Highway 372 roundabout public workshop Thursday

The Nevada Department of Transportation has set up a workshop to address any concerns and to educate residents on the planned roundabouts slated to go on two intersections of Highway 372.

The informational workshop takes place Thursday at the new Valley Electric Conference Center, located at 800 E. Highway 372, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. The meeting will explain roundabouts, which are one-way circular intersections with a center island where traffic flows freely without stop signs or traffic lights.

In addition to the meeting, NDOT also released a simulated video of the pair of roundabouts and how to navigate them online, via YouTube.

The $4 million project will see two roundabouts on Highway 372 be constructed, one at the intersection of Blagg Road (one-lane version) and another at the intersection of Pahrump Valley Boulevard (two-lane version).

Construction is set to begin next month and take about six months to finish, with an April 2017 completion date. Las Vegas Paving is the general contractor on the project.

The project also calls for new curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street lighting signage and handicap-accessible pedestrian crossings.

Desert landscaping with a concrete wall, steel sculptures of wild horses, bighorn sheep and birds will adorn the roundabouts.

According to NDOT, roundabouts are safer and more efficient than traditional four-way signalized intersections.

The workshop will explain how roundabouts increase safety and improve mobility, for motorists and pedestrians alike.

The public meeting will also explain to drivers and pedestrians how to effectively navigate roundabouts for faster and more efficient travel.

All residents are encouraged to attend the free event.

For those that require special accommodations to attend the event, reasonable efforts will be made to assist and help persons with disabilities to attend the meeting.

Requests for auxiliary aids or services to assist individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency should be made with as much advance notice as possible to Julie Maxey at NDOT, 775-888-7171 or jmaxey@dot.state.nv.us.

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.