If you've driven around Las Vegas since the economic downturn, you've probably noticed that the road maintenance industry is booming. It seems like every major road in town is torn up, except for the tunnel. Well, that changed this morning.

The airport is building a huge new terminal that will be designated Terminal 3. It is located behind Terminal D. Pretty neat how they mix letters and numbers at random, isn't it? But that's another story. The new terminal 3 is so big that current electrical power sources couldn't power it, so that's why Tropicana Blvd was torn up...so they could tap into power sources between the strip and freeway.

Another issue with Terminal 3 is road access. Maybe you noticed that Russell Rd was relocated a year or so ago to make room for this terminal. Still, there is no easy road access to accept the masses that will converge on the new terminal if the economy turns around. The plan is to have exits, entrances, and bridges to connect the terminal to the part of Paradise Rd around the tunnel.

Various lanes in each direction around the tunnel will be closed and rerouted while this construction takes place. Non airport traffic is urged to seek alternate routes.

Construction of this road maintenance should last well into 2011. The new Terminal 3 should be ready sometime in 2012.

I would just like to have an orange construction sign business!