Runners, not drivers, kings of roads

With long-distance runners braving the crisp morning air, Sunday's big event also will trigger marathon road closures that mostly will inconvenience cabbies and employees of Strip businesses.

The Strip will be closed to vehicles for approximately eight hours early Sunday as almost 30,000 athletes from all 50 states and from 39 countries take part in a different Las Vegas activity -- exercising, not gambling.

The road closures are a trade-off for the estimated $50 million the Zappos.com Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon pumps into the local economy.

The starting gun will fire off at 7 a.m., but participants and spectators must arrive far earlier. Roads surrounding the starting line and finish line at Mandalay Bay will close at 5 a.m., and they are not expected to reopen until around noon.

Race officials introduced the new Las Vegas marathon in 2005, and more participants jumped at the chance to run along the Strip and through the Fremont Street Experience.

Last year, the race was changed again by running the course up and down the Strip rather than veering off into the suburbs after it reached downtown. The number of participants doubled.

"It's one of the more popular competitive courses with built-in entertainments," said publicist Lee Haney, referring in part to the live bands along the route.

"There are always going to be some people surprised by (the closure), but the organizers do a good job going the extra mile to communicate road closures."

The newer route means the Strip will be closed for a longer period of time, about 5½ hours. The majority of Las Vegas Boulevard will be shut down between 5 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The road will reopen starting with the northbound lanes as the last runners pass through the southern end of the course. Las Vegas Boulevard between Mandalay Bay and Russell Road will be closed from 3 a.m. until noon.

Participants will head north on the Strip to downtown, where they will loop around using Bridger Avenue, Eighth Street and Fremont Street to head back down toward Mandalay Bay. Half-marathoners end their race at that point while those enduring the full marathon will head west on Hacienda Avenue.

They will cut away from Hacienda at certain points, forcing the closure of the following streets from 6 a.m. until between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (the roads farthest to the west will reopen first): Arville Street, Reno Avenue, Cameron Street, Decatur Boulevard, Polaris Avenue, Dewey Drive, Procyon Street, Valley View Boulevard, Mesa Vista Avenue, Wynn Road, Ali Baba Lane, Dean Martin Drive, Patrick Lane, Ponderosa Way and Oquendo Road.

From Interstate 15, drivers will not be able to travel east across Las Vegas Boulevard on Charleston Boulevard until about 11 a.m., on Sahara Avenue until 11:30 a.m., on Tropicana Avenue until 12:15 p.m. and on Flamingo Road until about 12:15 p.m.

For workers, tourists or spectators who want to reach Strip properties during the race, organizers suggest Paradise Road for hotel-casinos on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard.

From Paradise, visitors can access Sahara Avenue, Desert Inn Road or Tropicana Avenue to reach the rear entrances to the properties.

To access the back side of properties on the west side of the Strip, organizers suggest taking Interstate 15 to Sahara, Spring Mountain Road, Flamingo Road or Tropicana Avenue.

Mandalay Bay and the Luxor can be reached by taking I-15 to Frank Sinatra Drive or to westbound Russell Road. Parking will be available on the west side of the property. Before 7 a.m., motorists can take westbound Russell Road, northbound Polaris and eastbound Hacienda Avenue. Parking for Mandalay Bay will be on the right, and the Luxor lot will be on the left.

Between 5 and 11 a.m., visitors can access City Center by taking Frank Sinatra on the backside of the property.

The Fashion Show mall can be reached by taking eastbound Spring Mountain Road from Interstate 15.

Turn left on Mel Torme Way for parking on the south side of the mall; for other parking lots, motorists should continue on Mel Torme, making a turn right on Industrial Boulevard to Fashion Show Drive.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.