50-year-old pedestrian bridge demolition snarls traffic on Maryland Parkway
A week-long demolition of an aging pedestrian bridge near Sunrise Hospital is causing major traffic disruptions on Maryland Parkway, forcing commuters to navigate single-lane restrictions as part of a massive $330 million corridor improvement project.
Traffic impacts through Friday
The demolition, which began Sunday night at 9 p.m., has reduced Maryland Parkway to one lane in each direction between Desert Inn Road and the main entrance of Sunrise Hospital. The restrictions will remain in effect until Friday, August 15 at 5 a.m.
“It’s going to be awful,” said Shayma Musa, who works at Desert Parkway Behavioral Hospital along the affected stretch. “I feel the area right now is pretty tight. I don’t know how traffic flow is going to go. I think people are gonna struggle with getting on time, especially to work.”
Clark County officials are urging drivers to use alternate routes, particularly Eastern Avenue for north-south travel and Sahara Avenue for east-west connections.
Bridge no longer served its purpose
Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom explained the decision to remove the 50-year-old structure came down to practicality and safety concerns.
“It wasn’t being used that much. There was a problem with the homeless being up there, so just a lot of reasons,” Segerblom said. “You hate to destroy something but the truth is, it was no longer valuable.”
The pedestrian bridge, which had connected areas near Sunrise Hospital, had fallen into disrepair and saw minimal legitimate use in recent years, prompting officials to include its demolition in broader infrastructure improvements.
Part of major corridor transformation
The bridge demolition represents one small but disruptive step in a $330 million Maryland Parkway improvement project that will transform nearly 12 miles of roadway from Harry Reid International Airport to downtown Las Vegas.
The comprehensive project includes:
- Reducing traffic lanes from three to two in each direction
- Creating dedicated bus and bicycle lanes
- Installing 15 new hydrogen-powered electric buses
- Widening sidewalks and improving pedestrian crossings
- Adding enhanced lighting and shade trees
- Upgrading bus stops and shelters
“It’s going to widen the road, widen the sidewalks, make it user friendly, and then have these electric buses,” Segerblom explained.
First week of school adds complications
The timing of the demolition coincides with the first week back to school for Clark County School District students, though Commissioner Segerblom downplayed concerns about the overlap.
“There’s no school right next to this, so I’m not so worried about the schools, as I am about the hospital making sure all the employees are able to get in and out,” he said.
County officials said they worked with Sunrise Hospital ahead of time to ensure employees could plan for the traffic changes. The hospital’s main entrance remains accessible throughout the demolition.
Tips for navigating the closures
Commissioner Segerblom offered straightforward advice for commuters this week: “I would leave earlier, and truthfully, you can use Eastern, you can go through some of the neighborhoods there.”
His number one recommendation is to avoid Maryland Parkway altogether if possible during the demolition period.
Long-term benefits expected
Despite the immediate inconvenience, some see value in the larger project goals. Shayma Musa, while concerned about the current traffic impacts, expressed optimism about the planned improvements.
“In the long run, it does seem worth it,” she said, particularly praising plans to widen crosswalks and add electric buses.
The entire Maryland Parkway improvement project is expected to take until fall 2026 to complete, with construction occurring in phases to minimize disruptions where possible. The project received a $150 million federal grant boost and represents one of the largest infrastructure investments in the Las Vegas valley in recent years.
For real-time traffic updates and alternate route suggestions, commuters can sign up for construction alerts through the Regional Transportation Commission’s Maryland Parkway project website.
Image Sources: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/demolition-50-old-pedestrian-bridge-060802825.html
Category: Traffic & Roads
Subcategory: Construction Projects
Date: 08/11/2025
