Rockhouse bar closing, access to Imperial Palace altered for construction

O'Sheas Parking Garage Implosion

The seven-level parking garage of O'Sheas Casino is imploded early in the morning Tuesday, May 1, 2012. The garage and casino, between the Imperial Palace and Flamingo Las Vegas casinos, are being demolished by Ceasars Entertainment to make way for the Linq project, a $500 million retail, dining and entertainment corridor. The project will include a 550-foot tall observation wheel, the world's tallest, a representative said. Launch slideshow »

A section of the Las Vegas Strip will become a construction zone for the foreseeable future as Caesars Entertainment breaks ground on a $500 million entertainment promenade.

Starting today, vehicles no longer will be able to access the Imperial Palace from Las Vegas Boulevard. Instead, they’ll have to follow a detour through the east end of the property to the valet and parking garage. Customers also can use the Harrah’s entrance from Las Vegas Boulevard to access the Imperial Palace.

Pedestrians heading into the casino from the Strip will be directed to a temporary entrance on the north side of the property until a new main entrance is built at Harrah’s Carnaval Court. A pedestrian bridge between Harrah’s and the Imperial Palace at the back of the properties will also be open.

Nearby, a large section of Caesars land and several small access streets off Koval Lane will be fenced off and closed for construction.

Caesars officials also announced that the Rockhouse bar and nightclub in front of Imperial Palace will close permanently Sunday. The three-year-old sidewalk bar is best known for its plastic strap-on guitar cups that hold 80 ounces of beer or frozen daiquiris.

The construction is taking place to make way for Project Linq, Caesars’ $500 million outdoor restaurant and entertainment district with an observation wheel centerpiece. The 325,000-square-foot promenade will replace an alley between O’Sheas, which closed Monday, and the Flamingo.

An official ground breaking is scheduled for later this year, and portions of Linq are expected to begin opening in 2013.

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