Letters to the Editor

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It seems everyone has someone to blame, or an excuse as to what should be a priority in this home we call Pahrump. We have a major problem that needs to be addressed by our citizens. If you vote, then your vote will count.

The most important thing right now is stopping the construction of two roundabouts at two major intersections in our valley.

I for the life of me can’t understand why our leaders would approve two roundabouts at intersections on our main highway coming and going from Pahrump.

We have a major problem at Pahrump Valley Boulevard and Blagg Road intersections with Highway 372. That is simply because people are just not taking the time to look before they leap!

There are better ways to achieve a more constructive conclusion. First off all, make Pahrump Valley Boulevard and Blagg Road intersections RIGHT turn only. This would decrease the amount of accidents at these intersections.

If you put a roundabout at Pahrump Valley Boulevard, it is too close to state Route 160, which will eventually become a traffic signal and more money for us as taxpayers.

Why invest all the taxpayer dollars into something that will not work, and then put up a signal later. It seems we have a tendency for spending funds in a way not to benefit our town, wasting our money.

The same goes for Oxbow, where we have numerous accidents. Right turn only. I’d rather go out of my way than to risk an accidents for a few minutes of my time. When I go north on Pahrump Valley Boulevard I turn on Bourbon and come out safely off of Red Butte. So what if it takes a few seconds longer, I know I’m safe.

You cannot put roundabouts on a major intersection in any city or valley. We have two major routes that come into Pahrump Valley, one is state Route 160 and the other is state Route 372. These routes supply our valley with deliveries and all kinds of visitors coming from all over.

Let us, as citizens, get someone with authority to stop this madness before we are committed to this situation. I’ll be happy to put my name down first against this terrible decision.

God love us all, and God bless America!

James Cornell

Trying to understand roundabout decision?

So, here we are again revisiting the subject of roundabouts at two locations on state Route 372. Okay. In time I’m sure just about everybody, even I, can get used to negotiating those curves without hesitation or apprehension. And I must believe that roundabouts will add a measure of safety to the intersections at Blagg Road and Pahrump Valley Boulevard where far too many vehicle crashes have occurred resulting in serious injuries. What I’m having a little trouble with is accepting the rationale as to the cost of constructing and maintaining roundabouts versus the installation of traffic lights.

Yes. I’ve seen the comparisons and on its face, the numbers clearly show that NDOT has correctly analyzed the situation and decided on the most cost-effective way to proceed. Then, my skewed thinking process kicks in and gets me to wondering.

For instance, how many four-way stop intersections are there in Pahrump where flashing red lights operate 24/7? I’m guessing that those small red lights are powered to some extent by solar receptors, but for continuous reliability, aren’t they also connected to the electric grid? And assuming that to be the case, why does this arrangement cost Nye County, NDOT and ultimately we taxpayers annually? Just wondering.

Another question mark for me concerns the essentials of what a lighted intersection must contain. In Las Vegas we find state-of-the-art engineering where traffic safely flows in multiple directions over multiple lanes. That makes sense. But are such complex and expensive overhead systems always necessary when it comes to rural traffic control?

Maybe I’m missing the point, but how costly can it be to suspend a total of eight (8) light units above two (2) intersections, using national standard cabling, as opposed to construction of roundabouts that will require installation of additional paved traffic ways along with necessary signage and obtaining rights-of-way on adjacent private property? I don’t think those motoring through Pahrump are looking to be impressed. We simply want to cross the roads and make our turns with less prospect of a collision.

With the current plan it’s no wonder we’re looking at late 2016 before the physical changes can be completed. And there’s all that business about educating local motorists on the whys and wherefores concerning safety in a roundabout.

Like others, I’m not convinced that the experts have given the matter their fullest consideration. I call upon the powers that be to reassure us with another detailed look at this important safety issue. For many, doing so would surely reduce the tendency to wonder.

Ralph Bazan