The city of Las Vegas Public Works Department currently is working on projects that will greatly improve pedestrian mobility, vehicle and bike connectivity; freeway access and streetscape/landscape amenities (beautification) within the Las Vegas Medical District (LVMD). According to Shani Coleman, the city’s redevelopment manager and chairman of the LVMD Planning Committee, these are important projects for the city of Las Vegas.

“The accessibility and beautification projects are the backbone of the changes you will see in the Las Vegas Medical District. These will be a key factor in bringing in new complementary business to the area,” said Coleman. “The Las Vegas Medical District Advisory Council is preparing the Las Vegas Medical District to become the premier one-stop healthcare hub for Las Vegas. Once the aesthetics change and the navigation changes and the new UNLV School of Medicine joins our amazing hospitals and medical centers, other healthcare centers will want to join! We are seeing this excitement build already.”

Some of the area improvement projects that are in the works include:

The Shadow Lane Improvement project (Alta Drive to Charleston Boulevard) includes widened sidewalks, shade trees, street lights, preservation of existing bike lanes and improvements to pedestrian crossings. Meetings have been held with the LVMD Advisory Council, Valley Hospital, UMC, UNLV and UNR Schools of Medicine regarding the ongoing design. LVMD monuments will be constructed at Charleston Boulevard, Bearden Lane and Alta Drive.

The LVMD Sidewalk Infill project currently is under design to construct missing sidewalk on public rights of way within the LVMD. In addition to constructing new sidewalks, improvements are being made to bring existing sidewalk ramps up to current ADA standards. The city has just started outreach efforts with property owners to coordinate project improvements.

The Bearden Lane and Goldring Realignment projects are close to being fully designed. Proposed roadway improvements are being coordinated with Bearden Lane improvements, to be constructed with Nevada Department of Transportation’s Project Neon to the east, which will connect to Martin L. King Boulevard (MLK). This project includes widened sidewalks, shade trees, street lights, bike lanes, a traffic signal and a monument sign to coordinate with those placed at Charleston Boulevard and Alta Drive.

Other projects in the neighborhood include:

Project Neon also is currently under construction. Freeway access into the LVMD will be improved at Alta Drive, Charleston Boulevard, Bearden Lane and the NEON Gateway. Reconstruction of MLK along the LVMD’s eastern border will bring with it widened sidewalks, street landscaping, bike lanes, and enhanced connectivity via Hastings, Pinto, and Bearden. A linear park along the north side of Bearden just west of MLK will include a shade structure, seating area and adult exercise equipment with bike racks.

The University Medical Center Sanitary Sewer Replacement & Charleston Median Enhancements project recently was completed. The project replaced about 500 feet of sewer within the University Medical Center Campus at Charleston Boulevard and Shadow Lane and beautified two median islands with rock and metal sculptures on Charleston near Tonopah Drive.

More projects are also in the planning and early design stages.

Photo:  Conceptual rendering of the new LVMD entrance at Bearden and Martin L. King Boulevard.