing infrastructure built by the Nevada Department of Transportation for safe ... More wildlife passages that mitigate vehicle collisions. The state agency has also devised 44 tortoise-specific crossings combined with hundreds of miles of fencing to lower tortoise road mortality rates. In addition, it has worked to modify 13 structures for large animal movements to move safely in important transportation corridors and avoid being involved in vehicle collisions. 'NDOT completed two overpasses near Pequop Summit in 2018. Spanning approximately 200 feet in length, these crossings provide safe passage for migrating deer and represent a collaborative, multiyear effort to improve traffic safety and habitat connectivity,' McFarland said. The new federal dollars were supposed to help pay for a National Environmental Policy Act study and the start of construction planning in a process that typically takes years. NDOT has identified over 90 roadway segments to evaluate for potential transportation safety and wildlife connectivity projects. 'These efforts prioritize crash data, climate impacts, development trends, species distribution, and movement patterns to identify and address critical conflict areas. Together, these initiatives reaffirm Nevada's commitment to protecting biodiversity while enhancing roadway safety for all,' McFarland said. 'By leveraging data-driven solutions and partnerships with agencies like U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NDOT ensures projects like Coyote Springs yield lasting benefits for both wildlife and the community.' Mojave desert tortoise roadway fatality. The population of these disappearing American desert creatures continue to decline amid as the third month of funds for this previously awarded grant remain undistributed—and the grant may never be awarded. At present, the Mohave desert tortoise are no longer hibernating in their burrows, as they do for some nine months annually. They are in the midst of their first most active cycle in the year (from March to June), which is also a time when they're the most vulnerable for roadway mortality—which the Coyote Springs project sought to address.
