Let there be light: 400 streetlights added to the long dark Boulder Highway

Motorists driving at night on the 7.5-mile stretch of Boulder Highway in Henderson will notice a brighter commute.

The city recently activated 400 new streetlights along the busy road — the latest sign of progress on the Reimagine Boulder Highway project.

Boulder Highway is one of the most dangerous roads in Nevada and is the scene of 25 percent of all traffic deaths in Henderson. The increased lighting is expected to create a safer environment for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, as nighttime visibility has been an issue in the past, according to the city.

“This is a major step forward in making Boulder Highway safer for everyone who uses it,” Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero said in a statement. “Turning on these lights is more than a construction milestone; it’s a meaningful safety improvement for our community.”

The added lighting is the latest milestone hit on the $184 million Reimagine Boulder Highway project, which hit the halfway done mark at the start of the year.

Other completed work includes:

- Installing 20,000 feet of underground storm drains to reduce flooding.

- Upgrading traffic signal wiring at 17 intersections.

- Placing over 50,000 feet of conduit for the streetlights.

- Paving tens of thousands of square yards of asphalt for future travel lanes.

- Adding 7,800 square yards of red concrete bus stops to support reliable and accessible transit.

- Relocating water, electric, gas and communications lines.

The project will reduce the number of traffic lanes from six to four, add wider sidewalks and elevated bike lanes on both sides of the road and create a center-run bus rapid transit system along the 7.5-mile Henderson stretch.

The yearslong project began in the summer of 2024 and is scheduled for completion next year.