I wouldn't even make it four lanes or sign it as future I-11 at this point. All they should do now is purchase land for the ROW if it isn't in the public sector already and happens to come up for sale, so as to avoid eminent domain later.
when do you anticipate that US-95 will have enough traffic to merit four-laning universally to Fallon? if not ever (which is my opinion), I wouldn't even bother buying the ROW.
"Never" is a long time. If in 30 years there was enough traffic, it would still be worth having bought the ROW now, instead of by eminent domain after the land becomes more valuable. Most of the land probably belongs to the BLM already, so nothing would need to be done.
A key question in this discussion is whether there's a concerted effort by western states to reroute truck/commercial traffic off of other north-south freeway corridors (I-5 and I-15) to create a trucking corridor along US 95 or if either corridor is overburdened to the point a third route would be helpful. I'm not sure if, in this scenario, ending such a route in Reno would be sufficient. Instead, it would have to connect at least to Interstate 84. If this scenario is realized, then four-laning could be justified.
That is a key question, which is a key component of the study process being undertaken by NDOT & ADOT. They are not limiting the study to the US 93 and US 95 corridors either, but pretty much anything north of Las Vegas is fair game to look at. No matter which way a potential I-11 would travel north through Nevada, it won't be hard to for NDOT to get ROW...there's a lot of open space in Nevada owned by BLM.
Hm? Ellis AFB and the Nevada Test Site appear to be several miles away from US-95, and Area 51 is on the far side of Ellis AFB.
What is "Ellis AFB"? Maybe you're referring to the Nellis AFB flight range, which encompasses the test site and Area 51. The test site is accessed from the Mercury exit, where the four-lane US 95 transitions to two. Area 51 is better reached from SR 375 on the opposite side.
That's a good point. I think Routing I-11 past Las Vegas would have to go Northwest for this reason, I-15 connects North East. If I-11 doesn't head towards Reno, there really aren't a lot of cities to be routed towards.
But ending I-11 in Reno wouldn't make sense either, if it is going to be built that far then it should connect to I-84 or somehow the Pacific Northwest.
Given that the traffic Counts on US 95 or 93 are not justified, in even passing lanes let alone an Interstate, they are basing this on an Alternative to I-5 so they are planning on more truck Traffic coming, since it is not there now I pressume?
Also wouldn't Nevada want it to connect Reno in some way if there going to build it that far and that much in there state?