By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Wow, finally.
Bicyclists, runners and anyone who loves the outdoors and Red Rock have waited for literally two decades — yes, since 2005 — for government players like Clark County, Nevada Department of Transportation and the Feds to build a paved trail in the scenic State Route 159 corridor.
Well, a Clark County groundbreaking for the Red Rock Legacy Trail is set to launch this much-needed trail in light of the increasing number of fast-moving and often speeding/reckless motorists who use State Route 159 through Red Rock Canyon from Summerlin to State Route 160 (Blue Diamond Road.)
Clark County has set July 1 at 7 AM for a Trail Phase 1 groundbreaking off State Route 159 about three-fourths of a mile from the West Charleston Boulevard/Sky Vista Drive intersection.
The trail’s first phase goes from a parking lot trailhead off State Route 159 to the Red Rock Scenic Drive Visitor Center, said Clark County Commissioner Juston Jones, an active bicyclist who has worked on this trail project. U.S. Rep Susie Lee, also a bicyclist who pedals Red Rock Canyon and the scenic drive, said she worked on getting federal funds for the Legacy Trail.
The Save Red Rock group and Blue Diamond resident Heather Fisher began their campaign and fight for a trail in 2005, 20 years ago. They, like others, argued the paved trail was vital as a safety move to keep dangerous drivers from striking bicyclists, runners and walkers along State Route 159.
Here’s a Save Red Rock time line and map showing the overall trail network in Red Rock Canyon:
Bicyclists have pleaded with state transportation officials, Clark County, a federal agency that builds trails in scenic areas, Summerlin master developer Howard Hughes Corp., the city of Las Vegas and the Bureau of Land Management to build a paved trail from the fast-growing Las Vegas suburb of Summerlin to the popular Red Rock Scenic Drive and beyond to State Route 160.
Southern Nevada has subsidized major league stadiums and spent millions of dollars on sponsoring sports events, but people just kept on asking, “When will the Legacy Trail be built.”
Well, now there’s a groundbreaking.
