ROADS Route 160 to close for two hours Monday

Blasting could cause up to two-hour delays

Motorists who plan on driving to Pahrump or Las Vegas along state Route 160 late Monday morning should expect delays.

The Nevada Department of Transportation will temporarily close the highway in both directions just west of Williams Ranch Road, in the Mountain Springs area, for blasting from 11:45 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. Monday.

According to NDOT spokesman Tony IIlia, the closure is needed for removal of fractured bedrock as part of a $59 million upgrade project, which entails widening of a 6-mile stretch of the highway in southwestern Clark County.

“Motorists should be prepared for an up to two-hour delay, although it will likely take less time,” IIlia said. “We’ve done several blasts up there, but very few of them have actually required a two-hour cleanup time. It all depends on the blast itself and how long it takes to clean up the mess.”

More blasting is planned later in the week following the Monday closure.

Illia said a date hadn’t been determined yet for that blast.

For those who want to avoid using state Route 160, IIlia offered a few alternatives.

“The only viable one would be using U.S. 95 to travel into Las Vegas from Pahrump and vice versa,” he said. “Either that or cut clean your trip around that blast window, or simply prepare for additional travel time. The same rules apply for medical transports to and from Las Vegas.

The closure is for everyone’s safety.”

The construction calls for expansion of the asphalt highway from two to four lanes between mile markers 16 and 22, creating a safe passing lane for slower-moving traffic while altering the roadway geometry for fewer twists and turns.

Additionally, the work on the project entailed rehabilitation of 22 miles of deteriorating roadway from roughly the Nye County line to the

Mountain Springs community.

The portion of the project from the Nye County line to Mountain Springs on the highway’s eastbound lanes is complete, with work continuing in the pass.

Asked why crews couldn’t simply perform the blasting after dark when there’s less traffic on the highway, IIlia said it would be extremely dangerous. “It’s in a rural area through Mount Potosi, and obviously it gets very dark there. There are also residents living in that area, so that just isn’t a practical, viable option. Crews also had to do some very tough and tricky excavation.”

Illia said the department uses social media to help motorists get to their destinations.

“NDOT works with Waze to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but unscheduled construction changes, closures and restrictions are possible due to weather or other factors,” he said. “Motorists should use caution while traveling through the work zone and heed construction signage.”

The project, which broke ground in the summer of 2018, is on schedule to finish this fall.

For the latest state highway conditions, visit nvroads.com or call 511 before traveling to the area.

Nevada Department of Transportation State Route 160 blasting will take place from 11:45 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. Monday. The road will be closed in both directions as part of a widening of the highway.