Las Vegas NowNevada Highways to Get $17 Million Boost in Federal Money

Nevada Highways to Get $17 Million Boost in Federal Money

It's no secret the budget to maintain and widen Nevada's highways is woefully under-funded. But over the past two days, Southern Nevada received a boost from the federal government.

First, the state got $10 million for Interstate 15 from the federal Department of Transportation. As well, about $7 million has been appropriated by Congress for various Las Vegas highway projects.

The good news means some of Nevada's interstate projects to ease congestion that were placed on the shelf can now be dusted off. The biggest winners will be drivers on Interstate 15.

The federal Department of Transportation has named the interstate as a "National Corridor of The Future." I-15 made the list because of the amount of commercial products shipped on the road, as well as the amount of tourists that use it.

Thirty-eight states applied to have their highways in the program. The money guarantees I-15's expansion to ten lanes from Craig south to I-215 will start in January 2008. The entire project will be finished in 2010.

It's music to Pamela Jenkins ears. She owns The Cupcakery and relies on the highway to deliver her precious cargo.

"It's so annoying. I love Vegas. That is probably my biggest complaint. The city was never built to expand as quickly and immensely as it has," Jenkins said.

The Nevada Department of Transportation has been playing catch-up ever since the explosion of people moving to the Las Vegas Valley started.

The most recent Regional Transportation Commission study shows Interstate 15 is currently 70-percent over capacity from Russell Road to the Spaghetti Bowl. It does not take a scientist to see there are just too many cars and not enough lanes.

Locals take Interstate 15 to work. Nevada's governor says I-15 is a lifeline for 80-percent of the merchandise sold in Southern Nevada.

As far as US-95, construction started years ago but the end is in sight for drivers from the Spaghetti Bowl interchange to the Summerlin Curve. All of the construction will be finished on that stretch in two months.

E-mail your comments to Reporter Edward Lawrence.