LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – It’s a sign that the Las Vegas Grand Prix is around the corner: the trees in front of the Bellagio Fountains are coming down.
A recent F1 construction update announced major traffic closures along the Strip starting late on Sunday, Sept. 15. The closures will aid MGM in the construction of the Bellagio Fountain Club, but are expected to impact both drivers and pedestrians.
To help valley residents avoid the chaos of last year, F1 officials are working to increase transparency to help valley residents better navigate the closures and changes.
The main changes coming to the Strip include a two-lane closure along Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the Bellagio and the temporary relocation of the trees in front of the fountains. Both are set to start on Monday, Sept. 16. However, lane closures will last through December while officials say the trees will be replaced “ahead of New Year’s Eve.”
The Bellagio fountains will continue operating as normal during the closure.
“We wanna make sure that locals feel that they have the information they need for the commute,” says Lori Nelson-Kraft, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at Formula 1 Las Vegas.
One of the ways F1 will increase transparency is the use of a recently launched website dedicated to traffic information on the 3.8-mile circuit. Users can use the website to check for day and nighttime restrictions, as well as look ahead to future weeks for upcoming closures.
“If the work we’re doing during the overnight hours intersects with commutes and things like that, we want everybody to be well aware,” Nelson-Kraft said.
Last year, a 24-hour, double-lane closure in the same area caused a severe gridlock at the intersection of Flamingo and Las Vegas Boulevard. F1 officials are hoping a more advance notice will help valley commuters plan their routes accordingly.
FOX5′s Ken Smith asked Kraft in a recent interview how often commuters can expect updates to the website.
Nelson-Kraft told FOX5, “What we can tell you is… if there are any updates that the county makes to the plan, it will be updated in real-time.”
To help you avoid getting stuck in the F1 “Cone Zone,” make sure to visit F1′s interactive traffic website, or sign up for text alerts by texting F1LV to 31996.
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