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I-11/US 93 - Boulder City Bypass

Started by roadfro, March 27, 2015, 11:59:24 AM

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KeithE4Phx

Quote from: sparker on May 09, 2018, 04:35:49 PM
Does anyone know if AZ is planning to sign their portion of the freeway approach to the O'Callaghan/Tillman bridge as I-11?

AFAIK, they are not, at least not until the portion of US 93 between AZ 68 and the bridge is completely up to freeway standards.  I don't know if they even have a timetable for that yet.  They seem to be more interested in finalizing a route from Wickenburg to Nogales before building any of it.  The segment south of I-8 is completely unnecessary.
"Oh, so you hate your job? Well, why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called "EVERYBODY!" They meet at the bar." -- Drew Carey


roadfro

Quote from: kdk on May 11, 2018, 07:18:59 PM
On another note, I drove this earlier this week.  Heading from AZ into Las Vegas is a bit easier being that you no longer have to go through the stoplight in front of Railroad Pass now that you drive on the new lanes.

However, the what seems to be the constantly moving chokepoint over there seemed to move onto the freeway.  Based on my observation, the new I-11 with only two lanes each way from Railroad Pass up to the Boulder Hwy exit seems to be inadequate already.  With all the Boulder City, US 93 and US 95 traffic funneling into two lanes for a few miles, speeds were down to 30 mph on a midweek afternoon.  There were no incidents either.  Once you get up to Boulder Hwy I-11/I-515 opens up to three lanes and traffic sped up to the speed limit then.  It looks like it was designed to be able to add a third lane based on the widths of the underpasses, but it seems it should have been built now.

The slowdown you described seems excessively low. I never experienced that in the before condition, except in dealing with the signal at Railroad Pass Casino. It makes me think there had been something that happened, probably much earlier than when you passed through, that affected traffic. Given how spread out the northbound onramps are from US 95 to Railroad Pass Casino Rd to Boulder City Pkwy/future BUS 93, I think the merging will be sufficiently spread out that two lanes of traffic will be fine. (Also note that constructing to three lanes would've required expanding the overpasses at Paradise Hills Dr (just before Boulder Hwy). But yes, they could expand later if needed--nowadays, NDOT seems to construct overpasses with enough room underneath to fit 4-5 lanes each way, even if the freeway is unlikely to ever be expanded that much.
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Sub-Urbanite

Quote from: kdk on May 11, 2018, 07:18:59 PM
On another note, I drove this earlier this week.  Heading from AZ into Las Vegas is a bit easier being that you no longer have to go through the stoplight in front of Railroad Pass now that you drive on the new lanes.

However, the what seems to be the constantly moving chokepoint over there seemed to move onto the freeway.  Based on my observation, the new I-11 with only two lanes each way from Railroad Pass up to the Boulder Hwy exit seems to be inadequate already.  With all the Boulder City, US 93 and US 95 traffic funneling into two lanes for a few miles, speeds were down to 30 mph on a midweek afternoon.  There were no incidents either.  Once you get up to Boulder Hwy I-11/I-515 opens up to three lanes and traffic sped up to the speed limit then.  It looks like it was designed to be able to add a third lane based on the widths of the underpasses, but it seems it should have been built now.

This doesn't surprise me — I've encountered volume issues there (especially inbound) in the past. That being said, I'm not sure it's a terrible thing — a slowdown to 30 mph a few hours a day isn't a huge issue, and the millions in expenses to add a truck lane probably aren't worth the benefit.

sparker

......It's heeeeeeere.........

Looks like the nascent I-11 stretch will in fact be open quite soon, according to the LV press:

https://www.reviewjournal.com/traffic/15-mile-segment-of-i-11-to-open-three-months-ahead-of-schedule/

mvak36

Quote from: sparker on May 15, 2018, 10:33:55 AM
......It's heeeeeeere.........

Looks like the nascent I-11 stretch will in fact be open quite soon, according to the LV press:

https://www.reviewjournal.com/traffic/15-mile-segment-of-i-11-to-open-three-months-ahead-of-schedule/

That's great news. I might have to fly out there again one of these days to drive the new segment.
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Exit58

Quote from: sparker on May 15, 2018, 10:33:55 AM
......It's heeeeeeere.........

Looks like the nascent I-11 stretch will in fact be open quite soon, according to the LV press:

https://www.reviewjournal.com/traffic/15-mile-segment-of-i-11-to-open-three-months-ahead-of-schedule/

QuoteTravel Center at the Railroad Pass was built on a 24-acre parcel, with... a dozen charging stations for electric vehicles

This is very exciting news as well! A sign of things to come in the future.

roadfro

Phase 1 construction (end I-515 to new US 95 interchange, originally scheduled to be completed in April 2018) should be opened to drivers by 7am on Wednesday, May 23rd.

First phase of I-11 opens next week near Las Vegas, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/17/18
Quote
The first phase of Interstate 11, stretching 2 ½ miles from the U.S. Highway 95 interchange in Boulder City to Foothill Drive in Henderson, will open to traffic by 7 a.m. Wednesday, the Nevada Department of Transportation said.

That initial concrete segment built by NDOT was supposed to be completed last month, but "equipment issues"  forced construction crews to continue painting stripes along the road and adding some other finishing touches through next week, officials said.
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

SSR_317

Quote from: roadfro on May 20, 2018, 02:48:51 PM
Phase 1 construction (end I-515 to new US 95 interchange, originally scheduled to be completed in April 2018) should be opened to drivers by 7am on Wednesday, May 23rd.

First phase of I-11 opens next week near Las Vegas, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/17/18
Quote
The first phase of Interstate 11, stretching 2 ½ miles from the U.S. Highway 95 interchange in Boulder City to Foothill Drive in Henderson, will open to traffic by 7 a.m. Wednesday, the Nevada Department of Transportation said.

That initial concrete segment built by NDOT was supposed to be completed last month, but "equipment issues"  forced construction crews to continue painting stripes along the road and adding some other finishing touches through next week, officials said.
Thanks for the head's up!

myosh_tino

#158
Quote from: roadfro on May 20, 2018, 02:48:51 PM
Phase 1 construction (end I-515 to new US 95 interchange, originally scheduled to be completed in April 2018) should be opened to drivers by 7am on Wednesday, May 23rd.

First phase of I-11 opens next week near Las Vegas, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/17/18
Quote
The first phase of Interstate 11, stretching 2 ½ miles from the U.S. Highway 95 interchange in Boulder City to Foothill Drive in Henderson, will open to traffic by 7 a.m. Wednesday, the Nevada Department of Transportation said.

That initial concrete segment built by NDOT was supposed to be completed last month, but "equipment issues"  forced construction crews to continue painting stripes along the road and adding some other finishing touches through next week, officials said.

Darn it!  I'm in Vegas right now but I'm headed home on Tuesday.   :banghead:

I guess I'll have to wait until October to get a look at the new freeway. *sigh*
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SSR_317

Quote from: myosh_tino on May 21, 2018, 12:59:21 PM
Quote from: roadfro on May 20, 2018, 02:48:51 PM
Phase 1 construction (end I-515 to new US 95 interchange, originally scheduled to be completed in April 2018) should be opened to drivers by 7am on Wednesday, May 23rd.

First phase of I-11 opens next week near Las Vegas, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/17/18
Quote
The first phase of Interstate 11, stretching 2 ½ miles from the U.S. Highway 95 interchange in Boulder City to Foothill Drive in Henderson, will open to traffic by 7 a.m. Wednesday, the Nevada Department of Transportation said.

That initial concrete segment built by NDOT was supposed to be completed last month, but "equipment issues"  forced construction crews to continue painting stripes along the road and adding some other finishing touches through next week, officials said.

Darn it!  I'm in Vegas right now but I'm headed home on Tuesday.  :banged:

I guess I'll have to wait until October to get a look at the new freeway. *sigh*
You'll only be missing the mile or so between US 95 and Railroad Pass Casino Rd. That's the small remaining part of Phase 1 opening tomorrow. The bulk of Phase 2 will not be opened until late-summer. Those DOT announcements always seem to make these openings seem more grandiose than they really are. But when the 12.5-mile Phase 2 opens, it WILL be a big deal.

roadfro

Quote from: myosh_tino on May 21, 2018, 12:59:21 PM
Darn it!  I'm in Vegas right now but I'm headed home on Tuesday.   :banghead:

I guess I'll have to wait until October to get a look at the new freeway. *sigh*

If it's any consolation, when you're there in October, the whole bypass will be complete!
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

kdk

Quote from: roadfro on May 11, 2018, 10:09:35 PM
Quote from: kdk on May 11, 2018, 07:18:59 PM
On another note, I drove this earlier this week.  Heading from AZ into Las Vegas is a bit easier being that you no longer have to go through the stoplight in front of Railroad Pass now that you drive on the new lanes.

However, the what seems to be the constantly moving chokepoint over there seemed to move onto the freeway.  Based on my observation, the new I-11 with only two lanes each way from Railroad Pass up to the Boulder Hwy exit seems to be inadequate already.  With all the Boulder City, US 93 and US 95 traffic funneling into two lanes for a few miles, speeds were down to 30 mph on a midweek afternoon.  There were no incidents either.  Once you get up to Boulder Hwy I-11/I-515 opens up to three lanes and traffic sped up to the speed limit then.  It looks like it was designed to be able to add a third lane based on the widths of the underpasses, but it seems it should have been built now.


The slowdown you described seems excessively low. I never experienced that in the before condition, except in dealing with the signal at Railroad Pass Casino. It makes me think there had been something that happened, probably much earlier than when you passed through, that affected traffic. Given how spread out the northbound onramps are from US 95 to Railroad Pass Casino Rd to Boulder City Pkwy/future BUS 93, I think the merging will be sufficiently spread out that two lanes of traffic will be fine. (Also note that constructing to three lanes would've required expanding the overpasses at Paradise Hills Dr (just before Boulder Hwy). But yes, they could expand later if needed--nowadays, NDOT seems to construct overpasses with enough room underneath to fit 4-5 lanes each way, even if the freeway is unlikely to ever be expanded that much.

So I drove it again last week (just before the opening of the lanes down to the new 95 interchange), it wasn't quite as slow but still slow and congested.  Part of it may be that you essentially have to quickly move over two lanes upon entering the new freeway lanes.  Drivers may be confused and drive a bit slower, but it just seemed like a lot of traffic crammed onto two lanes, and it didn't get up to the speed limit again until reaching the Boulder Highway interchange which is several miles north.   I'll be there again in a few weeks so maybe the fact that the configuration will be different may help so will see.  This is only on the northbound side, I have yet to have this issue heading south even before the upgrades.

roadfro

Quote from: sparker on May 15, 2018, 10:33:55 AM
Looks like the nascent I-11 stretch will in fact be open quite soon, according to the LV press:

https://www.reviewjournal.com/traffic/15-mile-segment-of-i-11-to-open-three-months-ahead-of-schedule/

The above article mentions Phase 2 would open in late July.

It looks like that will be pushed back a little bit. In the following article (which discusses federal infrastructure plan revamping, with one possible funding looking at a fuel revenue indexing plan similar to that recently permanently adopted by Clark County voters), there is a mention of I-11 and it's completion date.

Federal infrastructure plan could borrow from Southern Nevada, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/29/2018
Quote
The first 15-mile stretch of the new interstate running between Henderson and the Hoover Dam is set to open Aug. 9, but Malfabon and other state officials now want to see a connection to Phoenix.

Still ahead of the original October 2018 projection, but now not quite the three months they had initially stated.
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Roadwarriors79

From a YouTube video I saw over the weekend, it looks like I-11 is cosigned with US 93 going northbound crossing into Nevada from Arizona. All traffic is forced to exit to the future Business 93 (Exit 2). Once you get back on the I-11 alignment near Railroad Pass Casino, I-11 is cosigned with US 93 and US 95. For now, I-11 transitions to I-515 around exit 56 of I-515 (Wagon Wheel Dr/Boulder Hwy).

Sub-Urbanite

Quote from: Roadwarriors79 on June 25, 2018, 06:44:45 AM
From a YouTube video I saw over the weekend, it looks like I-11 is cosigned with US 93 going northbound crossing into Nevada from Arizona. All traffic is forced to exit to the future Business 93 (Exit 2). Once you get back on the I-11 alignment near Railroad Pass Casino, I-11 is cosigned with US 93 and US 95. For now, I-11 transitions to I-515 around exit 56 of I-515 (Wagon Wheel Dr/Boulder Hwy).

Link?

Curious that I-515 hasn't been re-signed as I-11 south of 215 yet. NDOT allegedly had a contract out to do that last year.

Roadwarriors79

Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on June 25, 2018, 11:55:36 AM
Quote from: Roadwarriors79 on June 25, 2018, 06:44:45 AM
From a YouTube video I saw over the weekend, it looks like I-11 is cosigned with US 93 going northbound crossing into Nevada from Arizona. All traffic is forced to exit to the future Business 93 (Exit 2). Once you get back on the I-11 alignment near Railroad Pass Casino, I-11 is cosigned with US 93 and US 95. For now, I-11 transitions to I-515 around exit 56 of I-515 (Wagon Wheel Dr/Boulder Hwy).

Link?

Curious that I-515 hasn't been re-signed as I-11 south of 215 yet. NDOT allegedly had a contract out to do that last year.


Link is below. (Skip ahead to about 2:23:45 to US 93 in Arizona at the Kingman Wash Access Road exit.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM-LG8yWF2Q

sparker

Quote from: Roadwarriors79 on June 25, 2018, 12:48:03 PM
Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on June 25, 2018, 11:55:36 AM
Quote from: Roadwarriors79 on June 25, 2018, 06:44:45 AM
From a YouTube video I saw over the weekend, it looks like I-11 is cosigned with US 93 going northbound crossing into Nevada from Arizona. All traffic is forced to exit to the future Business 93 (Exit 2). Once you get back on the I-11 alignment near Railroad Pass Casino, I-11 is cosigned with US 93 and US 95. For now, I-11 transitions to I-515 around exit 56 of I-515 (Wagon Wheel Dr/Boulder Hwy).

Link?

Curious that I-515 hasn't been re-signed as I-11 south of 215 yet. NDOT allegedly had a contract out to do that last year.


Link is below. (Skip ahead to about 2:23:45 to US 93 in Arizona at the Kingman Wash Access Road exit.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM-LG8yWF2Q

The first I-11/US 93 reassurance array can be seen at 2:26:37 just after leaving the O'Callaghan-Tillman bridge and definitely on the NV side of the crossing. 

Sub-Urbanite

To clarify: Curious that the Boulder Highway to 215 stretch hadn't been re-signed yet.

Anthony_JK

Probably waiting for the remainder of the Boulder City Bypass segments of I-11 to be completed before making the official switch.

Henry

And with that, I-11 is coming ever so close to AZ, which may hasten its completion to Phoenix by a considerable amount of time.
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sparker

Quote from: Henry on June 26, 2018, 09:28:52 AM
And with that, I-11 is coming ever so close to AZ, which may hasten its completion to Phoenix by a considerable amount of time.

Which will probably be a leisurely process at best.  I'd be willing to wager that AZDOT concentrates on the segment north of Kingman first -- including the connection to I-40, which seems to have some level of local support, since it would be the most straightforward upgrade of the entire AZ portion of the corridor -- and would serve as a functional SIU, funneling traffic from eastward I-40 points toward Vegas -- which would in turn provide a locale to place significant numbers of roadside service facilities (revenue enhancement).  The remainder of the corridor will likely depend upon the pace of progress on the new-terrain segments south of Wickenburg; not likely that ADOT will prioritize the Wickenburg-I-40 segment until at least a path connecting to the PHX freeway network has been finalized.

roadfro

Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on June 25, 2018, 11:55:36 AM
Quote from: Roadwarriors79 on June 25, 2018, 06:44:45 AM
From a YouTube video I saw over the weekend, it looks like I-11 is cosigned with US 93 going northbound crossing into Nevada from Arizona. All traffic is forced to exit to the future Business 93 (Exit 2). Once you get back on the I-11 alignment near Railroad Pass Casino, I-11 is cosigned with US 93 and US 95. For now, I-11 transitions to I-515 around exit 56 of I-515 (Wagon Wheel Dr/Boulder Hwy).
Curious that I-515 hasn't been re-signed as I-11 south of 215 yet. NDOT allegedly had a contract out to do that last year.
Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on June 25, 2018, 07:11:32 PM
To clarify: Curious that the Boulder Highway to 215 stretch hadn't been re-signed yet.

I'm fairly certain that NDOT has no intentions to commence resigning this portion of I-515 as I-11 until the rest of the Boulder City Bypass is completed. (There might also be other signing improvements coming along that stretch than just replacing I-515 shields with I-11 shields, as the NDOT's STIP page is allocating $300,000 for this. Some of the guide signing along this stretch is quite tired–I'm assuming much of it dates to original construction of that stretch circa 1995).

The I-11 shield seen in the video was likely erected as part of the signing plan for the phase 2 contract–note that some other phase 2 signing has been installed. For example, the northbound Exit 2 sign used to read "[SR 172] Hoover Dam" and in this video has been replaced with "[US 93 Business] Boulder City" (with Hoover Dam and Lake Mead NRA relegated to a supplemental brown sign).
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

Sub-Urbanite

Quote from: roadfro on June 27, 2018, 10:59:03 AM
Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on June 25, 2018, 07:11:32 PM
To clarify: Curious that the Boulder Highway to 215 stretch hadn't been re-signed yet.

I'm fairly certain that NDOT has no intentions to commence resigning this portion of I-515 as I-11 until the rest of the Boulder City Bypass is completed. (There might also be other signing improvements coming along that stretch than just replacing I-515 shields with I-11 shields, as the NDOT's STIP page is allocating $300,000 for this. Some of the guide signing along this stretch is quite tired–I'm assuming much of it dates to original construction of that stretch circa 1995).

But... this... 

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/sep/09/more-interstate-11-signs-on-the-way/

sparker

Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on June 27, 2018, 11:17:24 AM
Quote from: roadfro on June 27, 2018, 10:59:03 AM
Quote from: Sub-Urbanite on June 25, 2018, 07:11:32 PM
To clarify: Curious that the Boulder Highway to 215 stretch hadn't been re-signed yet.

I'm fairly certain that NDOT has no intentions to commence resigning this portion of I-515 as I-11 until the rest of the Boulder City Bypass is completed. (There might also be other signing improvements coming along that stretch than just replacing I-515 shields with I-11 shields, as the NDOT's STIP page is allocating $300,000 for this. Some of the guide signing along this stretch is quite tired–I'm assuming much of it dates to original construction of that stretch circa 1995).

But... this...

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/sep/09/more-interstate-11-signs-on-the-way/

Obviously, since it's the end of June 2018, and the I-11 shield replacement didn't happen by last December (after the article was published), NDOT has elected to delay the swap until later.  Why? -- possibly the GPS issue regarding switching of roadways near Railroad Pass, possibly just to make sure that the entire segment from the state line north to I-515 was completed so signage could be done in one fell swoop -- or they simply decided to delay the activity until the next fiscal year (a more than likely scenario given the funding issues that befall almost every agency these days).  Since they did place the initial NB signage immediately after the big bridge (as per the "big rig" video) -- and that segment had gone unsigned since it was opened in 2011 -- one could say that there is no reticence on the part of NDOT to deploy such signage -- just internal issues with scheduling.  Wouldn't be the first time a press release wasn't prescient; but such delays are commonplace.  Unless someone wants to call NDOT and ask them why the changeover wasn't done according to their original press release, everything is merely speculation.  I think we can afford to wait until NDOT gets around to the task; given I-11's PR flack over the last couple of years, it's bound to happen sooner or later. 

JREwing78

I'm a little surprised that the Tillman bridge requires tall vehicles to travel in the left lane. There's no apparent reason for it (besides possibly cross-winds), but that's not a common sight outside of work zones.



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