After 3 years, ‘critical’ Las Vegas interchange to reopen to near-full capacity

The Tropicana Avenue-Interstate 15 interchange will reopen this week to near-full capacity, bringing relief to drivers who have endured three years of traffic delays, lane shifts and closures during the $382 million reconstruction project.

The busy interchange, which has seen major impacts tied to the job since 2022, will reopen at 5 a.m. Thursday following a nearly full-day closure of Tropicana that begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday, the Nevada Department of Transportation announced Monday.

Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft, whose district includes Allegiant Stadium, said the extensive project has been a challenge for motorists, but the long-term benefits of the upgrades are worth the wait.

“The last three years have been tough on those of us who traverse the 15 nearly every day, but because of the skilled workers who build our infrastructure, this vital project will serve residents, visitors and businesses big and small like never before,” Naft told the Las Vegas Review-Journal via text message Tuesday.

‘Critical gateway to the south Strip’

Despite the traffic mess caused by the project, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO Steve Hill said such infrastructure improvements are “vital to Las Vegas’ continued growth and reputation as the undisputed global destination for leisure and business travel.”

“The I-15/Tropicana interchange is a critical gateway to the south Strip, Allegiant Stadium, and Harry Reid International Airport,” Hill said in an email. “Its reopening will greatly enhance traffic flow, making it easier for residents and visitors to navigate this high-volume corridor.”

When that occurs, Tropicana Avenue over I-15 will feature four lanes in each direction between Polaris Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. The bridge had been down to two lanes in each direction and had a diverging diamond traffic pattern for much of the past three years, as crews worked to widen the road.

The newly widened I-15 northbound off-ramp to Tropicana eastbound and westbound, and the new Tropicana on-ramp to I-15 southbound will reopen.

Turn lanes from Tropicana to I-15 northbound and southbound will have one lane each because of ongoing median work.

The I-15 southbound flyover ramp to eastbound Tropicana, which reopened in March with one lane, will move to two lanes.

The Tropicana on-ramp to I-15 northbound will continue to have temporary reduced capacity, according to NDOT.

First, a closure

Before the Tropicana interchange reopens Thursday, a nearly full-day closure will occur on the road between the Strip and Polaris to allow crews to re-stripe the road and calibrate the traffic signals. The full closure of this stretch of Tropicana is planned to take place between 9 a.m. Wednesday and 5 a.m. Thursday.

During the Tropicana closure, associated I-15 on-ramps and off-ramps will be closed to traffic.

The reopening of the Tropicana interchange will improve access to Arena and Frank Sinatra drives, which saw access restored last week on a limited scope.

Still more to be done

More work on the I-15/Tropicana project must be done before it is substantially completed.

I-15 between Hacienda and Harmon avenues remains at four lanes in each direction, which causes daily congestion during high traffic times. I-15 northbound will expand to five lanes on the morning of May 15, and the southbound lanes are expected to fully reopen on the morning of May 16, according to NDOT spokeswoman Kelsey McFarland. The reopenings are scheduled for about 5 a.m. both days, McFarland said.

In July, crews are scheduled to repave I-15 in both directions between Warm Springs and Flamingo roads. The repaving will require multiple full-directional closures of the interstate.

The stretch of high-occupancy vehicle lanes on I-15 that were removed during the project will be re-striped during the July repaving, according to McFarland.

Tropicana will be widened between Valley View Boulevard and Polaris, but this work is not expected to begin until the fall.

The major interchange project saw the demolition of the Tropicana bridge, which allowed crews to raise and widen the structure. The Harmon high-occupancy vehicle half-interchange, the reconfiguration of Dean Martin Drive and the addition of Joey Bishop Drive were part of the project. The four-way intersection at Tropicana and Dean Martin was eliminated as part of Dean Martin’s new layout.

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.