Brief traffic delays expected this week

Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.

Drivers can expect brief delays this week as presidential candidate John Kerry and President Bush come to the Las Vegas area, but the problems are not expected to be significant, police said.

Kerry will be in town today and Wednesday morning. Bush will be in town Thursday.

Because of security concerns the precise route Kerry's motorcade will not be made public, but drivers should avoid the area around the Thomas & Mack Center this afternoon, where Kerry is holding a rally.

Doors open at 3 p.m. The center is located at 4505 W. Marlyand Parkway near Swenson Street and Tropicana Avenue.

"You might want to avoid that area," Lt. Wayne Peterson of Metro's traffic section said. "If the public would be patient any delays they encounter should be brief."

The department shifted personnel around to allow for more officers in the motorcade area, but no officers are expected to be on overtime.

"Lucky enough for us, Tuesdays and Thursdays are our triple squad days," Peterson said. An extra squad of eight to 10 officers will be on duty. "We're shifting people around and adjusting schedules a bit, but we'll be using mostly on-duty personnel."

Bush's schedule for Thursday was not immediately available, but there will be traffic delays with his motorcade.