The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) in the US has awarded a $58.6m construction contract to Aggregate Industries SWR, for the expansion and development of a six-mile stretch of Blue Diamond Road in south-west Clark County.

Under the project, the asphalt highway will be expanded from two to four travel lanes between Mile Markers 16 and 22.

Construction will also include rebuilding and paving the eastbound lanes from the western edge of the Mountain Springs Community to just before the Nye County line.

NDOT director Rudy Malfabon said: “This is vital south-west valley corridor serves as a crucial link between Las Vegas and Pahrump.

“The Mountain Springs Community will receive new frontage roads, improved intersection lighting, and an emergency signal for Clark County Volunteer Fire Station 79.”

“We are pleased to start this final widening phase between two communities that have experienced rapid development in recent years. This highway improvement will expand capacity and enhance motorist safety while also improving mobility and reliability.”

Additionally, five miles of raised concrete median barrier will be placed. New signage and flattening side slopes would be installed for safer turnouts.

Work will involve hydro-seeding 28 acres of land and planting 784 new trees while salvaging and replanting more than 1,000 cactuses.

The Mountain Springs Community will receive new frontage roads, improved intersection lighting, and an emergency signal for Clark County Volunteer Fire Station 79.

New cattleguards and a wildlife under-crossing near Mile Marker 18 will also be built with ten miles of combined deer and tortoise fencing.

Crews will place 590 boulders, 14,000 cubic yards of riprap, and 1,706t of decorative rock for erosion control and stormwater runoff.

Contractors will use a total of 2.4 million pounds of reinforcing steel for the construction project.

The project is slated to commence in September and expected to complete in August 2020.