LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Nobody predicts the 1,500-foot chain-link hurdle will remedy the century-old issues of Boulder Freeway; nevertheless, Las Vegas police mentioned they aren’t going to take a seat on the fence whereas fatalities rise.
A deadly crash involving a pedestrian on Boulder Freeway on Thursday continues the query if extra must be carried out with the lethal street, which residents used to name “The Shambles.” Final yr, Clark County staff obtained an concept on easy methods to reply particularly to unlawful crossings within the space.
“At the request of Las Vegas Metro Police, Clark County’s Department of Public Works installed fencing along a center median as an effort to deter pedestrians from unsafely crossing Boulder Highway,” a Clark County spokesperson wrote in response to an 8 Information Now request. “The fencing located between East Flamingo Road and South Nellis Boulevard was installed in October 2024 as a test section to study its effectiveness.”
The thought, showing to seek out success as Clark County confirmed the fencing might be expanded from East Flamingo to East Sahara alongside Boulder Freeway, a date for building was not offered.
Whose concept was this?
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill challenged every of his space commanders to cut back site visitors fatalities for Clark County to below 120 this yr. The duty was not unnoticed by Southeast Space Command Captain Jeff Clark and his group, who theorized on the effectiveness of a chain-link fence.
“We’re trying to figure out ways that we could help mitigate and prevent deaths, particularly those of a jaywalking or pedestrian in the roadway type death,” Clark mentioned. “If you’re not aware, Boulder Highway is one of the deadliest roads in Clark County.”
The duty was not unnoticed by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division Southeast Space Command Captain Jeff Clark and his group, who theorized on the effectiveness of a chain-link fence. (KLAS)
Clark mentioned he and his group thought-about “the three E’s” in terms of stopping site visitors accidents and deaths: schooling, enforcement, and engineering.
“It takes our partners at county and other government agencies on the engineering,” Clark mentioned. “What I looked at was, ‘How can we prevent people from crossing the road outside of a marked crosswalk?’ And to me, the simple solution was a barrier down the center of Boulder Highway.”
Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson opened his thoughts to the thought, in keeping with Clark, and collectively they labored on taking their employees to job and construct the 1,500 linear toes of fence as a take a look at of effectiveness.
Though Clark doesn’t have particular numbers, he famous his group has seen an enchancment and famous when pedestrians have been compelled again to crosswalks after strolling alongside the fence.
“It’s not just fencing that we’re looking to do to improve here on Boulder Highway, we want repainted crosswalks, more marked and lit crosswalks, better lighting up and down, and radar speed limits signs,” he mentioned. “If we can make reckless driving and reckless pedestrian crossing harder to do, then that serves as a win for us to reduce our traffic fatalities.”
