Formula 1 construction is reshaping traffic around the Las Vegas Strip, with the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane closed around the clock through 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, for installation of a temporary vehicle bridge. Overnight lane restrictions and transit detours are also affecting the resort corridor as crews prepare for the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The five-day intersection closure is the biggest current pinch point. Business access in the area remains open, but drivers should expect a different route through the surrounding streets. The work schedule can change, so check the official F1 circuit-preparation updates before setting out.
This is not one neat closure with one neat detour. Restrictions are moving across several parts of the circuit, and a familiar Strip shortcut may not be the quick option this week.
Where traffic is changing now
As of Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Flamingo Road and Koval Lane intersection is closed in both directions while crews install the temporary Flamingo vehicular bridge. The closure began Sunday night and is scheduled to end at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. Partial sidewalk closures are also in place for pedestrian bridge work. Business access remains open, though drivers should follow local signs and instructions.
Other work is adding pressure to nearby roads. Overnight lane reductions on Harmon Avenue, between Las Vegas Boulevard and Koval Lane, are scheduled from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Oct. 16, with one lane open in each direction. Sands Avenue also has overnight lane reductions from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Oct. 16, between Las Vegas Boulevard and Manhattan Street.
More lane limits are on the schedule
At Sands Avenue, some restrictions are not limited to overnight hours. One eastbound lane between Las Vegas Boulevard and the Palazzo garage, one westbound lane between Manhattan Street and the garage, and a northbound left-turn lane at Koval Lane are listed for continuous closure through race week.
From Oct. 19 through Oct. 23, overnight work is scheduled to reduce Koval Lane to one lane in each direction between Rochelle Avenue and Westchester Drive, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. That work follows the current bridge installation closure, so drivers should not assume Koval will return to its usual flow as soon as the Flamingo intersection reopens.
Another longer-running impact is on Las Vegas Boulevard beside Bellagio. Two southbound lanes and the sidewalk between Flamingo Road and Bellagio Drive are closed for Bellagio Fountain Club construction through Nov. 9. Hotel access remains open, but periodic lane shifts are expected.
Transit riders face detours, too
The road work is changing bus service as well as car trips. Routes 119 and 202 have detours through Oct. 16 because of the Flamingo bridge work, and some Route 119 stops on Koval Lane are closed around the clock. Deuce stops along Las Vegas Boulevard also have scheduled closures: southbound stops close on weekdays from midnight to 9 a.m. through Oct. 30, while stop 3590 near Bellagio and The Cosmopolitan is listed as closed 24 hours a day through Nov. 9.
Those details matter if you are using transit to reach a hotel, job, restaurant or show. A bus that still serves your general area may be using a different path or skipping a nearby stop. The RTC’s Alerts and Detours page has service updates; check it close to departure rather than relying on an old screenshot or a route you remember.
How to plan a Strip-area trip
Give yourself more time if your route crosses Flamingo, Koval, Harmon, Sands or the affected stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard. Check the official construction map for the date and street you need, then follow signs on the ground. A road may be passable while a turn lane, sidewalk or bus stop is not.
- Check the F1 transportation site before driving near the circuit, especially for overnight trips.
- Confirm your hotel entrance or parking access directly with your destination.
- For buses, check the RTC alerts for route detours and closed stops before leaving.
- If you do not need to visit the resort corridor, choose another route and leave the Strip to the crews.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled for Nov. 19 through 21. Preparations are unfolding in stages, so the current detour is not necessarily the next one. The practical rule for locals and visitors is simple: check the route for today, not the route you drove last week. On the Strip, “usually open” is not a traffic plan.
