"Car-nado" has begun in the Spaghetti Bowl, leading to ramp closures over the next several months.
The Nevada Department of Transportation has closed the Interstate 15 south and northbound ramps to U.S. Highway 95 northbound from 10 p.m., October 26 through late-February 2017.
It is all part of Project NEON, an ongoing project to expand I-15 in the area. The project is costing nearly $1 billion to widen 3.7-mile-long I-15 from the U.S. 95 interchange to Sahara Avenue.
In the past, road work related to Project Neon has only closed roads or ramps overnight or on the weekends.
The I-15 north and southbound ramps to Martin Luther King Boulevard are also closed during the same time frame. Also, the U.S. 95 northbound ramp to Martin Luther King Boulevard is closed, too.
However, downtown Las Vegas access will remain unimpeded with U.S. 95 and I-15 staying open in both directions.
The closures will affect thousands of drivers, including rideshare drivers.
One Lyft driver says she has to add about 15 minutes to every drive, since she has to either sit in traffic, or find a different route.
"Just getting to the strip or maybe to the airport takes a little longer," says Stacey Dunagan.
Take a look in the video player above of the fastest alternate routes.
The department is providing several detour routes while ramp closures are in place, including:
I-15 Southbound to U.S. 95 Northbound
Traffic will exit at Lake Mead Boulevard westbound and head south on Martin Luther King Boulevard for access to U.S. 95 northbound.
I-15 Northbound to U.S. 95 Northbound (Begins Friday, October 28 by 5 a.m.)
Traffic will be detoured onto the Martin Luther King Boulevard exit ramp and back onto U.S. 95 northbound via a temporary one-lane detour with a reduced speed limit.
U.S. 95 Northbound to Martin Luther King Boulevard
Detour traffic will continue onto U.S. 95 northbound to Rancho Drive and turnaround on U.S. 95 southbound to exit at Martin Luther King Boulevard.
I-15 Northbound to Martin Luther King Boulevard
Detour traffic will exit Charleston Boulevard westbound and turn north to access Martin Luther King Boulevard.
I-15 Southbound to Martin Luther King Boulevard
Detour traffic will exit at Lake Mead Boulevard westbound to access Martin Luther King Boulevard.
The 120-day ramp closures are needed for demolition of a 22-year-old two-lane bridge over Martin Luther King Boulevard currently carrying traffic from Interstate 15 northbound to U.S. Highway 95 northbound. The 550-foot-long concrete bridge will be rebuilt to the north of the current location, creating additional room for a future High Occupancy Vehicle flyover structure.
