Interstate 11
Proposed Routing
Interstate 11 is the designation proposed for the U.S. 93 corridor between Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Since Interstate 11 would be located east of Interstate 15, it would not be a perfect fit to the grid - but it is probably the best numbering choice available.
Converting U.S. 93 to Interstate 11
U.S. 93 is gradually being upgraded to expressway standards in Arizona, and the Hoover Dam Bypass will offer a freeway link between Arizona and Nevada. If U.S. 93 is converted to freeway standards, it could be eligible for inclusion in the Interstate system.
Background/History
The proposal to convert U.S. 93 into an Interstate corridor comes with the combination of multiple highway projects that extend from Phoenix to Las Vegas, including:
- Hassayampa Freeway - from Interstate 10 north to Wickenburg west of the Phoenix metropolitan area. According to the Las Vegas Sun, "The Hassayampa Freeway is just lines on a piece of paper so far — a planning document for the towns along the corridor to use in their development agreements for the master-planned communities that have permission to build there" (Maricopa Association of Governments).1
- U.S. 93 Expressway, Wickenburg to Interstate 40 - upgrade and four-laning of U.S. 93 from Wickenburg to Interstate 40; expansion includes the twinning of the Burro Creek Arch Bridge to four lanes and a bypass of Wikieup. This effort began in 1998 and continues today.1
- Interstate 40 Overlap to Kingman - a new freeway to freeway connection to U.S. 93 north would have to be built to link with the expressway en route to Hoover Dam.
- U.S. 93 Expressway, Interstate 40 to Hoover Dam - upgrade and four-laning of U.S. 93 from Interstate 40 to Hoover Dam. Portions near Arizona 68 are already up to Interstate standards. This effort began in 1998 and continues today.1
- Hoover Dam Bypass (Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge) - freeway bypass south of Hoover Dam over the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada near Boulder City. The bridge is under construction in January 2005 and has an estimated completion in late 2010 or early 2011.
- Boulder City Bypass - Phase 1 (through Railroad Pass to U.S. 95) and Phase 2 (U.S. 95 to Hoover Dam Bypass) are unfunded and are thus delayed until 2025 or until alternate funding can be identified.2
- Interstate 515 from Railroad Pass Casino northwest to Interstate 15 in downtown Las Vegas. Interstate 11 would likely replace the Interstate 515 designation.
As local leaders and businesses learned of the various freeway proposals and realized the absence of a freeway connection between Phoenix and Las Vegas, the Interstate 11 idea was born.1 This route is part of the larger CANAMEX trade corridor, which is also High Priority Corridor 26.
High Priority Corridor
Proposed Interstate 11 is part of the CANAMEX High Priority Corridor, which is designated as Corridor 26.
Other Future Aspirations
Any extension of Interstate 11 north or northwest of Las Vegas via either the U.S. 93 or U.S. 95 corridor are unlikely given current traffic volumes and projected needs. However, with the rapid pace of growth expected to continue into the future, eventual connections to Reno could happen in the distant future.
Highway Guides
|
|
| This terminus location is just an approximation at the current time. Therefore we didn't try to photograph the location and submissions of potential termini not requested at this time. |
| This terminus location is just an approximation at the current time. Therefore we didn't try to photograph the location and submissions of potential termini not requested at this time. |
|
|
|
Sources
- Las Vegas-to-Phoenix interstate plan in the works, Las Vegas Sun, by Jean Reid Norman, July 11, 2009
- Meeting planned to discuss changes to Boulder City Bypass, Las Vegas Sun, by Jean Reid Norman, July 6, 2009
Page Updated August 23, 2009.
|
