Driving On The Las Vegas Strip Will Be Even Slower Next Week
There are few things more painful than driving on the Las Vegas Strip. Millions of tourists gawk out their windows with reaction times up there with sloths. Pedestrians go by like NPCs coded not to respect the “Don’t Walk” signal. But what if we told you you’ll soon get all of that with just one lane!
Las Vegas Boulevard, still recovering from the nearly year-long project to pave the road for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix last year, is bringing the cone zones once again.
Why Driving On The Las Vegas Strip Will Be Torture
Several portions of Las Vegas Boulevard will have several lanes blocked next week. The worst of which will be between Park Avenue (where Park MGM is) and Harmon Avenue. The northbound lanes will be whittled down to one from Sunday, June 2nd at 9pm through Thursday, June 6th at 3pm.
The stretch, typically four lanes, is sure to be a pinch point for locals and visitors alike looking to get Strip-access. You know the drill. Avoid at all costs.
While that is only the worst of it, there are other closures that will severely limit driving on the Las Vegas Strip as well. And no, it isn’t all happening in the overnight only. Here’s a list of what will be affected and when:
- Beginning Sunday, Las Vegas Boulevard SB between Park Avenue (at Park MGM) and Reno Avenue (between Excalibur and Luxor) will be down to two lanes from Midnight until 9am. This will last through June 21st. Much of the work will happen on weekdays.
- Also beginning Sunday, Las Vegas Boulevard in both directions will be down to two lanes between Harmon Avenue and Flamingo Road. That goes through June 14th. Much of the work will happen on weekdays between midnight and 9am.
- Through June 7th, Tropicana Avenue between Las Vegas Boulevard and Koval will go down to two lanes between 8:30pm and 6:30am.
Those are the more long-term issues. Shorter term, you can expect these lovely closures:
- The Showcase Mall parking garage entrance on Las Vegas Boulevard will be inaccessible from 9pm on Monday, June 3rd through 5pm on Tuesday, June 4th. That will also affect that road between Target and Walgreens with the sneaky free parking.
- The next day, the Aria Place and Las Vegas Boulevard intersection will be closed will be closed to people trying to get in and out of the Aria (east and west traffic) from Tuesday, June 4th at 9pm to Wednesday, June 5th at 5pm.
- Then the southbound turn lanes from Las Vegas Boulevard into MGM Drive (across from Park Avenue) will be closed from Wednesday, June 5th at 9pm through Thursday, June 6th at 3pm.
This Is All To Make Driving On The Las Vegas Strip Better And Safer
Obviously all of these closures are frustrating, but believe it or not they are being done for us.
This portion of the Las Vegas Boulevard Improvement Project (the incredibly boring 269 page document available on the Clark County website illustrates) will involve moving a lot of dirt, paving and more along Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue.
This will all (hopefully) making driving on the Las Vegas Strip better. Although depending on who you ask, no one should drive on it at all.
Which Las Vegas Strip Casino Implosion Should Happen Next
Sahara
It was here, gone and back again. The remodel looks great but reminders of how old the place is are everywhere.
There are some that believe if a property has a street named after it, it should be protected at all costs. The Sahara opened in 1952 and hosted many of the greats. Back in 2011, the property changed hands and eventually became the SLS Las Vegas. The rebrand was decent and the remodel was jaw dropping… but it didn’t make many waves in the city. Eventually the legendary Sahara name came roaring back, and the property has been the beneficiary of many concert events across the street at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. We like what they’ve done with the property. But at the very least the parking garage has got to go.
Circus Circus
We all know that Circus Circus is quite corny and long in the tooth. But it makes money without debt and that makes it an unlimited money glitch.
This won’t happen anytime soon, although it should. The clown property has seen better days but recently owner Phil Ruffin has put some cash into fixing the property’s iconic neon sign. Is it pretty? No. But is the property paid for and an ATM for Ruffin? Yes. The property is sitting on over 100 acres of land – about 14 more than Resorts World! That is a lot of land to do a lot of things on. But the one thing Circus Circus has going for it that Resorts World and Fontainebleau do not? Low expectations and costs.
Best Western Plus Casino Royale
Blink and you might miss it. Don’t blink and you might wish you did.
Say it with us… “blow it up!” The property is the home to Denny’s, White Castle, and likely the worst accommodations on the Las Vegas Strip. It is actually quite shocking that this could be nestled near The Venetian. Sure, people need discount options but this is centrally located land. There is speculation that the owners have bigger plans for the property. The only thing that might stop this from being an implosion is the proximity to Harrah’s. Unless…
Harrah's
With the exception of Carnival Court, Harrah’s has lost any identity on the Strip.
First, we need to save Donny Osmond. Then, send the property packing. It has been open since 1972 and now has become a bit of a forgotten child between and across from several iconic landmarks. Of all the properties we think could be erased on this list, Harrah’s and Casino Royale may take the cake. There is only so much you can update. We think if you were to keep Carnival Court and blow up the rest, many wouldn’t notice.
Flamingo
It is almost blasphemy to consider blowing this up.
Just talking about blowing up the Flamingo hurts. Yes, it is dated. Yes it is centrally located and if it were something of Resorts World or Fontainebleau’s caliber with that location they’d be a juggernaut. But… this is the Flamingo. It has a street. Is the building ugly? Sure. Is the neon incredible? You bet. Just the history alone, you can’t. Even Barbary Coast got a second (and third and fourth) life. Nevermind. We take this back.
Excalibur
Hear ye, hear ye! Tis time for this fake castle to fall!
Don’t think you got out of this unscathed, MGM Resorts. The time has come for Excalibur. Of all the properties, we might feel the most strongly about this one. The property has been the “ugh fine, it’s cheap” option for quite a while now. But there is so much space that is going unused and the theming is so weak at this point that there is no better time than now to let it rip. A new baseball stadium (supposedly) being opened across the street. The Knights. The Raiders. All walking distance. Tournament Of Kings? Thunder From Down Under? Australian Bee Gees? Please walk a safe distance away. We will find homes for you. Building? Ya gotta go.
Honorable Mention: The Strat
We don’t want to see it go, but we do want to see it blow (up).
The Las Vegas Strip technically ends at Sahara. But if you consider The Strat part of the Strip, first, sorry you’re wrong. But second, sure, we’ll give you a taste. The Strat has done some pretty great stuff lately to improve the property and their rooms. Plus the new Atomic Golf opening soon looks like it will be fun. But… we all saw that Landmark implosion. Admit it. It was cool. Imagine The Strat going down? That could be incredible! Plus, let’s face it, it would be hilarious watching half the valley get lost after losing the one landmark they use to get a grasp on where they are in the city.
