Question of the Day - 22 June 2018

Las Vegas and Phoenix are the only two cities in the nation with populations of more than a million that aren’t linked by an interstate. I-11 is a long-range plan to address that issue, but an even longer-term vision is for the freeway to connect Nogales, Arizona, to Reno, along the current routes of I-19, I-10, US 93, and US 95. All but 15 miles of it are still in the early planning stages; the exact route hasn’t been determined.

Those 15 miles, however, are highly relevant to anyone driving south from Las Vegas.

The first phase was launched in 2015, a three-year project to alleviate the worst connection on the whole proposed I-11 route as it passes through Boulder City between Henderson and the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, which was completed in 2010 after five years of construction.

The Nevada Department of Transportation was responsible for the 2.5-mile stretch from from Railroad Pass to the US 95 cutoff; that was completed last April.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is responsible for the 12.5-mile length from the new US 93/95 interchange to just before the dam bridge, also known as the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. This stretch, also known as the Boulder Bypass, will relieve an enormous amount of congestion on surface streets from which Boulder City has suffered for a long time. The Bypass reroutes through-traffic, including heavy truck usage, around the southern and eastern perimeter of Boulder City between I-515 and the Hoover Dam Bridge. 

Originally scheduled to be completed by this October, the Boulder Bypass is ahead of schedule and nearing completion. We've seen a couple stories that claim it's already open, but a staff member drove into Vegas from Arizona a few days ago and the new exit to the Bypass was still blocked. It was the same old route up the long hill from the bridge, right through Boulder City, and over Railroad Pass onto 515.

The 15 miles of interstate include the major US 93/95 interchange, 10 bridges, four wildlife undercrossings, one wildlife overcrossing, an off-highway vehicle crossing, and a scenic parking area overlooking Lake Mead.

In all, the 15-mile project is costing $318 million, with $250 million coming from federal funds.