New push for I-11 (LV to Phoenix)

[Revive 755]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/11/interstate-las-vegas-phoenix-works/

[mightyace]

The article says it has "buy-in" on both side of the border.  How much is there really?

Where is the money going to come from?

Is there the traffic density (current or future) to justify it?

^^ I'm not trying to shoot it down, just trying to find out if this is real or just a collective pipe dream?

On a diferent vein, it was interesting to read the comments, it sounds a lot like a discussion in Fictional Highways except I doubt that any of the respondents are RoadGeeks. 

[njroadhorse]

Well, with the new US 93 bridge across the Colorado River, there's really nothing structurally standing in their way now.  I guess AZ legislators could push more for it now, after expanding Phoenix's infrastructure with Loops 101 and 202.

[Bickendan]

Interesting. They should number it I-13 instead though

[agentsteel53]

or even I-17, and renumber current I-17 to I-19.  Dunno how Arizona managed to get two two-digit interstates all to itself!

[Bickendan]

Your idea would work better in keeping to the numbering convention.

[roadfro]

Interesting...

IMO, it doesn't need to be an Interstate.  I see no problem with keeping it as US 93, as its already part of the CANAMEX high-priority corridor.  If it were to be an Interstate, though, I-13 would certainly never be the number...

[Stephane Dumas]

in this proposed I-11/13 I spotted this map of the proposed Hassayampa Freeway http://www.lasvegassun.com/photos/2009/jul/10/36911/  I'm surprised they plan to bring a freeway corridor west of Loop 303. I taught than the part of Loop 303 between US-60 and I-10 would had been part of the Canamex corridor.

[vdeane]

The article says that "an act of congress will be required to even get the designation".  Why?  Is there some requirement that new interstate numbers must be signed into law?

[agentsteel53]

yes - the Feds are strongly leaning towards extending current interstate numbers. 

[mightyace]

I think that there's a simple reason why they want I-11 and not I-13 or I-17 or whatever.

Remember as the original "gambling capital" of the United States, they'd like to have a "Lucky Number" (7 or 11) heading there! 

[agentsteel53]

so you take I-7 to get into town, but when you've been wiped clean, wouldn't I-13 be the way to get out?

[xonhulu]

This diagonal freeway would be about as east-west as it would north-south.  Couldn't it get an even number, pretty much anything between 10 and 60?  In fact, it could be I-60 and act as an extension of US 60 west.  On the other hand, I could see that creating some confusion.  But an even number could work, unless it's envisioned to be ultimately extended to Reno.

[Sykotyk]

It's probably envisioned to continue to Reno. I-13 is definitely out as states. The gambling capital of America (and probably world) is not going to have one of the unluckiest numbers on its signs into town.

Secondly, if US-93 becomes an interstate, it might help with northbound traffic heading to SLC and points north & northwest. Instead of taking US-89 north of Flagstaff to I-15, a angle out and back route along I-11 to I-15 would make more sense.

Sykotyk

[xonhulu]

When AZDOT was considering upgrading US 89 to an interstate awhile back, it was pointed out the US 93/I-15 corridor was actually shorter (and of course much easier to build a freeway along).

[Bickendan]

I think that there's a simple reason why they want I-11 and not I-13 or I-17 or whatever.

Remember as the original "gambling capital" of the United States, they'd like to have a "Lucky Number" (7 or 11) heading there! 

It's probably envisioned to continue to Reno. I-13 is definitely out as states. The gambling capital of America (and probably world) is not going to have one of the unluckiest numbers on its signs into town.

This is precisely why I suggested I-13

yes - the Feds are strongly leaning towards extending current interstate numbers. 

In a way, I see this having I-19 extend to Flagstaff and I-17 run on the US 93 corridor, preserving the interstate numbering conventions.

[thenetwork]

Wouldn't it make more sense if Arizona tied the proposed Vegas to Phoenix interstate with the proposed Phoenix to Tucson Interstate/Bypass which would parallel existing I-10? 

This could make the entire interstate moreso a bypass around both Tucson and Phoenix, and if you had to, do a 3xx,5xx, or 7xx spur connecting this "rural interstate" with the larger cities.

[Bickendan]

I very much doubt a 3di would even be considered in AZ. 

[thenetwork]

My idea would be to extend I-19 from Tucson along the proposed bypass/alternative interstate which would parallel the already crowded I-10 towards Phoenix, keep the I-19 designation while (by)passing Phoenix to the west and then continuing the I-19 name along the proposed I-11 alignment to Vegas.

Only problem I would see is would they keep the "metrics" limited to just the current I-19 alignment, extend it all the way to the Nevada line, or just finally kill the metric debacle South of Tucson and make it an All-US measurement highway???

You can always renumber it as I-21 -- The Blackjack Highway

[roadfro]

It's [I-11] probably envisioned to continue to Reno. I-13 is definitely out as states. The gambling capital of America (and probably world) is not going to have one of the unluckiest numbers on its signs into town.

Nobody is envisioning a Las Vegas to Reno interstate highway (other than roadgeeks, of course).  US 95 forms most of the connection between Reno and Las Vegas, and it is two lanes pretty much after exiting Clark County.  NDOT isn't envisioning widening any part of rural US 95 to divided highway (or even 4-lanes) anytime soon.

The gambling capital of the U.S. (not the world, as Las Vegas has recently lost that title to Macau) is indeed hesitant to put the number 13 on anything.  For example, no hotel-casino in Vegas has a floor numbered 13.

[Chris]

  NDOT isn't envisioning widening any part of rural US 95 to divided highway (or even 4-lanes) anytime soon.

I just checked, the AADT on US 95 in Nye, Esmeralda and Mineral counties is only around 2,000.... That's comparable to a normal residential street that connects to an arterial...

[AZDude]

All I know is that the section on U.S. 93 between I-40 and Wikiup will eventually be built to a freeway.  So I guess they might as well continue down through at least Wickenburg.

[Alex]

The two sides of the Hoover Dam Bypass arch will meet next month, closing an 80 foot gap between the two. Work on that bridge is scheduled for completion in late 2010, so there's one section of potential Interstate 11 coming to fruition.

Read more here (article by Arizona Republic)

[Chris]

^^ wrong topic? 

[edit - not anymore!]

[Terry Shea]

^^ wrong topic? 

Yeah, but it was more interesting!