NDOT West Mesquite Interchange Project

Thursday, December 01, 2011

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and the City of Mesquite, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, began construction on the I-15 interchange 120 in Mesquite earlier this summer.

The West Mesquite Design-Build project will continue critical construction work during the next few weeks that will require temporary night-time closures. The closures are scheduled for two separate days in December and will occur only during late evening hours to minimize traffic impacts to residents and motorists.

Expect the following changes in the area:

On December 6th and December 15th, Falcon Ridge Parkway will be closed at night for construction. All lanes will be closed from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Motorists are encouraged to use the Grapevine Overpass as the recommended detour route. Falcon Ridge Parkway will remain open during the daytime hours.

Adam Searcy, NDOT Project Manager, encourages diligence and patience during this important phase of construction. “Mesquite residents and visitors have been incredibly supportive and understanding since we began night time closures last month. We realize that closures affecting access are never pleasant and have taken that into consideration by limiting closures to the late evening hours. We strongly encourage residents and motorists to be patient during the remaining night time closures and to be cautious while observing detour signs. Safety is our number one priority.”

Those interested in more information and traffic updates, can call the project hotline at 702-346-5666 or visit nevadadot.com and click on “Mesquite” under the projects tab.

About the West Mesquite Interchange Project

The goal of the West Mesquite Interchange Design-Build Project is to create a better and high-quality operating highway that enhances Mesquite’s connectivity and is also aesthetically pleasing. The project is scheduled to last between 12 and 18 months, ending no later than Fall 2012. The primary contractor for the project is

About NDOT

Founded in 1917, the Nevada Department of Transportation is responsible for the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of the 5,400 miles of highways and more than 1,000 bridges that comprise the state highway system. The department is divided into three districts, with a district engineer and assistant engineers in each. The districts are responsible for supervising all state transportation activities within their local areas. NDOT's headquarters is located in Carson City. Its three district offices are located in Las Vegas, Reno and Elko.

The Desert Tortoise

Like many desert creatures, desert tortoises spend most of their lives "holed up." In spring and summer, they roam grazing on grasses and wildflowers, then head for their burrows when it gets too hot. In fall and winter, when it is cold and there is not much to eat, they stay burrowed in for six months or more at a time.

If you see a desert tortoise, you are seeing an endangered species. Please watch out for them on the roads. Tortoises live in washes and valleys where the soil is soft enough for them to burrow into, yet stable enough so they do not collapse. Remember, desert tortoises are protected under the Endangered Species Act and may not be handled or removed.

Golf in the Desert

The city of Mesquite combines calm, small-town flavour with big-city attractions and championship golf. The Palms and the Oasis Golf Clubs are only two of the half-dozen challenging courses in the area.

Golf Highlights in Mesquite

Golf built on the dramatic Virgin Foothills of Nevada makes for a unique landscape and golf setting.
Enjoy a spa treatment at the Spa at Casablanca or the Spa at the Oasis.
Mesquite serves as a gateway to the national parks of Southern Utah and Zion National Park, which is less than two hours away.

View more information about golf courses in Mesquite

The Speedy RoadRunner

Called paisano in Mexico, the roadrunner is a well-known desert resident that only superficially resembles its popular cartoon portrayal. The greater roadrunner has adapted to life on the run. Though it can fly well, it prefers to use its strong legs and X- shaped toes to run rapidly over the desert landscape. Active predators, roadrunners aggressively chase insects, lizards, snakes, small birds and mammals.

Tolerant of humans, they sometimes nest in protected eaves and garages when they are not building large stick nests in desert trees. Their vocalizations include bill clicking noises and a mournful cooing made during breeding seasons. They do not meep-meep.