Northbound airport tunnel traffic affected by night road project

By Kyle B. Hansen

Published Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011 | 2 a.m.

Updated Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 | 3:22 p.m.

Motorists will want to avoid using the northbound airport connector tunnel at night for the next five weeks, McCarran International Airport officials said.

The airport has been making adjustments to its road system, largely in preparation for the opening of the new Terminal 3 next summer. The next two projects will affect tunnel traffic, both for those going to the airport and those bypassing it to access the resort corridor or UNLV.

Work is scheduled to begin Sunday night on a project to remove and replace 40 overhead signs in the northbound tunnel, airport spokesman Chris Jones said. The life-safety signs will be replaced with upgraded models.

During work periods, the tunnel will be reduced to one lane, which will use the shoulder of the road since traffic cannot pass below the signs during the work, Jones said.

The work will occur from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights for the next five weeks, Jones said. Motorists should avoid the tunnel during those hours.

Jones said Monday the contractor would shift the work hours to 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Thursday to help with traffic for the National Finals Rodeo. Work will return to the 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. schedule next week.

As an added incentive to avoid the tunnel, a separate project will detour traffic on the road just north of the tunnel. Crews will be pouring concrete for a new bridge for Terminal 3.

During the project, northbound traffic coming out of the tunnel will be diverted around the work area by using the ramps for Flight Path Avenue, Jones said.