The Nevada Department of Transportation unveiled its U.S. Highway 95 Landscape and Aesthetics Preferred Alternative Plan at a public meeting at Mountain Crest Community Center on May 22, part of a larger project to add lanes and interchanges on the highway from Washington Avenue to Kyle Canyon Road.
The landscape portion of the project deals with the highway from Washington Avenue to Ann Road, sprucing up overpasses and flyovers with decorative elements. Initial plans call for improvements at Washington Avenue, Vegas Drive, Lake Mead Boulevard, Smoke Ranch Road, Cheyenne Avenue, Alexander Road, Craig Road, Lone Mountain Road, Rancho Drive and Ann Road.
Cary Baird of Stantec Consulting, the design firm working as landscape architect for the project, said the improvements would be done in earth-toned colors with natural materials, including stone and steel, and that native plants added to the landscaping would not require irrigation systems. Painted steel images of cactuses and other desert or mountain themes will adorn flyover bridges to complement stone walls and boulders along the highway.
Lucy Joyce, landscape architect supervisor for the Nevada Transportation Department, said residents attending the meeting were impressed with the designs.
"People were very much in favor of them, and we already had met with stakeholders in the community to present three conceptual plans as alternatives, and it was a unanimous decision to pick the concept we presented," she said. "At first, everyone wants to know what's going to be built and when. They're interested in landscape and aesthetics, but at the time the conceptual design is presented, there's not a lot of emotion. Once it's built, however, it is what provides a lasting impression for everyone. All of our projects have been very well received when built."
Joyce said the landscaping will be done simultaneously with the other parts of the project because it's more cost effective that way, but the improvements are still in the planning stage and are dependent on funding.
"There are currently not funds for that project, but we are going to go ahead and design so it is ready when they become available," Joyce said. "Right now, it's about 60 percent designed. We're hoping to get more funding by the end of next year or 2010."
Currently, U.S. Highway 95 is a six-lane freeway from Washington Avenue to Craig Road and a four-lane freeway from Craig Road to Kyle Canyon. The improvements would change that standard to four lanes in each direction, from the Rainbow Curve to Durango Drive, including an HOV lane, and add loop ramps at Cheyenne Avenue and Durango Drive and braided ramps at Rancho Drive and Ann Road.
A new flyover would be constructed that would take vehicles from Rancho Drive straight onto the northbound U.S. 95, as opposed to the current situation, which forces highway-destined traffic from Rancho Drive to the Ann Road interchange.
While neighbors are routinely more concerned with traffic, aesthetics are important, Joyce said.
"We live in a tourist-driven economy, and to ignore the aesthetics of what we build would be penny wise and pound foolish," she said. "We have a commitment to beautify what we build. We're sensitive and respectful to the community we're building it for, and we also want to help provide some economic development. When the tourist or traveler gets to see what we are enhancing the community with, it will pique their curiosity."
Public comment on the landscape plan still is being accepted through Friday. Comments may be submitted online at www.nevadadot.com.
Archived Editions| Advertising | Contact The Staff
