Construction starts tomorrow that will disrupt travel for area residents who take the so-called “back way to Vegas.” Drivers who plan to take route on back roads north and east from Twentynine Palms to Las Vegas in March, take note: several roads will be closed to all traffic between noon and 10 p.m. between March 2 and March 18 while Union Pacific upgrades the railroad tracks. The Kelbaker Road crossing at Kelso will be closed March 2, 3, and 4. Drivers should use I-15 or US Route 95 instead. The Cima Road crossing at Cima will be closed March 6, 7 and 8; use Kelbaker Road to drive between I-40 and I-15. And the Ivanpah Road crossing, nine miles south of Nipton Road, will be closed March 17 and 18.
