Starting at approximately 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, and continuing through the next six months, all southbound traffic on U.S. Highway 95, south of Kyle Canyon Road, will be detoured off of the highway and on to the new Horse Drive exit and entry ramps to continue traveling southbound through the area. No access to Horse Drive will be available while U.S. 95 traffic is shifted to the ramps.

This traffic flow change is necessary as work on the $44 million Horse Drive interchange project continues.

“The traffic shift should be non-stop and seamless with the exception that the speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph to ensure public safety as motorists travel through the Horse Drive construction zone,” said Councilman Steven D. Ross who represents this part of Las Vegas. “This speed reduction is not expected to cause a backup or impact traffic, as it will coincide with a Nevada Department of Transportation road improvement project that is taking place north of Kyle Canyon which extends approximately 30 miles north.”

The U.S. 95 southbound traffic flow change is required for crews to begin to build the bridge portion of the Horse Drive interchange. In mid-to-late June, U.S. 95 northbound traffic will be shifted to the new Horse Drive interchange northbound offand on-ramps.

Work on the Horse Drive interchange project started in June 2009 and will take approximately 18 months to complete. Work remains on schedule and on budget to construct an overpass and full interchange, frontage roads, ramps, retaining walls and a bridge, along with extensive utility work, flood control improvements, traffic signals and lighting.

“When completed, this project will help alleviate traffic congestion and backup that many residents experience on the Durango Drive interchange at U.S. 95,” added Ross.

The Horse Drive interchange is slated for completion in late December 2010. Funding is provided by the Nevada Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, the Clark County Regional Flood Control District and the city of Las Vegas. Capriati Construction is the project contractor. The city of Las Vegas Public Works Department is managing the project.