I-11/US 93 - Boulder City Bypass

[FLRoads]

Some of the signing has started. This is southbound on current 515/93/95, but note the exit numbers (15A and 15B). Also, it looks like the 93 mainline will be moved over to the new freeway. (Apologies for the photo quality; I was standing way over on the bike/ped path.)

Does anyone know if the BUSINESS annotation on the guide sign for U.S. 93 (Boulder City Parkway) will be temporarily covered up in the interim, since southbound traffic (and U.S. 93 & 95) will still be defaulting onto the flyover ramp?

On a side note, I was out there the week of July 17th, and these signs had yet to be bolted to the sign bridge assembly. Also, I did not see any other signage for I-11.

[roadfro]

Since US 93's southern terminus was at US 91 in Glendale, NV through 1935 and wasn't signed through Las Vegas until 1939 -- and US 95 wasn't even commissioned south of Winnemucca, NV until 1939 -- it's indeed possible that the Boulder City "spur" from the US 95 alignment east to the Hoover Dam construction site may have indeed been NV 101 prior to 1939.  I'll leave it to those who are more familiar with the old NV state highway network to inform us just what current US 95 was designated south of Las Vegas prior to '39.

P.S. -- A little research indicated that US 95 from Tonopah south to the CA state line south of Searchlight was originally NV state route 5.  Wasn't able to determine the true history of NV 101 from that source, however.

The 1937 State Road Map (PDF) shows current US 93 as NV 26 (from the present US 93/95 split to the center of Boulder City), NV 42 (from Boulder City to the dam), and the whole thing is US 466.  US 95 was US 466/NV 5 from downtown Las Vegas to the 93/95 split; and the continuation of NV 5 all the way down past Searchlight to the CA line.

And no "101" to be found anywhere.  Unless someone can come up with something more than 80 years old that would indicate otherwise, I'm guessing it's just a misreading of an old map or log somewhere along the line.  BTW, thanks for supplying the old map -- it's interesting to see what NV considered primary roads back then (as in why old NV 2 suddenly took off over an old dirt road to the UT state line rather than remaining on US 6 or US 50).

The highest state route number assigned legislatively prior to the 1976 renumbering was 93, except for the special case of 140 (a renumbering of other routes to form present-day 140 under the Winnemucca to the Sea highway effort). Three-digit numbering scheme introduced in the 1976 renumbering grouped numbers geographically (by county alphabetically) within a revamped federal aid highway system numbering. Numbers in the low 100s would have been in Carson City, 115-120s in Churchill County...Clark County's lowest number in this part of the system is 146.  However, getting to federal aid urban routes, the numbers start at 500s and go through cities alphabetically--Boulder City is first with low 500s.

[sparker]

The highest state route number assigned legislatively prior to the 1976 renumbering was 93, except for the special case of 140 (a renumbering of other routes to form present-day 140 under the Winnemucca to the Sea highway effort). Three-digit numbering scheme introduced in the 1976 renumbering grouped numbers geographically (by county alphabetically) within a revamped federal aid highway system numbering. Numbers in the low 100s would have been in Carson City, 115-120s in Churchill County...Clark County's lowest number in this part of the system is 146.  However, getting to federal aid urban routes, the numbers start at 500s and go through cities alphabetically--Boulder City is first with low 500s.

That scheme -- county-by-county arranged alphabetically -- is essentially duplicated in Wyoming as well -- except for the fact that Wyoming "grandfathered" in a number of previously established state routes that don't fit the pattern but which were familiar to travelers.  At least in both states there's some semblance of order and rationality not found in a multitude of other jurisdictions (my own state is the poster child for designation randomization!). 

[Kniwt]

Opening has been delayed until Wednesday, just in case you were planning to be out there before sunrise tomorrow:
https://www.reviewjournal.com/traffic/opening-of-stretch-of-southbound-i-11-delayed-until-wednesday/

[Kniwt]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there is so far no I-11 signage at all along the recently opened section of freeway. (Actually, not even US 93 or Bus 93 trailblazers yet, either, except on the BGSs.)

The new ramp from I-11 south to Bus 93 south (which all traffic must currently use) takes you back to the old road just before the existing exit for US 95 south.

Bicycled it early this morning before NDOT extends the "no bikes" zone. (If you're thinking of doing likewise, there's a nice new wide shoulder all the way through, and it was actually pleasant to ride.)

[Sub-Urbanite]

Lest there be any doubt, though, NDOT engraved "Interstate 11" into the overpasses at US 95 south of the old junction.

[Roadwarriors79]

Boulder City Review has a drive-thru video of the open segment on their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/bouldercityreview/

[sparker]

Lest there be any doubt, though, NDOT engraved "Interstate 11" into the overpasses at US 95 south of the old junction.

Got any pictures?  And -- is it a shield replica, or in text (the context of the above statement points toward the latter!)? 

[Kniwt]

Got any pictures?  And -- is it a shield replica, or in text (the context of the above statement points toward the latter!)? 

[Sub-Urbanite]

I officially nominate the segment of Boulder City Parkway from Railroad Pass to Veterans Memorial Drive to be Interstate 711.

[ilpt4u]

I officially nominate the segment of Boulder City Parkway from Railroad Pass to Veterans Memorial Drive to be Interstate 711.

And name it the Craps Freeway?

[sparker]

Got any pictures?  And -- is it a shield replica, or in text (the context of the above statement points toward the latter!)? 

Well, there you have it -- written in stone, so to speak!  BTW, what would you call that color of concrete -- yellow/beige, faux gold, maybe "fool's gold"?  Never seen that particular color before on a highway structure -- maybe a Nevada thing.  And it must have been a relatively mild day for anyone to ride their bike to an interchange out in the desert!  Maybe I'm just a wuss, but Vegas in summertime means that when you're going somewhere, it's in a car with the AC turned way up!

[US 89]

Got any pictures?  And -- is it a shield replica, or in text (the context of the above statement points toward the latter!)? 

Well, there you have it -- written in stone, so to speak!  BTW, what would you call that color of concrete -- yellow/beige, faux gold, maybe "fool's gold"?  Never seen that particular color before on a highway structure -- maybe a Nevada thing.  And it must have been a relatively mild day for anyone to ride their bike to an interchange out in the desert!  Maybe I'm just a wuss, but Vegas in summertime means that when you're going somewhere, it's in a car with the AC turned way up!

I would guess the color of the concrete is because the sun was pretty low in the sky when the picture was taken.

[Sub-Urbanite]

I officially nominate the segment of Boulder City Parkway from Railroad Pass to Veterans Memorial Drive to be Interstate 711.

And name it the Craps Freeway?

The irony would be that gambling is illegal in Boulder City.

[sparker]

I officially nominate the segment of Boulder City Parkway from Railroad Pass to Veterans Memorial Drive to be Interstate 711.

And name it the Craps Freeway?

The irony would be that gambling is illegal in Boulder City.

Local lore has it that the above situation is a hangover from the days when Boulder City was simply a "construction camp" for Hoover (nee Boulder) Dam; they didn't want the lure of gambling distracting their workers from their various tasks; at this point, since gaming can be obtained a mere couple of miles down the road at Railroad Pass, opening up Boulder City to the "industry" isn't worthwhile for any entities to challenge or look to change the present laws. 

A more cynical take would be that the owner(s) of Railroad Pass casino benefit from having the law in place (preventing local competition!), so they may be keeping an eye on things, possibly funding any efforts required in order to oppose any changes. 

[Sub-Urbanite]

Your lore is true - the Feds banned gambling and alcohol while Boulder City was a federal "reservation." Booze was eventually legalized. But, BC is still a heavily Mormon town. I think every recent mayor has been LDS. The residents are just in no hurry for their town to change, particularly on this topic.

[GreenLanternCorps]

Apparently one of the sections of future I-11 is open, but with navigational issues...

http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/36154355/interstate-11-opening-causes-gps-glitch

[wanderer2575]

Apparently one of the sections of future I-11 is open, but with navigational issues...

http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/36154355/interstate-11-opening-causes-gps-glitch

Move along (ha!); nothing to see here.  This happens every time a road configuration changes and GPS systems haven't yet updated (either the service provider hasn't updated the mapbases or the user hasn't updated his/her unit).  Exacerbated because fewer and fewer people have any clue on the concept of studying a road map.  I noted on another thread a few years ago, when Michigan reconfigured the terminus of I-94/I-69 at Port Huron, how dozens of motorists daily found themselves on the Blue Water Bridge heading into Canada because their GPS units hadn't been updated and they refused to follow the new signs.

[ilpt4u]

https://goo.gl/maps/Hk5t7evF85D2

And the I-11 Shield has popped up on Google Maps. That makes it official, right? (j/k -- especially since an I-169 shield has appeared in KY recently on Google Maps...)

[sparker]

https://goo.gl/maps/Hk5t7evF85D2

And the I-11 Shield has popped up on Google Maps. That makes it official, right? (j/k -- especially since an I-169 shield has appeared in KY recently on Google Maps...)

Wow!  Two of them in a row.  I didn't think even reassurance shields were placed that close together!  The ad hoc cadre of Google Map editors must really want to drive the point home that this IS I-11!!!!!

[Kniwt]

A bunch of new I-11 signage has gone up. Some examples:

[sparker]

A bunch of new I-11 signage has gone up. Some examples:

That looks like NB US 95 at the (new) I-11/US 93 interchange.  No pictures from either the ramp from NB 95 to SB 11/93 or anything from the freeway itself as of yet?  Looks like NDOT is chomping at the bit to get the I-11 identity established over the Boulder City bypass as quickly as feasible.  I just wonder if they're any closer to a decision regarding the I-11 alignment through Las Vegas itself. 

[GreenLanternCorps]

So, when is the Boulder City Bypass expected to open?

[mgk920]

I note how "Interstate 11" has been formed into the concrete of that bridge in the first image.

Mike

[US 89]

Is US 93 going to be decommissioned once I-11 is complete?