Las Vegas Boulevard

Las Vegas Blvd narrows to four lanes north of the strip through downtown. This view is north along S. Las Vegas Boulevard near Park Paseo.

Las Vegas Boulevard is a major road in Las Vegas Valley of Nevada, best known for the Las Vegas Strip and its casinos. Formerly carrying US 91, the main highway between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, it has been bypassed by Interstate 15, and serves mainly local traffic with some sections designated State Route 604.

History

Las Vegas Boulevard in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada has had several names, including 5th Street, the Arrowhead Highway, Los Angeles Highway, Salt Lake Highway, U.S. Route 91 (entire segment), U.S. Route 93 (from Fremont Street north), U.S. Route 466 (from Jean to Fremont Street, including the Las Vegas Strip) and State Route 6 (entire segment, not signed).

South of the city, Las Vegas Boulevard was commonly known as the Los Angeles Highway. Just north of Jean, Nevada Historical Marker 195 marks the place where the last spike on the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad line was driven.

With the construction of I-15, Las Vegas Boulevard went from being the main through road to one that only served as a city street for locals and tourists. The name change reflects its local importance rather than past names when it served as a main intra city road.

On October 16, 2009, the Federal Highway Administration announced the designation of a new National Scenic Byway on the boulevard. The 3.5-mile (5.6 km) section starting at Sahara Avenue and running north to Washington Avenue was designated the City of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Boulevard State Scenic Byway.^[1]

Route description

Las Vegas Boulevard runs the length of the city of Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada. "The Boulevard", as it is sometimes called by longtime Las Vegas residents, starts at Apex, and continues south to about 2 mi (3.2 km) south of Jean, in the Mojave Desert. The Boulevard shows up again in Primm, Nevada but is currently not connected to the northern sections.

At its northern end in Apex, the Boulevard starts in an industrial complex of manufacturing plants and power plants running along the Union Pacific Railroad line. As you travel south, the road meets Nellis Air Force Base on the east side and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the west side.

As the road enters North Las Vegas, it passes through some of the older commercial areas of the city. As the road approaches Las Vegas itself, you see some of what Vegas was as some of the older casinos appear along with some of the older and more famous strip clubs.

On entering the city of Las Vegas, the Boulevard showcases the city's past with a number of museums. the Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park and the Neon Museum at the Fremont Street Experience. On crossing Washington Avenue, the Boulevard is designated as the Downtown Las Vegas Boulevard Scenic Byway by the state. This designation continues down to Sahara Avenue.

Further south is a stretch of road that has many of the older motels, bars and wedding chapels that were among the high points of the old Vegas before the era of the megaresorts.

Las Vegas Strip

Main article: Las Vegas Strip

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, picture taken looking north up the strip

It is at this point the Boulevard leaves the city of Las Vegas and assumes its unofficial name the Las Vegas Strip for the next four miles (6 km). This portion of Las Vegas Boulevard begins at the Stratosphere and runs to Mandalay Bay. This is the section of the road most people are familiar with; it is home to casino megaresorts with their world famous lights and attractions. It is designated as an All-American Road. At the end of "The Strip", the road passes the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and runs along the western edge of the McCarran International Airport property.

The "South Strip" is used to describe the section of Las Vegas Boulevard between Russell Road and Blue Diamond Road. Along this stretch, development thins out except for newer shopping malls, hotels and condominiums as the Boulevard continues to travel south, just east of Interstate 15.

Public transportation

RTC Transit Routes 113, 301(The Deuce), and 501(MAX) function on this road.

See also

• Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection
• Las Vegas Strip

References

1. ^ "U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces America's Byways Designations for 2009" (Press release). Federal Highway Administration. 2009-10-16. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa0931.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-20. 

Preceded by Gardner's Ranch

Nevada Historical Markers 195

Succeeded by Carson City Mint