Beltway gap bridged with new overpass

By BROCK RADKE

VIEW STAFF WRITER

The first part of the Las Vegas Beltway in the Northwest opened earlier this month when city and county officials cut the ribbon on the bridge over U.S. Highway 95 at Centennial Parkway.

The overpass, a four-lane bridge including access points to and from U.S. Highway 95 and existing frontage roads on each side of the highway, will eventually be extended to the south to link up with the beltway and to the east connecting with Interstate15.

The bridge was constructed before the beltway made it's way north because it served more than one purpose, said Clark County Public Works official Bobby Shelton.

"By getting the bridge structure up now, we have not only made it possible to proceed with phase two, but also eliminated the at-grade crossing at U.S. 95," Shelton said. "This should minimize accidents and conflicts there."

One of the prime examples of such conflict was traffic to and from Centennial High School, which is west of the highway at Centennial and Hualapai Way.

With many students and employees living east of the highway, crossing it in the early morning and when school let out had become somewhat dangerous, said Centennial High principal Carol Leavitt.

"This is definitely better than doing that left turn across U.S. 95 with construction traffic," Leavitt said. "It's nicer and safer. We have a lot of staffers coming up (north) on 95 also, so it's making their trip easier."

In addition to curing some traffic ills, the bridge is also expected to increase the operational value of Ann Road as a commuter street, Shelton said.

The Centennial interchange is a vital piece of the Beltway, according to construction plans. In addition to its location in the center of a large under-construction retail area, it is the centerpoint of the planned Beltway curve.

"It is the biggest piece in the north," Shelton said. "It will really enhance the flow of traffic."

The first western portion of the Beltway, from Tropicana Avenue to Sahara Avenue, is scheduled to open by the end of November. The extension to Cheyenne Avenue is planned for a 2001 completion, with the first northern segment from Cheyenne to El Capitan Way scheduled to open in 2003.

The initial Beltway facility -- which will run approximately 53 miles circling the valley and cost an estimated $1.5 billion -- is planned for completion by the end of 2003.