Disclosed are techniques for reducing likelihood of Random Access Channel (RACH) transmission blockages and thereby facilitate an initial access procedure for new radio (NR) unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) operation in a fifth generation (5G) wireless communication system including an NR node. In some embodiments, a parameter generated by a gNB and received by a UE indicates that, from among a set of consecutive RACH Occasions (ROs), a gap is available for performing a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure before commencing a RACH transmission.