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I-15 Project Neon in Las Vegas

Started by roadfro, December 10, 2013, 12:51:16 AM

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Sub-Urbanite

Quote from: roadfro on March 11, 2017, 02:54:58 AM

In the next phase of Project Neon, NDOT will be endorsing the "Zipper Merge" concept:


I didn't even know the Zipper Merge was a thing until I moved to Portland from Vegas. Used to think everyone who went all the way to the end of the merge lane was a complete a-hole. But I'm now convinced that it's effective and considerate.

Of course, so many people have moved to Portland in the last two years that the Zipper Merge is quickly becoming a lost art.


roadfro

"The Big Squeeze" element of Project Neon is already underway. It's now expected to last until January 2018.

US 95 "˜Big Squeeze' near downtown Las Vegas starts Monday
Las Vegas Review-Journal, 3/15/17
Quote
Thousands of downtown Las Vegas commuters have until 9 p.m. Monday [3/20/2017] to brace for a long, painful pinch known as "The Big Squeeze."

That's when U.S. Highway 95 will lose a traffic lane in each direction between Interstate 15 and Rancho Drive, a narrowing that will last through the end of January 2018, the Nevada Department of Transportation announced Wednesday morning.
<...>
The heavily used highway will be narrowed to two lanes so that crews can split the northbound and southbound lanes by roughly 70 feet. That will create enough room to build a new, 81-foot-tall flyover ramp for high-occupancy vehicles. The carpool ramp will have one lane for drivers headed from southbound U.S. 95 to southbound I-15 and another connecting northbound I-15 to northbound U.S. 95.

The page has a video that shows what the phasing will look like, shifting all traffic to one side of US 95 while the mainline lanes (and new bridges over Martin L King Blvd) are moved outward to make space for the eventual HOV flyover to touch down.

There's also some photos from the press conference, one of which includes the signage that will be used to encourage zipper merging.
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

roadfro

Also, NDOT and it's Project Neon contractor, Kiewit, have developed a free "Project NEON" smartphone app to help commuters navigate construction closures.

Project Neon app designed to help Las Vegas motorists navigate construction
Las Vegas Review-Journal, 3/29/17
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Kniwt

After this phase of the project began, a significant change was made to the temporary traffic flow on northbound 515/93/95 just before the I-15 junction:

When the lane reductions began a couple of weeks ago, the left lane on north 515/93/95 ended at Casino Center, forcing traffic into a merge. But when I went through a week later, the configuration has changed so that the left lane no longer ends. Instead, lane #3 is now an exit-only lane for I-15 north (it wasn't that way before), leaving two lanes continuing past I-15 but now much more smoothly.

This seems to have made a big difference, and I don't think this was necessarily what was first planned.

Kniwt

I didn't get a pic because I totally wasn't expecting to see this, but:

On the recently reopened ramp from I-15 south to US 95 north, the BGS for 95 north at the split for MLK Blvd.) clearly has a spot for a second shield to be placed next to the 95 shield. Is someone expecting to put an I-11 shield there?

Sub-Urbanite


roadfro

Quote from: Kniwt on July 24, 2017, 02:10:24 PM
I didn't get a pic because I totally wasn't expecting to see this, but:

On the recently reopened ramp from I-15 south to US 95 north, the BGS for 95 north at the split for MLK Blvd.) clearly has a spot for a second shield to be placed next to the 95 shield. Is someone expecting to put an I-11 shield there?

That's a result of the "US 95 north" message block being horizontally centered on the sign. I'm pretty sure that sign has been in place since the Spaghetti Bowl was reconstructed circa 1999-2000...
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Kniwt

#32
Quote from: roadfro on July 25, 2017, 03:39:18 AM
I'm pretty sure that sign has been in place since the Spaghetti Bowl was reconstructed circa 1999-2000...

This is a replacement for the sign that used to be there (and the one that's on Street View). It's not the best pic, but I grabbed a shot of it today:



For comparison, here's the old one (mangled "95" and all):


roadfro

^ Ah, I see. The street view mentioned and linked previously was a different one (where I-15 south ramp splits between US 95 north and I-515 south).
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

roadfro

#34
Project Neon is 40 percent done, a year after work began
Las Vegas Review-Journal, 7/19/17

Quote
The $1 billion widening of the Spaghetti Bowl freeway interchange, known as Project Neon, is 40 percent complete one year after construction began, the Nevada Department of Transportation said Wednesday.
<...>
However, commuters can still expect a series of lane restrictions and ramp closures around the Spaghetti Bowl until construction concludes in summer 2019.

40% seems like a bit much. There's still the HOV flyover, mainline I-15 widening, and several ramps to do. But I haven't been down there since beginning of summer (and there are some aspects, like "The Big Squeeze" where crews are frequently working more than one shift per day) so I could be mistaken...


EDIT: Fixed quote block
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Sub-Urbanite

Speaking of Neon signing, looking at the sign plans for Project Neon, it's disappointing that the Henderson / Boulder City BGS appears to be on its way out. I mean, that's 10% of the state's population.

That's got to be one of the more oddly-signed interchanges in the country. Three of the four control cities aren't on their signed routes (15/Los Angeles, 95/Reno, 93/Phoenix). Two of the control cities are 400+ miles away.

roadfro

#36
Bump, to post this article:

Third major freeway closure for Project Neon starts in March, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 1/8/18
Quote
Are you ready to grumble?

The "Main Event"  debuts in March, promising to land a final blow on commuters with a series of freeway ramp closures and lane restrictions in downtown Las Vegas, the Nevada Department of Transportation said Monday.

"We're calling it the Main Event because this will be the biggest and most impactful phase of Project Neon,"  NDOT spokesman Tony Illia said, referring to the $1 billion effort to redesign and widen Interstate 15 from the U.S. Highway 95 interchange to Sahara Avenue by July 2019.

(...)

NDOT anticipates three restrictions will have the largest effects from March to November:

– The ramp connecting southbound U.S. 95 to southbound I-15 will be reduced to one lane;

– The ramp linking southbound U.S. 95 to northbound I-15 will remain closed;

– Both directions of I-15 will be narrowed to three lanes between Sahara Avenue and Washington Boulevard, then further reduced to two lanes each way in the area immediately surrounding the Spaghetti Bowl interchange.

Also in the fray will be several month closures of the various ramps at Charleston Blvd...

That SB 95 to SB 15 lane closure (a dominant movement during AM peak) and narrowing I-15 to two lanes at the bowl is going to be awful... Glad I'm not in Vegas to have to deal with that :)
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

mrsman

Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on July 28, 2017, 11:26:40 AM
Speaking of Neon signing, looking at the sign plans for Project Neon, it's disappointing that the Henderson / Boulder City BGS appears to be on its way out. I mean, that's 10% of the state's population.

That's got to be one of the more oddly-signed interchanges in the country. Three of the four control cities aren't on their signed routes (15/Los Angeles, 95/Reno, 93/Phoenix). Two of the control cities are 400+ miles away.

Good for NV for posting control cities of large well-known cities that are on the way, even if the numbered highway doesn't take you there.  Good choice of control cities.

Pheonix and Reno probably a good indication of what will be I-11's destinations.

roadfro

A public meeting on Project Neon last week indicates significant progress.

Project Neon results starting to show up around Spaghetti Bowl, Las Vegas Review-Journal 1/29/2018
Quote
Looking past the traffic jams and fields of orange cones, tangible results are finally springing up from Project Neon.

Thirteen of the 28 planned bridges along Interstate 15 and U.S. Highway 95 were completed last year, with the remainder scheduled for construction through 2018.

And 14 of the 42 planned Active Traffic Management signs were installed around the Spaghetti Bowl interchange, with the first six digital displays expected to be switched on next month.
<...>
Keller said that commuters can expect further closures when Project Neon heads into the final stretch in 2019, when crews will reconfigure the area around Grand Central Parkway and Charleston Boulevard to create a new "Neon Gateway"  with a walking path and public artwork.

The 2018 "Main Event" restrictions mentioned in my last post are noted here as well.

From what I saw at the meeting (I watched via Facebook Live), NDOT is reducing lanes on I-15 so they can rebuild the I-15 bridge over US 95. This bridge appears to date to original construction of I-15 & US 95, being one of the few bridges not touched in the late 1990s reconstruction of the bowl. A new bridge here may allow for more through lanes on I-15 through the bowl (possible future HOV lane), and may also provide space needed below for an additional future through lane on SB US 95 and/or the proposed City Pkwy interchange. 
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

roadfro

Bump to report that Project Neon is now 69% complete

Project Neon construction in Las Vegas now 69 percent complete, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/30/2018
Quote
Project Neon is about 69 percent complete, but don't expect ongoing construction on the state's busiest freeway interchange to wrap up until July 2019, the Nevada Department of Transportation said in a progress report released Wednesday.

Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Plutonic Panda

Well a year from now isn't too bad! This will be very welcome. After this they need to focus on the 515 through downtown and preferably widen, reconstruct, and make the bridge higher than it is. Something needs to be done with it because it is aging and congested. Honestly other than the beltway project, Las Vegas is in pretty good shape with its freeways.

mcarling

Quote from: Plutonic Panda on May 31, 2018, 07:34:02 PM
After this they need to focus on the 515 through downtown and preferably widen, reconstruct, and make the bridge higher than it is. Something needs to be done with it because it is aging and congested. Honestly other than the beltway project, Las Vegas is in pretty good shape with its freeways.
After Project Neon, the I15/Tropicana interchange will be rebuilt.
US 97 should be 2x2 all the way from Yakima, WA to Klamath Falls, OR.

Plutonic Panda

Quote from: mcarling on June 21, 2018, 11:39:08 AM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on May 31, 2018, 07:34:02 PM
After this they need to focus on the 515 through downtown and preferably widen, reconstruct, and make the bridge higher than it is. Something needs to be done with it because it is aging and congested. Honestly other than the beltway project, Las Vegas is in pretty good shape with its freeways.
After Project Neon, the I15/Tropicana interchange will be rebuilt.
Any major improvements or just reconstruct?

roadfro

Quote from: Plutonic Panda on June 21, 2018, 06:35:55 PM
Quote from: mcarling on June 21, 2018, 11:39:08 AM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on May 31, 2018, 07:34:02 PM
After this they need to focus on the 515 through downtown and preferably widen, reconstruct, and make the bridge higher than it is. Something needs to be done with it because it is aging and congested. Honestly other than the beltway project, Las Vegas is in pretty good shape with its freeways.
After Project Neon, the I15/Tropicana interchange will be rebuilt.
Any major improvements or just reconstruct?

Primarily reconstruct, but some related improvements. See this thread from 2015: $190 million plan to rebuild I-15/Tropicana Interchange
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

roadfro

"˜Main Event' on I-15 through Las Vegas reaches halfway point
Las Vegas Review-Journal, 7/6/18
Quote
The massive freeway closure known as the Main Event plaguing downtown Las Vegas is halfway completed, with a new round of closures expected through mid-November, the Nevada Department of Transportation said Friday.
<...>
And motorists will notice traffic lanes shifting west onto the new southbound lanes for I-15 between Alta Drive and D Street, allowing construction crews to continue building the reconfigured freeway, Packer said.

Crews demolished nine bridges and started work on 12 others since the mid-March debut of the Main Event, marking the third and final round of long-term closures associated with Project Neon, the $1 billion widening of I-15 between U.S. Highway 95 and Sahara Avenue.
<...>
Project Neon is 73 percent complete, with construction expected to wrap up by summer 2019, Packer said.
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

roadfro

I'm down in Vegas for Thanksgiving, and the drive to mom's house from the airport took me through Project Neon northbound briefly today. Didn't get to explore too much, but definitely apparent that they're closing in on the goal. It seems like they're mostly finished with the northbound I-15 widening, but still have middle HOV ramps and some southbound work to do on the 15.

Caught quickly on my phone a pic of what is now the biggest set of APLs in Nevada:  I-15 North approaching US-95. Noted on the right, US 95 North exit portion of the sign that (1) they left off the "Blvd" suffix from "Martin L King", and (2) they left room to add an I-11 shield.
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Sub-Urbanite

Quote from: roadfro on November 21, 2018, 10:02:03 PM
I'm down in Vegas for Thanksgiving, and the drive to mom's house from the airport took me through Project Neon northbound briefly today. Didn't get to explore too much, but definitely apparent that they're closing in on the goal. It seems like they're mostly finished with the northbound I-15 widening, but still have middle HOV ramps and some southbound work to do on the 15.

Caught quickly on my phone a pic of what is now the biggest set of APLs in Nevada:  I-15 North approaching US-95. Noted on the right, US 95 North exit portion of the sign that (1) they left off the "Blvd" suffix from "Martin L King", and (2) they left room to add an I-11 shield.

Did you catch a glimpse of the DMS on SB I-15? They're massive. I can't even imagine how they'll use that much real estate.

roadfro

Yeah there's multiple being installed on I-15 and US 95. Some are larger than others. I think the big ones are meant to be used as combo VMS and lane assignment signs.
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

SSR_317

Quote from: roadfro on November 21, 2018, 10:02:03 PM
I'm down in Vegas for Thanksgiving, and the drive to mom's house from the airport took me through Project Neon northbound briefly today. Didn't get to explore too much, but definitely apparent that they're closing in on the goal. It seems like they're mostly finished with the northbound I-15 widening, but still have middle HOV ramps and some southbound work to do on the 15.

Caught quickly on my phone a pic of what is now the biggest set of APLs in Nevada:  I-15 North approaching US-95. Noted on the right, US 95 North exit portion of the sign that (1) they left off the "Blvd" suffix from "Martin L King", and (2) they left room to add an I-11 shield.
This is a great example of why I DESPISE the APL signs, The whole thing is disproportional, the EXIT & ONLY panels look like an afterthought, and the destination names are far too tiny! And speaking of the EXIT & ONLY panels, WHY aren't they present for the option lane as well, since both destinations on that lane do not continue along the mainline of this freeway? EVERYTHING to the right of lane #3 is an EXIT ONLY lane and should be signed as such, IMHO. I understand why there may be a need for APL, but if this is the future then the future SUCKS!

roadfro

Quote from: SSR_317 on November 24, 2018, 02:34:33 PM
Quote from: roadfro on November 21, 2018, 10:02:03 PM
I'm down in Vegas for Thanksgiving, and the drive to mom's house from the airport took me through Project Neon northbound briefly today. Didn't get to explore too much, but definitely apparent that they're closing in on the goal. It seems like they're mostly finished with the northbound I-15 widening, but still have middle HOV ramps and some southbound work to do on the 15.

Caught quickly on my phone a pic of what is now the biggest set of APLs in Nevada:  I-15 North approaching US-95. Noted on the right, US 95 North exit portion of the sign that (1) they left off the "Blvd" suffix from "Martin L King", and (2) they left room to add an I-11 shield.
This is a great example of why I DESPISE the APL signs, The whole thing is disproportional, the EXIT & ONLY panels look like an afterthought, and the destination names are far too tiny! And speaking of the EXIT & ONLY panels, WHY aren't they present for the option lane as well, since both destinations on that lane do not continue along the mainline of this freeway? EVERYTHING to the right of lane #3 is an EXIT ONLY lane and should be signed as such, IMHO. I understand why there may be a need for APL, but if this is the future then the future SUCKS!

I had the same thought about the option arrow, it should have the exit only panels. Although I can understand the reluctance to pu them on there with it being an option lane...

Despite what it might look like in the photo, the destination legend is the standard size used on all freeway signs in Nevada. I think the graininess of the photo and/or size of the sign is distorting it here.
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.



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