LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Businesses in Chinatown say pothole-like damage along Spring Mountain Road has been rattling drivers and leaving a bad impression on tourists for years.
Joe Muscalione, co-creator of Shanghai Taste and creator of ChinatownVegas.com, said he has documented major indentations along Spring Mountain for about three to four years.
“You could see it and hear it. They’re just, it’s real. They’re not like sinkholes or craters. They’re just, they’re completely torn to smithereens,” Muscalione said.
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Muscalione said he has been raising the issue with local officials for two years.
“Literally every Monday for two years, we’ve been mentioned in these potholes. Two years. Documented,” he said.
Frustration grows as Chinatown booms
Muscalione said the delays are especially frustrating as Chinatown’s popularity has skyrocketed, turning the area into a major tourist and dining destination.
“We recently just documented 248 sit-down restaurants from Jones down to Valley View, which makes it the most dense culinary corridor in all of North America,” he said.
Despite the boom, Muscalione said the streets have not seen the improvements he thinks they need.
“I mean, it just, it should have been repaired a long time ago. I mean, nothing, temporary patching, a couple of buckets of tar wouldn’t improve,” he said.
Muscalione said he started reaching out to local officials, including Commissioner Justin Jones, about a year and a half ago.
“Why the delay or the non-urgency to patch these holes? That part I can’t answer,” he said.
He said people who live, work, and drive through the area are noticing.
“There’s a lot of running jokes. You know, win a free almond cookie if you don’t throw out your back or lose a car part. Start a GoFundMe and fix the road yourself. So we hear all kinds of stuff. And in a way you really can’t blame them,” Muscalione said.
Speed limit, repairs planned
Business owners said the 45 miles per hour speed limit has made the problem more prominent as cars fly down bumpy streets. The city council voted to lower the speed limit to 35 miles per hour, but Commissioner Jones said the speed limit will not be lowered until road improvements are complete.
Jones said he has heard the concerns from Chinatown business owners and residents about the poor condition of the roads and said he is committed to ensuring the area remains safe and accessible. He said comprehensive resurfacing, along with other street upgrades, will begin this fall.
FOX5 reached out to Jones, but he was unable to interview. He provided this written statement:
“We have heard the concerns from our Chinatown business owners and residents regarding the current condition of our roads, specifically the issues with potholes along the Spring Mountain corridor. We are committed to ensuring this vibrant district remains safe and accessible for everyone.
I am pleased to share that Clark County is moving forward with a $9.3 million infrastructure project—Phase 2 of the Spring Mountain Road improvements—covering the stretch from Rainbow Boulevard to Decatur Boulevard. Starting this Fall, we will begin comprehensive roadway milling and resurfacing, along with upgrades to traffic signals, streetlights, and pavement markings.
Furthermore, our work continues as Phase 3 improvements for the segment from Decatur Boulevard to the I-15 are already in design. These combined efforts represent our ongoing commitment to the safety, mobility, and economic vitality of the Chinatown community.”
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