Four Strip pedestrian bridges to be upgraded by 2017

2 July 2015

The oldest of the pedestrian bridges that crisscross the Strip will be overhauled in a $26 million upgrade that will be paid for by the people who use them most — Las Vegas tourists.

The Nevada Transportation Department on Wednesday announced plans to upgrade the four pedestrian overpasses at Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue.

About 130,000 people a day use the bridges to access MGM Grand Las Vegas, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Excalibur Hotel and Casino, and Tropicana Las Vegas.

Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., working with Jacobs as engineer and Studio West as architect, will replace 16 escalators, four at each corner, with state-of-the-art equipment, while installing low-energy glass and air-conditioning units to the elevators. Aesthetic improvements call for placing new tempered glass wind screens and polished aluminum panel cladding along all four bridges.

“This project will greatly improve the safety and efficiency of pedestrian traffic flows at one of the most active pedestrian corners in the state,” Lynette Russell, the Transportation Department’s assistant chief of project management, said in a statement. “It will also create a sleek contemporary look consistent with the newer pedestrian bridge crossings along Las Vegas Boulevard, injecting some new glamour to the Strip.”

The bridges are 165 feet long, 16 feet wide and have 17-foot clearance heights. Existing bridges are 21 years old, but there have been frequent failures in the escalator systems.

Work is expected to begin in early 2016 with completion by mid-2017.

When the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority discussed the project earlier this year, board members were hopeful it could be completed before the opening of the MGM-AEG arena just west of New York-New York. That won’t happen, since the arena is scheduled to open in 2016.

During the discussion, blame for delaying the start of the project was placed on operators of the Tropicana who wanted to incorporate the bridge landings into the property’s retail complex.

Funding for the project is coming from the convention authority, which is mandated by the state to provide revenue to the Transportation Department for transportation projects beneficial to the tourism corridor.

The authority collects most of its revenue from room taxes and leases to trade show producers using the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Related Links
Nevada Online Gambling
Excalibur Hotel and Casino Details
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Details
New York New York Hotel & Casino Details
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Gaming Vendor Information


Copyright GamingWire. All rights reserved.
Featured Vendors
Casino Network
Concept 3, LLC
Casino Network
20+ years experience selling refurbished slot machines, parts & glass for all major brands
Concept 3, LLC
Custom Creations, Unmatched Value – Elevating Brands with Quality & Savings Since 2004
Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) Conference
Betson Imperial Parts & Service
Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) Conference
The biggest little show in Indian gaming! Save the date: July 14-16, 2025 Oklahoma City
Betson Imperial Parts & Service
Your one stop shop for all your gaming and OEM needs!
Rymax Marketing Services, Inc.
Regulatory Management Counselors, PC
Rymax Marketing Services, Inc.
Leader in creating award winning player & employee loyalty programs & events proven to increase ROI
Regulatory Management Counselors, PC
Over 45 years of experience serving the legal and regulatory needs of casino industry clients
Slot Machines Unlimited
Casino Schedule Ease
Slot Machines Unlimited
Exporter of IGT, Williams, AVP, Trimline, Aristocrat, Konami, Bally, & parts over 20 yrs experience
Casino Schedule Ease
Full Featured & customizable for the complex scheduling needs of table games & other casino depts
Texas Slots & Gaming
REDW Business & Financial Resources, LLC
Texas Slots & Gaming
Wholesale gaming reimagined. Texas Slots & Gaming is your sustainable gaming partner.
REDW Business & Financial Resources, LLC
Improve Your Odds of Success: Trust in REDW’s Tribal Casino Operations & Audit Experts!
Sunkist Graphics, Inc.
Imagine This
Sunkist Graphics, Inc.
Specializing in the creation of best-of-breed gaming graphics - slot glass, sign faces, and more
Imagine This
Imagine This #1 Source for Player Gifts. Over $50 million in stock ready to ship! Let us serve you!
Prezzee
Casino City Press
Prezzee
Prezzee provides digital gift cards from top brands to reward loyal guests and employees.
Casino City Press
A leading publisher and distributor of casino and gaming business data and market research reports.
TribalHub
TribalHub
26th Annual TribalNet Conference Sept 15-18, 2025 at Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada


Your Guide to 14,987 Gaming Industry Suppliers