Construction Completed on Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive and Parking Lot Improvements
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Las Vegas – The first phase of transportation improvements at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Construction is completed.
Traffic has been rerouted and now crosses new low water bridge crossings at the Sandstone and Red Rock washes. The new bridges replaced the existing at-grade road alignments on the 13-mile Scenic Drive and will greatly improve visitor safety during flash floods in both areas as well as improve traffic flow by reducing the frequency of closing the scenic drive during rain or storm events. The first phase of improvements also included paving and other improvements to the parking lots at the visitor center.
Work on the first phase began in January 2015 and was funded by Federal Highway Administration and the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act. Public meetings were held in 2014 and the project received wide-spread support.
The potential improvements for phase two include rehabilitating the pavement along the 13-mile Scenic Drive and improving parking at the following parking lots: Calico 1, Calico 2, Sandstone Quarry, White Rock, Willow Springs, Ice Box Canyon, Red Rock Wash, and Pine Creek Canyon; improving a section of the road from the visitor center to Sandstone Quarry to two-way traffic; and constructing a one-way return route from Sandstone Quarry to the visitor center. The proposed improvements will be prioritized based on input from the public as well as available funding. A public meeting will be held later this spring to provide additional information.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.