Some 82 days before the Las Vegas Grand Prix returns to Sin City this November, construction is set to begin on preparations for the big race.
On Monday, August 9, crews will begin installing lighting and making initial preparations for the first of three temporary pedestrian bridges to be introduced across the Las Vegas Strip.
The high-speed, globally popular race takes over a significant portion of the Las Vegas Strip. That makes for an iconic backdrop and viewing experience, but it’s also disruptive to the tens of thousands of people who live and work in the area.
Officials have promised that preparing for the race this year will be less disruptive than it was for 2023’s inaugural race.
Clark County is still dealing with legal challenges from casino and other business operators who felt their bottom lines were impacted by the 2023 race.
To counter some of the concerns, Formula One has launched a new interactive road map service to update Las Vegas residents on potential traffic problems and disruption throughout the race prep. It has also introduced a priority parking area for casino resort employees, which is now under construction.
The Works
Next Monday will mark the start of nearly three months of work to ready the Las Vegas Strip for the big ticket event.
Crews will be out between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays. The intersection of Koval Lane and Rochelle Avenue will have reduced lanes of traffic and some closures between those times. Workers there will begin the first temporary pedestrian bridges.
Harmon Avenue, from Las Vegas Boulevard to Koval Lane, will also be reduced to one lane (both ways) at the same time, as crews install race lighting rigs. Both tasks will initially take one week, from September 9 to September 15.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix has set up its new web tracker and an SMS text service with bi-weekly updates on the works scheduled.
The Controversy
The inaugral 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix was a successful sporting spectacle, and certainly made a large amount of money for the big casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.
But exactly how much, and how much of it went to smaller businesses and local government, has been a hot topic of discussion among locals, lawmakers and the media.
In fact, a coalition of small business owners and a Las Vegas Strip casino owner are separately involved in legal action against Clark County over business disruptions because of the race and its prep.
F1 and Las Vegas officials have promised the setup will be significantly less disruptive this year. It has also initiated a rearranged transport and parking scheme for casino resort employees.
Las Vegas Grand Prix SVP of corporate affairs Lori Nelson-Kraft promised a “very convenient park and ride option” during prep and the event itself. She cited the support of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in implementing the plan.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
