Progress on 13-Mile Scenic Drive Continues at Red Rock Canyon
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LAS VEGAS – Construction crews are more than half-way done repaving the 13-Mile Scenic Drive at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Mile 8 will begin pulverization today and is expected to be done paving by Friday.
Pine Creek parking lot, which will be expanded from 22 to 79 parking spots, will temporarily close for construction starting this week. This parking lot leads to many rock climbing routes as well as hiking trails such as the Pine Creek Loop and Fire Ecology Trail. This parking lot is expected to reopen by the end of August. Visitors are encouraged to use the Oak Creek parking lot.
Sandstone Quarry parking lot, which will be expanded from 72 to 96 parking spots and add a new loop for bus access and a new pedestrian path connecting the parking area to the trailhead, will temporarily close for construction starting this week. This parking lot leads to several hiking trails including Turtlehead Peak and Calico Tanks. This parking lot is expected to reopen by the end of August. Visitors are encouraged to use the Calico I and Calico II parking lots.
Calico I parking lot, which has been expanded from 42 spots to 167 spots, is expected to reopen May 5. This parking lot leads to many rock climbing routes and Calico Hills 1 hiking trail.
Crews began the pulverization and paving on February 26. The construction, which is scheduled to proceed into summer, will rehabilitate pavement on the entire scenic drive. The project is funded by the Federal Highway Administration is performed by Las Vegas Paving.
Rehabilitation of the pavement of the 13-mile scenic drive is performed in one-mile segments. During this time, the travel lane width is reduced to 11 feet inside the one-mile segment. Each segment should take one week to complete. There is a reduced speed limit and no passing allowed in the active construction segments. Visitors are asked to take extreme caution while traveling in the construction area, as it could be shared motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
Progress and current construction area updates will be posted to BLM Nevada social media, including the Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/BLMNevada and the Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/BLMNV, and available at the fee booths and Visitors’ Center.
Public meetings were held in 2014 on the project, which received wide-spread support. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/29n23gb or http://bit.ly/29oGKps.
Red Rock Canyon was designated as Nevada's first national conservation area. It is located 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip on Charleston Boulevard/State Route 159. The area includes a LEED certified visitor center, 13-Mile Scenic Drive, miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, road biking, picnic areas, nature observing and the Red Spring Interpretive Boardwalk. More information on Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is available at www.blm.gov/site-page/RRCNCA.
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.