Officials try to avoid traffic, parking woes

      Local law enforcement officials and military personnel are warning of traffic delays and road closures as they try to accommodate the 300,000 visitors expected at today's and Saturday's air show at Nellis Air Force Base.
      In fact, they're advising spectators to leave no later than 8 a.m. if they want to make it to the base by 9:30 a.m., when the show begins.
      "We feel comfortable of getting people in without any problems," said Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Steve Harney. "But people still need to understand that there are a lot of people coming and that traffic will be slow."
      The Golden Air Tattoo show is free and runs today and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 150 vintage and modern airplanes will be on display.
      Parking for the show is available at the Las Vegas Speedway and at a lot on base, which can be entered near Lake Mead Boulevard and Toiyabe Street. That parking area will accept only car pools with three or more passengers per vehicle.
      Harney said police officials have worked out a plan that will prevent long delays that resulted, in one case last year, in thousands of visitors waiting in traffic for several hours on Interstate 15. They were trying to attend a race at the speedway.
      Here's what's planned this year to help cars move quickly through town:
      The northbound shoulder lane of I-15 will be opened for cars entering the speedway's parking lot. Visitors parking at the speedway must use the raceway exit off I-15.
      Free shuttles will run throughout the day to transport visitors to the base and back to the parking lot. There also will be a path to walk onto the base.
      Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed between Range Road and Apex Drive.
      Citizens Area Transit buses will run more frequently. Today and Saturday, riders of Line 113 will be able to board buses every 10 minutes. Line 113 will start service at 6:57 a.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. on both days. Line 115 will start service at 6:57 a.m. and end at 8 p.m. on both days. Riders will be able to board Line 115 buses every 30 minutes.
      No one will be allowed access onto the base through the main gate during the air show. Exceptions are those who are directly involved with working the show.
      Most base facilities, including the base exchange, commissary, golf course and satellite pharmacy, will be closed during the show.
      About 70 officers from the Highway Patrol, Metropolitan Police Department and the North Las Vegas Police Department will be assigned to work the show, Harney said.
      In addition, between 100 and 200 Nellis personnel will help direct traffic within the speedway parking lots and surrounding areas.
      Security will be strict at the base as it has been throughout the week at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Las Vegas Hilton where about 80 air chiefs from foreign military branches met as part of the Global Air Chiefs Conference.
      Special Agent Jim Taylor of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations would not say how many Air Force personnel are working in security.
      "Security is paramount," Taylor said. "The foreign air chiefs are the guests of the Air Force. We're providing comprehensive but unobtrusive security."
      His office has brought in dogs trained to sniff out explosives and dangerous weapons.
      However, many of the officers assigned to the week's events work undercover, similar to Secret Service agents, Taylor said.
      Taylor and other Air Force officials would not confirm or deny rumors that President Clinton is coming to the show.
      However, Las Vegas police spokesman Phil Roland said that Air Force officials told him that if President Clinton attends, he will be flown to the base.
      Air show visitors may be subject to search.
      Nellis officials say they will not allow people to bring coolers, weapons, alcohol, glass containers or radio scanners.
      However, cameras, binoculars and water jugs will be allowed.