Nevada County to Ante Up for Bridge Insurance

LAS VEGAS — Clark County officials agreed Wednesday to pick up the tab for liability insurance on a privately financed $3-million bridge designed to carry casino workers and gamblers to the booming resort town of Laughlin, Nev.

The action is designed to break an impasse that developed last month after the span over the Colorado River was dedicated by the governors of Nevada and Arizona.

The bridge is designed to replace the river boats used to ferry gamblers and workers between Laughlin and Bullhead City, Ariz.

Laughlin developer Don Laughlin paid for the 750-foot bridge personally, but his spokesman said Clark County had agreed to pay for maintenance and liability insurance.

Disputed Agreement

County officials first disputed that agreement, but county commissioners voted Wednesday to pay $9,000 a year for liability insurance. The county also agreed to split $1,500 in annual maintenance costs with Mohave County, Ariz.

Clark County will cover the costs for the next 4 1/2 years, with responsibility reverting to the state of Nevada in November of 1991.

Officials said they expect that the bridge, which has remained closed during the impasse, to open within the next few days.

Currently, the trip between Laughlin and Bullhead City is made over a traffic-choked, two-lane highway that crosses Davis Dam, several miles upstream from the two towns.