Roop Street intersection to close for one day

A portion of North Roop Street will be closed 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday as reconstruction of the intersection with Hot Springs Road continues.

This work will effect drivers using Roop Street between Northridge Drive and College Parkway.

"It's still a high-traffic area," even with some drivers avoiding these locations, said Harvey Brotzman, senior engineer for the city's Regional Transportation Commission.

People who need to reach businesses located off of Basque Way can use College Parkway to enter the Wal-Mart shopping center, or use Retail Drive as an point of entry, Brotzman said.

Drivers should see reader boards around the area today with information about the closure next week.

Heavy equipment will be used to pave Roop. Then tape will be imbedded just underneath the surface of the asphalt for lane lines instead of painting them on top before final street surfacing work occurs.

The tape should last seven or eight years, while painted street lines would last about a year.

On July 19, the street will reopen, though improvements will continue as workers begin pouring sidewalks and completing other tasks until improvements are complete, he said.

Work on the street began in May and is scheduled to end Aug. 15, though the job might be completed "somewhat earlier," Brotzman said.

Up to 20,000 drivers traveled through the intersection daily before the work began. Once the road work is complete, the number of vehicles rolling through the intersection should be slightly higher, he said.

"This is because some people have been avoiding (the area) and are expected to return once the work is completed," and others will come to the area for the first time in a long time, Brotzman said.

Realignment of Hot Springs into Roop is to accommodate the Wal-Mart entrance. The retailer opened off of Roop Street in November.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

So you know

• Roop Street between Northridge Drive and College Parkway will be closed 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

• Drivers who need to reach businesses located off of Basque Way can use College Parkway to enter through the Wal-Mart shopping center, or use Retail Drive.

• Call 887-2116 ext. 1008 for details.