Nevada State Route 604
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| Nevada State Route 604 |
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| Las Vegas Boulevard | |||||||||
| Length: | 37.502 mi (60.354 km) | ||||||||
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| South end: |  I-15 at Jean Interchange |
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| North end: | I-15 at Apex Interchange |
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| Major cities: | Las Vegas, Nevada | ||||||||
| System: | Nevada state route system | ||||||||
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Nevada State Route 604 is better known as Las Vegas Boulevard. The route begins in Jean, Nevada where it intersects with Nevada State Route 161 and ends north of Las Vegas at Interstate 15 near Apex. The road is not paved or graded for much of the length between Jean and Primm.
Nevada State Route 604 was a former section of US-91, and was co-signed with US-466 south of Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas and was co-signed with US-93 north of Downtown Las Vegas.
The section south of Las Vegas was commonly known as the Los Angeles Highway and passes though Sloan, Nevada and Jean before ending in the Mojave Desert. Just north of Jean, Nevada Historical Marker 195 marks the place where the last spike on the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad line was driven. The Boulevard shows up again in Primm, Nevada but is currently not connected to the northern sections.
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[edit] Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas Boulevard is the current name for Route 604 in the city of Las Vegas. This section of road has had several names, including: 5th Street, the Arrowhead Highway, Los Angeles Highway, Salt Lake Highway, U.S. Highway 91 (entire segment), U.S. Highway 93 (from Fremont Street north), U.S. Highway 466 (from Jean to Fremont Street, including the Las Vegas Strip) and Nevada State Route 6 (entire segment, not signed).
With the construction of I-15, Las Vegas Boulevard went from being the main through road to one that only served as a bypass for travelers. The name change reflects its local importance rather than past names when it served as a main intra city road.
Las Vegas Boulevard, while running the length of the city of Las Vegas, Nevada is located mostly in Clark County, Nevada. "The Boulevard", as it is sometimes called by longtime Las Vegas residents, starts at Apex, Nevada and continues south to about 2 miles south of Jean, Nevada.
At its northern end in Apex, the Boulevard starts in an industrial complex of manufacturing plants and power plants running along the Union Pacific Railroad line. As you travel south, the road meets Nellis Air Force Base on the east side and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the west side.
As the road enters North Las Vegas, it passes through some of the older commercial areas of the area. As the road approaches Las Vegas itself, you see some of what Vegas was as some of the older casinos appear along with some of the older and more famous strip clubs.
On entering the city of Las Vegas, the Boulevard showcases the city's past with a number of museums. the Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park and the Neon Museum at the Fremont Street Experience. On crossing Washington Street, the Boulevard is designated as the Downtown Las Vegas Boulevard Scenic Byway by the state. This designation continues down to Sahara Avenue.
Further south is a stretch of road that has many of the older motels, bars and wedding chapels that were among the high points of the old Vegas before the era of the megaresorts.
[edit] Las Vegas Strip
- see main article: Las Vegas Strip
It is at this point the Boulevard leaves the city of Las Vegas and assumes its unofficial name the Las Vegas Strip for the next four miles. This portion of Las Vegas Boulevard begins at the Stratosphere and runs to Mandalay Bay. This is the section of the road most people are familiar with; it is home to casino megaresorts with their world famous lights and attractions. It is designated as an All-American Road. At the end of "The Strip", the road passes the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and runs along the western edge of the McCarran International Airport property.
The South Strip is used to describe the section of Las Vegas Boulevard between Blue Diamond Road and St. Rose Parkway. South of Russell Road, the Nevada Department of Transportation assumes responsibility for the Boulvard as development thins out except for newer shopping malls, hotels and condominiums as the Boulevard runs just east of Interstate 15.
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