LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Nobody predicts the 1,500-foot chain-link hurdle will resolve the century-old issues of Boulder Freeway; nevertheless, Las Vegas police mentioned they don’t seem to be 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 ought to be accomplished with the lethal highway, which residents used to name “The Shambles.” Final 12 months, Clark County employees acquired an concept on tips on how 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 can be expanded from East Flamingo to East Sahara alongside Boulder Freeway, a date for development was not supplied.
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 underneath 120 this 12 months. The duty was not unnoticed by Southeast Space Command Captain Jeff Clark and his workforce, 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 workforce, who theorized on the effectiveness of a chain-link fence. (KLAS)
Clark mentioned he and his workforce thought-about “the three E’s” with regards to stopping site visitors accidents and deaths: training, 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 accordance with Clark, and collectively they labored on taking their workers to job and construct the 1,500 linear ft of fence as a take a look at of effectiveness.
Though Clark doesn’t have particular numbers, he famous his workforce has seen an enchancment and famous when pedestrians have been pressured 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.”
