Northeast 179th Street and Northeast 29th Avenue Intersection improvements

Public Works is moving forward with the redesign construction of the intersection of Northeast 179th Street and Northeast 29th Avenue. The project will replace the existing single lane, all-way stop-controlled intersection with a roundabout-controlled intersection. This change is necessary to accommodate additional traffic volumes associated with residential and commercial development in the area.

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About the project

Click here to view the map of the project area.

This project contributes to improvement of the local transportation system in support of the Clark County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. Development is increasing traffic volumes along the Northeast 179th Street corridor. This project is one of several that, when complete, will improve travel times, upgrade stormwater management, improve safety and bring the corridor up to current road standards.

The roundabout will be designed to operate initially with a single lane. It will be sized to be expandable to multi-lanes in the future to align with the eventual widening of Northeast 179th Street to four lanes. Other improvements will include upsizing of culverts to meet current standards, construction of retaining walls, utility adjustments, and installation of stormwater conveyance and a treatment facility.

Roundabouts keep traffic moving safely and steadily. Studies have shown that roundabouts are safer than stop sign or signal-controlled intersections. Roundabouts reduced injury crashes by 75 percent at intersections where stop signs or signals were previously used for traffic control, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Studies by the IIHS and Federal Highway Administration have shown that roundabouts typically achieve:

A 37 percent reduction in overall collisions.
A 75 percent reduction in injury collisions.
A 90 percent reduction in fatality collisions.
A 40 percent reduction in pedestrian collisions.

There are several reasons why roundabouts help reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions:

Low travel speeds: Drivers must slow down and yield to traffic before entering a roundabout. Speeds in a roundabout are typically between 15 and 20 mph. The collisions that occur in roundabouts are typically minor and cause fewer injuries since they occur at lower speeds.
No light to beat: Roundabouts are designed to promote a continuous, circular flow of traffic. Drivers only need to yield to traffic before entering a roundabout; if there is no traffic in the roundabout, drivers are not required to stop. Because traffic is constantly flowing through the intersection, drivers don't have the incentive to speed up to try and "beat the light," like they might at a signal-controlled intersection.
One-way travel: Roads entering a roundabout are gently curved to direct drivers into the intersection and help them travel counterclockwise around the roundabout. The curved roads and one-way travel around the roundabout eliminate the possibility of T-bone and head-on collisions.

Design of the new intersection is nearly complete.

Public Works incorporates resident input when feasible. County projects are designed by professional engineers. We balance community input with other considerations to create the best possible final design. Considerations include legal requirements, environmental impacts, budget and safety. Input among residents, user groups and stakeholders often differs. While we do our best to incorporate resident input, we are not able incorporate all input or requests. If you have questions or concerns about the final project design, we invite you to learn more on our website or contact the project manager.

Click here to see the project's design plans.

Project timeline

Design: spring 2020 – spring 2025

Construction: summer 2025

Project schedule and staging plan
The construction staging plan shown is intended for contract bidding purposes only and may be altered once a contractor is selected. It will be the contractor’s responsibility to submit a modified construction staging plan for consideration. The contractor’s plan will only be accepted if their plan can demonstrate that the staging of their work will be completed more efficiently and with less impact to the residents of the neighborhood and the traveling public. The county requires the plans to include accommodations for local access to private property for owners/residents and for services, e.g., emergency response, waste collection, school transportation, etc.

Click here to see the current project schedule. This is subject to change.

Click here to see the staging and detour plans. This is subject to change.