OPEN FORUM: Enough Is Enough

For years the Moapa Valley Highway has been an unnecessarily dangerous place to travel between the Wally’s Chevron Station and “Dead-man’s curve”. I say unnecessarily dangerous because years ago there was a concern about children/ pedestrians and automobiles crossing on Whipple at Wally’s and the many accidents there. The public was told that the area did not meet the criteria to reduce the speed limit or put in a light.

There are six directions that heavy traffic can merge from at the Wally’s intersection, combine that with the pedestrians and the average speed travelled of about 50 miles per hour and we are gambling when we are in that area. It’s not a matter of ‘if’, it is a matter of ‘when’ and ‘how many’.

The death toll up on the hill is also well noted. About the hill we are told that “one day” there will be another road built to reduce the traffic. Tragically we are reminded yet once again by the severe accident this week, at the great cost that is paid by the victims of this neglect.

I don’t care how many citations for speeding and unlit license plates are given by the prolific ticket officers; it will not solve the risk involved in trying to pull out onto the highway at a heavily traveled and popular intersection or driving up and over the hill to I-15 with 10 mile an hour traffic or oncoming traffic serving into the opposite lane.

Everyday I travel the summit of that hill at least twice for work and hope that the oncoming traffic is safely in their lane. I have avoided at least three automobiles that were well into my lane over the past few years. I don’t want to be, or want anyone else in this valley to be, another statistic. I have already survived a major head-on with a semi truck and understand all to well the pain and long term effects one accident can have. If by grace one is to survive.

Now is the time to enforce some simple solutions. If President Obama wants to put our money to use on the infrastructure, then let’s get our Department of Transportation to pony up and pay attention to us.

Some simple solutions for the intersection could include a traffic light and a major reduction in the speed limit. It is beyond me why I have to slow to 25 mph in the Overton wash area toward Lake Mead and beyond if I am not required to do the same in the more populated area of Logandale.

A simple solution for the “Dead-man’s” hill area would be to put in an extra lane on both uphill roadsides. Forget the constant repaving of the highway; just give us a practical safe road.

If anyone is knowledgeable and powerful enough to make these life saving changes happen, I will be happy to assist in any way I can. I think it safe to say that the whole valley would support this change as it would benefit all of us.

To all the families involved in this latest tragic accident, our hearts and prayers go out to these fine young people and we wish peace and healing to all of you.