County breaks ground on parking lot at ‘Welcome’ sign

By Cydney Cappello

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008 | 12:59 p.m.

Breaking ground

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County leaders broke ground this morning on a project that will give the Las Vegas area's most famous sign its own parking lot.

The parking lot will be paved in front of the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. It will be completed in November and will include 12 parking spots, two handicapped spots and an area for two buses.

“We just didn’t come up with the idea sooner and it’s way past due,” Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid said today. “I think that most of the people who come here aren’t from here and we want them to have a great experience … and make sure they’re alive to come back and do it again.”

The sign was built in 1959 and has been a popular tourist attraction ever since -- despite the danger of crossing the heavily traveled Las Vegas Boulevard.

“I didn’t come to Vegas to gamble with my life,” said John Okon, a visitor from New York who battled traffic while crossing the road to the sign.

The cost of the project is $416,000.