Various road projects were discussed at the county commission meeting March 15, ranging from the contested roundabouts scheduled for portions of Highway 372, to weight limits for a local roadway due to damage created by overly-heavy tractor trailers.
A portion of Bell Vista Avenue is showing the wear and tear of having trucks with overly-heavy loads transport between Pahrump and California and the county is looking at ways to regulate truck weights.
Road superintendent Tim Carlo said that some roads are not handling the excessive hauls some of these trucks are carrying.
“We need to put something in place, whether it be weight limits, a permit required to enter and (pay a fee) if you’re going to haul heavy loads,” he said.
Commissioner Frank Carbone hopes to get the Nevada Highway Patrol to scale the truck weights, with a tentative weight limit of 13 tons being discussed.
The long-talked-about roundabouts on State Route 372 were brought up by commissioner Butch Borasky, as several Pahrump residents have emailed him, anxiously waiting for a completion date for the pair of road projects aimed at making the area safer.
The construction was initially supposed to begin this spring, but some unforeseen delays have pushed back the start date.
“Initially it was supposed to start in spring, then I heard they were having some difficulties with some of the rights of way and it just got pushed back a few months,” said Darrell Lacy, director of planning.
According Nevada Department of Transportation spokesperson Tony Illia, advertising for project construction bids will go out in June, along with a public information meeting on the project as well.
Construction is slated to begin in the fall, with a completion of the project slated for summer 2017.
Work has begun on the Gamebird Road and Barney Road repaving project.
Work crews are scheduled to put both roads on the correct alignment and will be begin digging out and installing the road base for paving preparation.
“On Gamebird Road we have it filled all the way to Barney and we’re starting to back-fill there,” Carlo said.
“Still a lot of traffic control and a lot of equipment in the roadway there, so use caution.”
Carlo went on to explain the specifics of the project, as Gamebird will be 28 feet wide, with four-foot shoulders on each side of the street.
Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Find him on Twitter: @mickakers.