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Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010 | 10:01 a.m.
This Nevada Department of Transportation graphic shows the route of the proposed Boulder City Bypass. If U.S. 93 is designated an interstate between Las Vegas and Phoenix, the bypass route would become part of the interstate, officials say.
Sun Archives
- After I-15 work, freeway to Phoenix will become focus (7-13-2010)
- Engineering marvel taking shape near Hoover Dam (2-8-2010)
- Boulder City Council endorses Vegas-to-Phoenix interstate (8-12-2009)
- Freeway to Phoenix gains traction with bridge work (7-11-2009)
- Meeting planned to discuss changes to Boulder City Bypass (7-6-2009)
- Contractor selected for $270 million I-15 project (7-1-2009)
- A boost for DesertXpress (7-3-2009)
- Clark County roads wait for stimulus while rurals get work (6-10-2009)
- Declining gas tax revenue means fewer road projects (6-9-2009)
Sun Coverage
It may not be a reality for many years, if ever. But the idea of building a new interstate highway to span some of the West's wide open spaces appears to be gaining some traction, at least in the region.
Interstate 11, a designation suggested by supporters of the proposed new route, would link the Phoenix area in south-central Arizona with Las Vegas in southern Nevada.
And more ambitiously, it could extend southward to the Arizona U.S.-Mexico border and north through Nevada into Oregon to connect with existing routes to Portland and Seattle.
Much of it would involve improvements to existing highways such as U.S. Highway 93 between Kingman, Ariz. and Las Vegas, but significant new construction also would be required.
The idea has been battered around for years but recently is drawing more interest, particularly in Arizona and Nevada.
It's being touted as an economic development tool and a way to help cope with the possibility of additional truck and rail traffic that would be funneled onto U.S. routes from a proposed new Pacific Ocean port, Punta Colonet, in northwest Mexico.
But even if Punta Colonet isn't built, there's still a need for I-11 because existing highways are already congested, said Bob Hazlett, a planning engineer for the Maricopa Association of Governments, an Arizona planning entity for Phoenix-area local governments.
"We think it's needed with or without Punta Colonet. We just think that Punta Colonet is going to add to the equation," Hazlett said. "If we're not moving commercial vehicles, if we're not moving freight, then we're not creating jobs (and) we're not moving our economy forward."
A Nevada legislative committee recently approved a resolution calling for creation of an Interstate 11 from Mexico to Canada, including portions in Nevada that would incorporate portions of existing U.S. Highways 93 and 95.
The new route could help Nevada become a distribution and manufacturing hub for the West, the resolution said.
Meanwhile, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is talking up the Interstate 11 idea, calling it an "exciting corridor ripe with opportunity."
But the reality is there's no money identified, at least for now, to pay for a project with a pricetag that Hazlett said "absolutely" would be in the billions of dollars.
Federal funding is being eyed but there's also talk of public-private partnerships, such as toll road projects.
Back when the interstate system was designed in the 1950s, its planners "were more interested in getting people to California," not connecting the region's inland cities, Hazlett said.
But there's a need for more capacity because of the dramatic growth of Phoenix and Las Vegas, he said.
"This is a very, very long-term concept," acknowledged John McGee, a top planning official for the Arizona Department of Transportation. "But we believe this ... is worth pursuing."
We should build a high speed rail line to LA first. How come people like roads over HSR? Do they ;like spending 7 hours to make the 4 hour drive to LA on a weekend?
With roads come development! So, build the road.
Chunky says:
The road between Phoenix and Kingman is a death trap but he's not sure it warrants building an interstate highway.
On the other hand, any new road that leads to Las Vegas and facilitates more visitors is a good thing.
As for high speed rail, it's a pipe dream in concept, practicality and financial feasibility. People won't even use the local monorail and our RTC buses are mostly empty.
A better use of funds (as long as we don't have to put our country further in debt) would be to widen the I-15 corridor between Las Vegas and LA to make it a safer and easier drive over.
First, Las Vegas needs to boot out the CEOs who don't have a clue what the word hospitality means and have lost sight of the value proposition that made this city what is today or should we say what it was four years ago!
That's what Chunky thinks!
Wow, this is so cool. I whole new Interstate created. Because it will be brand new it will have all the advantages of better design.
Hopefully they put in an express lane for 10 illegals or less.
Mr. Ed -
I guarantee you HSR to Victorville will be done before one Interstate 11 sign is hung up.
But people don't die in traffic jams. US 93 is a safety issue, and safety issues should be funding priorities. Don't know if you recall the road back when it was known as the Widowmaker (in Las Vegas) or Blood Alley (in Phoenix)... there was one turn right by the Burro Creek Bridge with something on the order of a dozen crosses on it.
@mred said "We should build a high speed rail line to LA first. How come people like roads over HSR? Do they ;like spending 7 hours to make the 4 hour drive to LA on a weekend?"
My answers to your questions: (1) When I get there, I still need a car, (2) it's less expensive to drive even before the car rental or cabs in LA, and (3) I'm not leaving my car in a lot in the middle of nowhere where I can't get a ride back home if it goes missing. To question 2, no and if they put restrictions like they have on flying, the train suddenly takes a lot longer.
This is a trial balloon to gain popularity for the long-range-planned NAFTA Highway branch that will go from the deep-water port of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico up into Alaska.
It is a part of the covertly planned North American Union under the current North American Leaders Summit, at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/The-North... .
There is also YouTube out on this that can be played at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_gDoWcyZ... .
Based on the comments posted so far, there is a widespread ignorance of this fact.
@ Chunky. Depends what part of town you live in when it comes to the RTC buses being full. If you've ever been on Maryland Parkway near DI or Sahara the buses are full. The same goes for the NLV Lake Mead cooridor...buses are also full. In Summerlin or Green Valley, not so much.
That's what Brian_D thinks!
I sure hope it's built non-union. It would save a ton of money. Maybe the unions can import illegals for the labor source and just reap the union dues as they do now.
Why is this needed? Just drive through Boulder City. How much money will this cost us in taxes?
Interstate 11 should be funded with tax payer money! This roadway would further open up the southwest and take some of the load off I-10. More business means more tax dollars for the central government and states. At the same time the highway is being constructed a railbed and electricl line poles should be built in the middle of the freeway for a future line connecting cities in the west. This would really be a stimulas package that would help us in the west. Senator Reid are you listening?
build rail lines - even a traditional train would be better than what we have now - no more highways
having read these comments, it is obvious that these folks have not a clue about rail and public transportation - good luck when Las Vegas dries up in a few years!
If they turn that route into interstate 11, the truckers will have to be creative in finding a route around the weigh stations.
The only thing I will ever agree with Gov. Brewer on... I love this idea.
Also, I heard that this could take 10-15 years to complete. Wouldn't that create a constant stream of jobs? Not just temporary jobs? That's a long time to work, and Nevada could use it.
Interstate 11 should go southward to Interstate 40, and northward up to Reno through Las Vegas. Once you get to Interstate 40, just go east to Flagstaff and then south to Phoenix.
I remember when Interstate 5 was built "in the middle of nowhere" in the 1970's. I can't imagine traffic on the 99 if the 5 hadn't been built.
The 11 is a good idea, should extend North to Reno on the first phase. Traffic on all of the non-interstate highways (93, 95, etc.)are already way beyond reasonable numbers in the metro areas, and even in the desolate areas at certain times.
High speed rail will NEVER replace roads. It will be utilized by few, and need constant subsidies just like most transit systems (bus, BART, MetroLink. etc.). Fares collected from passengers are not nearly enough to make most of those systems operate without substantial subsidies. (sorry patriot, no "link", but that is FACT, not opinion). Transit (bus, passenger train) systems only work with substantial subsidies. Our local bus system gets only 25 percent of it's funding from fares (per articles in local papers over tha past years). We need new interstates between some large cities.
Build the highway. Also extend I-40 beyond Barstow to connect to I-5. 80% of that already exists in the form of highway 58. Just need a few gaps filled in.
Actually we should do nothing. In a few years when the lake is down another 50% people will flee like deer in your headlights. It will work out!
@Bakersfield... We've already begun that here, a la the "Westside Pkwy" I'm with you on the concepts here... SR 58 is just as much a death trap as US 93/95. Although I could only wish for I-40 making it to the 101..
I-11 does make sense at least from Reno to I-40, light rail doesn't and never will accommodate nearly as well as the personal vehicle does for getting from point A to point B.. Deny all you want, but the mode of transportation you park in your garage will always be the logical choice..
PS.. Hello from Rosedale
Rosedale,
I'm well aware of the WSP. I've actually done some work on it (pipeline crossings, legal documents, site inspection, etc).
If they can get that connected between 99 and 5, it will take a lot of burden odd Rosedale Hwy. (fixing the railroad crossing by the Case tractor dealership would help too).
They finished the Mojave bypass, so all that's needed is the 2 gaps between Boron and Lenwood Road in Barstow. Should be an easy fix, since there's nothing in the way out there. Then they can work on going west to the 101....
I'm with you on buses and high speed rail, Lived here for decades, never been on a get bus! We always take the car when we go to Vegas, then we can go where we want, when we want! See you at Bucks!
It should be paid for by the drug cartels.
Bakerstown: There is something in the way between Boron and Lenwood road. They are called turtles. Thats why four lanes have never been completed in this section. Greetings from Oildale.....