State transportation officials have expanded overnight hours for commercial trucks to use a flood-damaged stretch of Interstate 15 between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, while crews continue repairs. The freeway has one lane open in each direction through a stretch near Moapa, about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Northbound big-rig trucks are being detoured from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. off I-15 to a route that adds 50 miles and several hours to their Nevada-to-Utah trip. Passenger traffic and southbound commercial trucking isn't restricted. The Nevada Department of Transportation says repairs could allow the reopening of both northbound and southbound lanes of the divided highway on Sunday.
Governor Sandoval declared a state of emergency in the rural area after intense rainfall and flash flooding a week ago.
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