Wednesday, April 22, 1998 | 9:12 a.m.
The agreement is based on including a connector running through the second floor of the Barbary Coast, and that could pose a problem because of concerns from the neighboring Flamingo Hilton.
The proposal would save taxpayers $7 million. It would be a companion to a similar structure being built by the Bellagio resort. With that section, bridges across the south and west parts of the intersection meet inside Bellagio's shopping area so every pedestrian must pass through at least part of the resort.
Up until December, the Barbary Coast had no interest in sharing in the cost.
County Commissioners appeared intrigued Wednesday, but were concerned by opposition from the Flamingo Hilton.
Attorney Greg Jensen said Hilton is willing to pay for the north bridge if it crosses the Strip right in front of the Flamingo instead of the Barbary Coast's entrance. He said having the crosswalk right at the corner would harm the Hilton because a street-level crosswalk between Caesars and the Flamingo would be eliminated.
Hilton's offer does not include paying for the east bridge, which means any Hilton proposal leaves the county paying as much as $3 million.
The commission, which has made a high priority of alleviating foot and auto traffic at the corner before the 3,000-room Bellagio opens Oct. 15, gave the two parties until May 21 to find a compromise.
Tuesday's public sparring between Hilton and Barbary Coast resumed a yearlong spat between casinos that commissioners thought had ended with a December 1997 agreement over the future of the intersection.
Blueprints have evolved since August 1996 from four bridges to four tunnels, back to four bridges, and, until November, to a tunnel connecting Bally's and Bellagio plus three bridges at the east, north and west legs of the intersection.
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