Het verhaal
Chetak Development announced Monday a proposal for a new intersection at Las Vegas Boulevard and Russell Road and a companion bypass on the east side of the south Strip. Project spokesman Tom Letizia told the Review-Journal it would be the first new intersection on Las Vegas Boulevard in more than 60 years.
The route would use the existing I-15/Russell Road off-ramp, connect to the east side of the Boulevard, then continue on a new four-lane road to Haven Street, Koval Lane and Tropicana Avenue. Haven Street would be extended north to Reno Avenue on land owned by the MHA Nation (the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation). Chairman Mark Fox said the tribe supports roadway solutions that help visitors and locals. Letizia compared the bypass to Frank Sinatra Drive on the west side of the Strip.
The Tropicana–Las Vegas Boulevard intersection carries nearly 100,000 vehicles a day. The Nevada Department of Transportation informally estimates the bypass could cut Tropicana traffic by about 22 percent. Cost and a funding source have not been determined; Chetak is working with area landowners and Clark County. Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson, whose district includes the south Strip, said he supports projects that bring real traffic solutions after developers work with airport and public-works staff.
Chetak is also in talks with Object Dash (the Boring Company) on two Vegas Loop stations near the proposed Diamond Arena; that deal would also supply land for the Boulevard entrance to the bypass. Letizia said the road project is not contingent on an NBA arena. Once work starts, the announcement said, construction would take about 18 months, mostly on land that is not now a road. Land would come from existing public roads and private owners (about 75 percent), county property acquired in 2021 (16 percent), and covering a county drainage ditch (9 percent).