
After months of navigating construction zones and detours, Las Vegas residents and visitors alike will soon regain full access to the storied Strip as Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix construction wraps up. According to KTNV, the dismantling of the Grand Prix racetrack is slated for completion by the end of this week, restoring normalcy ahead of the New Year's Eve festivities.
With the track barriers and temporary structures such as grandstands now removed, areas interrupted by the event, such as Koval Lane and the resort corridor, have practically returned to their prior states. "It's about time. It's been about two months since we've had unrestricted access," Kurt Eng, a local Meridian condo resident, told KTNV. Residents have expressed feeling the squeeze from the Grand Prix setup, relying on detoured buses, bicycles, and ride-share services hamstrung by temporary F1-related road closures.
Local businesses and residents, who initially faced disruptions from the F1-related infrastructure, have started to see relief as notable structures like the Flamingo Bridge have been disassembled ahead of schedule, as reported by 8 News Now. F1 officials stated that the bridge was taken apart hours before the expected Saturday night deadline, a structure that had drawn ire from the local business community during last year's event.
Ferraro's Ristorante and Ellis Island Casino, among others, had gone so far as to pursue litigation because of the bridge, with the former claiming significant revenue losses over F1's occupancy. Despite the disputes, the 2024 event hosted 306,000 attendees, according to officials quoted by 8 News Now. Following this year's race, which saw George Russell take the win and Max Verstappen secure his fourth world championship, the city of Las Vegas can anticipate the Grand Prix's return next year from November 20-22, 2025.
The final touches of the cleanup involve dismantling the Top Golf vehicle and Rochelle Pedestrian bridges, and certain lane closures are to be expected in the interim. As per information obtained from the F1 text message thread, two southbound lanes and the sidewalk near the Bellagio will also see brief closures. Nonetheless, during a recent visit by KTNV to the Bellagio site, the area was already clear of structures and open to traffic and pedestrians.