Temporary road closures and traffic disruptions can be expected when a $7.4 million flood control improvement project starts on Rainbow Boulevard, north of Elkhorn Road, in the northwest Centennial Hills area of Las Vegas. Work is scheduled to begin in early January.

The Rainbow Boulevard Storm Drain Improvement Project includes the construction of a storm drainage system along Rainbow, between Elkhorn and Whispering Sands Drive, and the installation of a concrete channel that starts at the Rainbow and Whispering Sands intersection, and proceeds northwesterly along the natural wash area to Grand Teton Drive. The project also includes flood control improvements on Rainbow at the Elkhorn, Farm Road, Donald Nelson Drive and Whispering Sands intersections.

Construction will take place during the daytime hours. Large concrete flood control boxes will be installed in Rainbow Boulevard. To minimize traffic disruptions, the project will be done in two phases.

The first phase of work will take place on Rainbow, between Elkhorn and Farm. When that work is completed crews will begin the second phase of the project and proceed north on Rainbow to improve the area between Farm and Whispering Sands.

Work in these locations will require the temporary closure of Rainbow. During the construction, Jones Boulevard, Torrey Pines Drive, Tenaya Way, and Buffalo Drive are suggested as alternate routes for through north-south travel.

The improvement project, designed to help alleviate flooding that can occur during heavy rainfall events, is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The contractor is Wiser Construction. The city of Las Vegas Department of Public Works is managing the project. Funding is provided by the Clark County Regional Flood Control District and the city of Las Vegas.