ROAD WARRIOR

“Living in the area at Cheyenne Avenue and Rampart Boulevard where it meets Durango Drive, we have endured horrible road construction and sewer-line improvements since March. We were told it would last ‘through December.’ December is almost here and the lanes are still narrowed and we rarely see road crews working. It’s been a nightmare. Any information on when this will be completed?”

When this project was announced in the middle of January, city officials estimated it would take 11 to 12 months to complete, so it’s running on schedule and “through December” is accurate.

It’s a 1.1-mile installation of new 30- and 36-inch sewer pipes extending from the Cheyenne-Rampart intersection to Durango Hills Water Resource Center.

Lake Mead Boulevard is recommended as an alternate east-west travel route and Buffalo Drive may be better for north-south travelers.

Until everything is wrapped up in January.

Heavy traffic

Hang on to your 10-gallon hats, the Wranglers National Finals Rodeo is coming to town this week and 10 performances are on tap beginning Thursday night.

That means you’re bound to run into heavy traffic at various times and locations around town as more than 100,000 competitors and fans jam the city for the last major event in town before New Year’s Eve.

A vehicular stampede is likely around Thomas & Mack Center for every performance, which begin at 6:45 p.m., Dec. 3-12. The event is a sell-out, so count on traffic along Tropicana Avenue, Swenson Street and Paradise Road to get uglier than normal around 6 p.m.

Traffic around many local resorts will also be heavy at that time because 42 Southern Nevada properties are getting satellite feeds of the rodeo broadcast.

The 29th annual Downtown Hoedown, kind of an entertainment-filled pre-rodeo tailgate party, is scheduled from 4:30 to 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fremont Street Experience.

There are several events related to NFR all around town, including Cowboy Christmas, Cowboy Corral, Country Christmas and Western Gift shows and the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. The busiest areas will be the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Sands Expo and Convention Center, the MGM Grand Convention Center and the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center.

Stay clear unless you’re planning to go.