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F1 to Remove Tunnel Population Living Beneath Las Vegas Strip

Posted on: November 14, 2023, 05:25h.

Last updated on: November 15, 2023, 02:26h.

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Corey Levitan Corey Levitan joined Casino.org in 2022 after a long career covering Las Vegas. He currently covers entertainment, dining and gaming news in Las Vegas...
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Formula One is reshaping the surface of the Las Vegas Strip for its inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, running from November 16-18, and the world beneath that surface.

Las Vegas underground tunnels — Shortly after miles of flood channels were constructed beneath Las Vegas in the 1980s, a population of unhoused people discovered that they provided daytime shelter from the unrelentingly hot sun, a better measure of security than sleeping on the streets, and a break from the police officers who clear the Strip of unhoused people at night. (Image: thetravel.com)

A series of interconnected concrete flood channels ushers stormwater beneath the Las Vegas Strip to Lake Mead from originating in the mountains west of Las Vegas. Known to local Las Vegans as “the tunnels,” they are bone dry between storms when they house a population thought to swell to around 1,000 people.

Signs announcing a “Tunnel Clean Out for Formula 1” currently warn that a “tactical unit” will clear the tunnels “of any human presence” on November 15, after which the tunnels will be inaccessible until November 20.

One of several signs warns unhoused people to find a new place to reside during the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix — One of several signs warns unhoused people to find a new place to reside during the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix from November 15-20. (Image: YouTube/Wonderhussy)

First Sightings

The signs were first reported by YouTuber Sarah Jane Woodall in the latest video for her popular “Wonderhussy Adventures” channel. They were posted at the entrance to the most densely populated section of the tunnel, alongside Flamingo Road between the Rio and Caesars Palace.

I can’t really think of why or how a bunch of folks living underground could possibly disrupt a Formula 1 race,” Woodall said in her video. “In fact, I would think it would be the opposite — that all the noise of the race would disrupt the people trying to sleep down there.

“Can you imagine, you don’t have anywhere to live, you find this tunnel to hunker down in, and then these racers come in and even kick you out of that?”

Dark at the End of the Tunnel

F1’s sign lists the contact information for several local homeless shelters, but the closest is miles away.

How is a homeless person, with all their worldly possessions in a shopping cart, supposed to get from here … to any of these shelters?” Woodall asked.

Casino.org emailed this and other questions to the F1 press office and the Shine a Light Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded to help improve the lives of the tunnel population.

At the time of this publication, neither has responded.

This article was first published on November 9, 2023.

Corey Levitan joined Casino.org in 2022 after a long career covering Las Vegas. He currently covers entertainment, dining and gaming news in Las Vegas.

Corey spent six years covering the Vegas Strip for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, where he also wrote the most popular humor column in the city’s history. (For “Fear and Loafing,” he tried out 176 Vegas jobs, including poker player, blackjack dealer and Follie Bergere dancer.)

Corey has won more than 100 local, state and national awards for his journalism, which has also appeared in Rolling Stone, New York Magazine and the New York Post.

Corey is a New York native whose hobbies include playing guitar, trying to be a better husband, and arguing with strangers on Facebook.

Contact Corey at corey@casino.org.

Conversation (29 comments)

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Mstuii November 14, 2023

F1 is paying to repave the street for this event and need to secure the track. The tunnel isn't meant to house people.

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Jon November 13, 2023

@Rick many homeless individuals actually do have jobs…

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Serina November 13, 2023

It's going to be raining on Thursday and Friday and the tunnel residents would be prepared to go somewhere else already anyways, for one.

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Joe Dawa November 12, 2023

This is strictly for safety concerns. Fumes and shrapnel can potentially enter the tunnels and injure an inhabitant. But it's a safety concern… This is strictly for safety concerns. Fumes and shrapnel can potentially enter the tunnels and injure an inhabitant. But it's a safety concern because someone inside the tunnel can put a bomb, or dynamite or lob a grenade on to the track. Both unlikely but can't take the risk.

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Luan Vidad. November 12, 2023

The capitalists, owners of F1, advocate greed and the power that money has to manipulate politicians, etc., to change the peace of mind of the… The capitalists, owners of F1, advocate greed and the power that money has to manipulate politicians, etc., to change the peace of mind of the inhabitants of any city where this gang of greedy capitalists arrive with their noisy and stressful car business and it is time for American citizens to put a stop to those who control this business and enrich themselves without caring about the tranquility of the people....

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Fred Freddy November 12, 2023

Can you imagine the headline "Formula One racers Verstappen and Hamilton killed in crash when a bomb exploded beneath the track because officials failed to… Can you imagine the headline "Formula One racers Verstappen and Hamilton killed in crash when a bomb exploded beneath the track because officials failed to secure a known vulnerable area"? Yeah, that would be bad. Homelessness is a tragedy but failing to assure the safety off billionaire racers is also unacceptable.

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Frank Rizzo November 12, 2023

I believe the main reason is for safety. They needed to weld and fortify at the manhole covers because the F1 cars create… I believe the main reason is for safety. They needed to weld and fortify at the manhole covers because the F1 cars create enough drag to rip them out of the ground. I can't imagine it would be very safe to be under the street during the race.

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Monica November 11, 2023

This whole ridiculous spectacle is just an opportunity for a bunch of people who have way too much money and way too much time to… This whole ridiculous spectacle is just an opportunity for a bunch of people who have way too much money and way too much time to show off for the world, all while they inconvenience the residents of the city and try to sweep the most vulnerable of those residents out of their way. Safety concerns? No. F1 just doesn’t want homeless people hearing the race for free. Just like they put up barriers all along the strip to prevent anyone from seeing it for free. And no, those who live in the tunnels are not “prepared to relocate” because of “storm possibilities.” Do you think they spend their days watching the weather channel and going, “looks like rain this weekend, better gather all my earthly possessions and walk myself to my weekend tunnel up north.” The use of the word “tactical” sounds aggressive because it is. If a bunch of rich, entitled people want those tunnels cleared, they’re not going to waste their time trying to ask nicely. Honestly, the cost of living has become so ridiculous in this city, I am shocked that there are only 1,000 living in the tunnels. The only good thing F1 has done is force the casinos to start paying some of their employees a living wage, but only because they were backed into a corner. They would have been f***ed if the unions went on strike this week and good for the unions for taking advantage of that.

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Rick November 11, 2023

Homeless people ruin everything. Get a job.

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Patrick Brown November 10, 2023

No "tactical" means your human presence means your homeless a*$goes to ccdc til the 20th....You know what stays in Vegas... homeless cause this city and… No "tactical" means your human presence means your homeless a*$goes to ccdc til the 20th....You know what stays in Vegas... homeless cause this city and it's sorry excuse for people help none,they just look and run their mouths...

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Earthican November 10, 2023

Now the homeless have a reason to hate F1.

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Chris November 9, 2023

This seems like it is in part related to safety concerns during the race, as well as security for areas of the track. Can you imagine… This seems like it is in part related to safety concerns during the race, as well as security for areas of the track. Can you imagine if somehow there was a death related to the F1 event and a member of the homeless community! In all fairness... I have to think that because of storm possibilities, those who use the tunnels for shelter are prepared to relocate in the event of a storm. Depending on the amount of warning time that they have been given, they should hopefully have ample time to relocate on their own. The use of the word "tactical" may be a bit aggressive, but the reality is that officers will always be equipped to protect themselves in that environment... but they are being very clear in advance that moving is not optional.

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Beth Arroyo Valencia November 9, 2023

Thank you for writing this.

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Alicia Green November 9, 2023

Heartbreaking

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A.D. Hopkins November 9, 2023

Good work, Sarah and Corey.

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