Interstate 11

Overview

Interstate 11 is the designation adopted for the U.S. 93 corridor between Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The route overlays U.S. 93 west from the Arizona state line across the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge to U.S. 95 southwest of Boulder.

Replacing Interstate 515, I-11 joins U.S. 93/95 across Railroad Pass into the city of Henderson en route to Las Vegas. I-11 meets I-15 at the Spaghetti Bowl interchange west of Downtown Las Vegas. U.S. 93 turns northeast along I-15 to Apex while I-11 continues along U.S. 95 (Oran K. Gragson Expressway) to SR 157 (Kyle Canyon Road) at the Sunstone community in northwest Las Vegas.

All remaining signs referencing Interstate 515 between the Henderson Bowl interchange with I-215/SR 564 (Lake Mead Parkway) and I-15 were replaced with I-11 throughout the Summer of 2025. Exit numbers south of I-215 (Bruce Woodbury Beltway) were renumbered to use the mileage of I-11. However, north of I-215, exit numbers continue to reference U.S. 95 mileposts.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) 2025 State Maintained Highways of Nevada, Descriptions and Maps references the north end of Interstate Route 11 at SR 157/Kyle Canyon Road.

Mileage by State

Nevada

54.19 mi

Data Sources

Nevada DOT 2025 State Maintained Highways of Nevada, Descriptions and Maps. https://www.dot.nv.gov/doing-business/about-ndot/ndot-divisions/planning/roadway-systems/state-maintained-highways-descriptions-index-maps

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 I-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. With efforts starting in 1998, portions near Arizona 68 are already up to Interstate standards.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 was under construction in January 2005 and was completed in October 2010.
• Boulder City Bypass - Phase 1 (through Railroad Pass to U.S. 95) and Phase 2 (U.S. 95 to Hoover Dam Bypass). Phase 1 was completed in January 2018. Lack of funding initially delayed Phase 2 until 2025², but work commenced Spring 2015, and concluded June 2018. The overall bypass project was initially estimated to cost over $600 million.³

As various freeway proposals took shape across the region, local leaders and businesses realized the absence of complete freeway connection between Phoenix and Las Vegas. Efforts coalesced into a new Interstate highway corridor, which ultimately became Interstate 11.¹ This route is also part of High Priority Corridor 26, the larger CANAMEX trade corridor.

Governors Jan Brewer of Arizona, Brian Sandoval of Nevada and Rep. Steven Horsford from Nevada gathered to unveil a sign at the Hoover Dam Bypass proclaiming the route as part of the Future Interstate 11 Corridor on March 21, 2014. The 290 mile long route was thought to cost anywhere between $4 billion and $10 billion to build.⁴

Future I-11 corridor signs were posted along U.S. 93 south along the Hoover Dam Bypass freeway, and beyond its split with Interstate 40 east by 2014.

The initial portion of Interstate 11 built was the Hoover Dam Bypass, a four mile stretch of freeway traversing the El Dorado Mountains and Colorado River Canyon east of Boulder City. Signed as U.S, 93, the four lane freeway shifted through traffic away from Hoover Dam onto the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. The twin-rib concrete arch span opened to traffic on October 19, 2010.

Succeeding sections of I-11 constructed included the Boulder City Bypass. Split into two phases, Phase 2 involved a new terrain route looping 12.5 miles southwest from the interchange with SR 172 (Exit 2) toward Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU) and the U.S. 95 expressway leading south toward Laughlin. Under the direction of the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada, the $235 million design-build contract for work was awarded in January 2015 and completed October 2018.⁶

Phase 1 extended the RTC portion of the bypass north from U.S. 95 to Railroad Pass, and upgraded a portion of U.S. 93-95 northwest to Interstate 515. Costing $83 million, work on the 2.5 mile section broke ground in May 2015 and was completed on January 27, 2018.⁶ It included a new parclo interchange for Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino, and a south side frontage road leading back to Dawson Avenue in Henderson.

Installation of I-11 signs began appearing in Fall 2017 when initial southbound lanes of the bypass opened to Railroad Pass.⁵ I-11 formally replaced I-515 from the exchange with I-215/SR 564 southeast once the entire Boulder City Bypass opened. U.S. 93-95 was also realigned onto I-11 following the completion on January 27, 2018 of the northbound roadway from the interchange with U.S. 95 at Exit 14 to Foothills Drive in Henderson.⁶ The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) ultimately approved this routing on May 29, 2014.

Discussion continues from Nevada politicians for the concept of extending the Interstate 11 corridor beyond Las Vegas to at least Reno or Fallon. Improved freight travel and trade with Mexico are cited as potential benefits of the extension.

New guide signs posted along Interstate 15 at I-515/U.S. 93-95 in 2021 included a space reserved for an I-11 shield beside U.S. 95 for Exit 42 A. Additionally signs for U.S. 95 along CC-215 (Bruce Woodbury Beltway) at the Centennial Bowl Interchange included space for Interstate 11 markers.

AASHTO approved a request by the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) during the October 2022 meeting of the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering for the northwestern extension of Interstate 11 through Las Vegas. I-11 replaced the remainder of I-515 between I-215/SR 564 and the Spaghetti Bowl interchange joining I-15, U.S. 93 and U.S. 95 near Downtown Las Vegas. I-11 also overlays U.S. 95 northwest to SR 157 (Kyle Canyon Road) beyond the Centennial Bowl interchange with CC-215.

North End  ‐ Las Vegas, NV

North at

A confirming marker for Interstate 11 stands north of the entrance ramp from SR 157 (Kyle Canyon Road). Continuing north, only U.S. 95 mile markers are posted. 10/23/25

South at

The first confirming marker for Interstate 11 appears south between SR 157 (Kyle Canyon Road) and the SPUI (Exit 95) with Skye Canyon Park Drive. 10/23/25

Kyle Canyon Road – South at

The northbound entrance ramp from SR 157 (Kyle Canyon Road) references I-11. The designation ends to the immediate north along U.S. 95. 10/23/25

Sunstone Parkway West at

Sunstone Parkway heads west from the Sunstone development into the DDI joining SR 157 (Kyle Canyon Road) with I-11/U.S. 95. 10/23/25

Former North End  ‐ Henderson, NV

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

North at

SR 564 (Lake Mead Parkway) travels northeast from the exchange joining I-11/215/515 to Henderson and Boulder Highway (SR 582) to the entrance of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. 03/07/19

East at

Two lanes partition for both Interstate 11/U.S. 93-95 south to Boulder City and Interstate 515/U.S. 93-95 north to Las Vegas. I-11 extends 23 miles south and east around Boulder City to the Arizona state line south of Hoover Dam. 03/09/19

South at

The ramp at Exit 23 for Interstate 215 west and SR 564 east was modified by December 2018 to eliminate traffic weaving between Auto Show Drive and the Henderson Bowl. 03/07/19

South End  ‐ Arizona state line

Interstate 11 commences along U.S. 93 north at the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Mem Bridge and Nevada state line. 03/27/22

References

1. Norman, J. (2009, July 11). Las Vegas-to-Phoenix interstate plan in the works. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved from https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/11/interstate-las-vegas-phoenix-works/
2. Norman, J. (2009, July 6). Meeting planned to discuss changes to Boulder City Bypass. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved from https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/06/meeting-planned-discuss-changes-boulder-city-bypas/
3. "Asbestos delays work on Boulder City bypass." Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV), March 10, 2014.
4. "Signs mark proposed freeway linking Vegas, Phoenix." AZFAMILY.COM, March 21, 2014.
5. Ackers, M. (2017, September 9). More Interstate 11 signs on the way. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved from https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/sep/09/more-interstate-11-signs-on-the-way/
6. "New segment of northbound Interstate 11 set to open." Las Vegas Sun (NV), January 24, 2018.
7. "Southbound I-11 Lanes Opening in Henderson." KXNT (Las Vegas, NV), August 9, 2017.