I-11/US 93 - Boulder City Bypass

[roadfro]

I still think NDOT did a garbage job giving drivers directions to Hoover Dam on southbound I-11. I mean, at least on that distance sign on SB I-11 past US 95 — add Hoover Dam to the destination list (along with Kingman and Phoenix).

They did add this brown sign between the Wagonwheel and US 93 BUS exits on southbound I-11. Although I agree putting the mileage to SR 172/Hoover Dam exit on that mileage sign would've been a good idea.


What I think is worse was NDOT replacing the signs at the US 95 south exit to add "Boulder City", at the behest of the city. The new signs have the most hideous layouts I've seen on NDOT signs in a while: southbound northbound. Heading southbound from Vegas, there is a "Boulder City next 3 exits" sign (after Wagonwheel), the Hoover Dam sign (which says "via historic Boulder City next exit"), the two US 93 Business/Boulder City Parkway exit signs, and a supplemental "Boulder City next exit" sign right before the US 95 south exit–adding Boulder City to the US 95 south exit signs as well was very unnecessary, IMHO.

I also think it's egregious that there is no supplemental signage at the US 95 south exit mentioning Laughlin (as there was on the old route).

[Sub-Urbanite]

I also think it's egregious that there is no supplemental signage at the US 95 south exit mentioning Laughlin (as there was on the old route).

Right? I mean, I get omitting Needles, despite its being a control city roughly 20 miles to the north. Maybe just pull it off those signs on Las Vegas Boulevard and call it a day.

But Laughlin? Which, along with Bullhead City, has a population of roughly 65,000? Just weiiiird.

As for that other sign on SB — sure, it says 13 miles, but it doesn't help drivers understand that they can use I-11 to get there... which may, actually, be the point.

[Bobby5280]

Boulder City needs to extend Buchanan BLVD as the four lane divided road to I-11 and add an interchange. Likewise with Utah St.

I don't expect exits on I-11 to be built for either street any time soon, if ever.

Utah Street dead ends at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club. Canyon Pointe Road goes South from there, crossing under I-11 at a pair of new bridges before also ending at another part of the same Rifle and Pistol Club. There's nothing else in that general area.

As for Buchanan Blvd, there is a half-ass, non-Interstate quality, restricted exit for service vehicles only to access the Mead electrical substation next to the highway. One could certainly make a good argument for converting that into a proper limited access freeway exit. I think any efforts to do so would be met with heavy resistance from the residents in the nearby neighborhoods, both out of concerns for traffic and relative security. The people who run the electrical substation likely wouldn't want a bunch of extra traffic right around there. I imagine the people who operate the veterans cemetery would also prefer not to have a bunch of traffic from I-11 rumbling by their location.

I think the potential is there for a lot of development to sprout up a little farther West at the US-95 exit. That location may turn into an important junction over the long term. I just hope NDOT reserved enough ROW around that new exit in case it ever has to be upgraded into something more elaborate.

[Sub-Urbanite]

I think the potential is there for a lot of development to sprout up a little farther West at the US-95 exit. That location may turn into an important junction over the long term. I just hope NDOT reserved enough ROW around that new exit in case it ever has to be upgraded into something more elaborate.

There really is no development potential there — first off, the land has a lot of naturally occurring asbestos, so environmental mitigation costs would be super-high. Even without that, Boulder City is anti sprawl. I could maybe see them approving a gas station near that interchange? But I doubt they'd even go for a truck stop, much less full-scale development.

[Kniwt]

Meanwhile, $17.5 million in improvements to Business 93 (Boulder City Parkway) begin next Monday.
https://news3lv.com/news/local/boulder-city-parkway-about-to-get-a-175-million-facelift

"The project starts at Veterans Memorial Drive, and continues all the way to Buchanan Blvd.," City Engineer Jim Keane said.

The $17.5 million, Boulder City Parkway Complete Street Project, will be completed in nearly 10 phases, according to Keane.

When it's finished, the 1.5 mile stretch of road will have new and landscaped medians, new sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and new pedestrian crossings.

Project info: https://www.facebook.com/MeadowValleyBoulderCityParkway

[splashflash]

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/new-truck-stop-latest-addition-to-interstate-11-highway-expansion-2797208/

New truck stop latest addition to Interstate 11 highway expansion
Vehicles move along the southbound on-ramp for Interstate 11 at College Drive in Henderson

Railroad Pass truck stop is getting a massive overhaul, adding a second truck stop that can accommodate more than 100 trucks along Interstate 11.

[pderocco]

I don't get it. The article says it's on the west side of I-11, and it's 75% complete. I don't see anything in the GE imagery from last month that looks like a truck stop under construction anywhere along I-11.

The article also says, "In February another small part of I-11 – between the U.S. Highway 95 interchange and Railroad Pass Casino in Henderson – opened". What the heck does that mean?

[Joseph R P]

I don't get it. The article says it's on the west side of I-11, and it's 75% complete. I don't see anything in the GE imagery from last month that looks like a truck stop under construction anywhere along I-11.

The article also says, "In February another small part of I-11 – between the U.S. Highway 95 interchange and Railroad Pass Casino in Henderson – opened". What the heck does that mean?

I think they're talking about the recently-expanded truck rest area at Railroad Pass Casino. The part that was expanded specifically is the lot west of Railroad Pass Casino Road, though I'm not sure how recently that was completed, but it looks like it's been completed since early 2021. I'm also not sure what the part about the new highway segment opening is all about, and can't really look into it since I don't have a LVRJ subscription. It almost feels like they published this article a couple years too late somehow.

[sprjus4]

the new freeway would also provide a much-needed direct link between Las Vegas and Phoenix – the only two cities in the U.S. with populations of more than 1 million people that are not linked by an interstate.

I feel like this is entirely not true either... Something that comes to mind immediately is Hampton Roads and Raleigh-Durham. They are both metropolitan areas of over 2 million each not linked via an interstate highway. I'm sure there's at least one more city pair in the country that qualifies here.

[kphoger]

the new freeway would also provide a much-needed direct link between Las Vegas and Phoenix – the only two cities in the U.S. with populations of more than 1 million people that are not linked by an interstate.

I feel like this is entirely not true either... Something that comes to mind immediately is Hampton Roads and Raleigh-Durham. They are both metropolitan areas of over 2 million each not linked via an interstate highway. I'm sure there's at least one more city pair in the country that qualifies here.

I was about to say you shifted from "city" to "metropolitan area".  But then I realized that the population of Las Vegas itself is less than a million.

[Plutonic Panda]

Only looking at city populations is really ridiculous. By that measure Oklahoma City is bigger than Atlanta.

[Max Rockatansky]

The way things are going I-11 is being planned to bypass the Phoenix Metro area completely by way of undeveloped Buckeye.

[sprjus4]

The way things are going I-11 is being planned to bypass the Phoenix Metro area completely by way of undeveloped Buckeye.

Either way, it will still provide a non-stop interstate connection via I-10.

[Max Rockatansky]

The way things are going I-11 is being planned to bypass the Phoenix Metro area completely by way of undeveloped Buckeye.

Either way, it will still provide a non-stop interstate connection via I-10.

Considering Arizona hasn't asked for single mile of I-11 to be officially designated with AASHTO or the FHWA I'll believe it when I see it.

[Anthony_JK]

The way things are going I-11 is being planned to bypass the Phoenix Metro area completely by way of undeveloped Buckeye.

Either way, it will still provide a non-stop interstate connection via I-10.

If that is the case, maybe they should just route it down I-10 to an upgraded AZ 85 to end at I-8 in Gila Bend and call it a wrap.

[The Ghostbuster]

I would have liked there to have been an End Interstate 11 sign posted somewhere along the Mike O'Callaghan—Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. However, there does not appear to be an End Interstate 11 sign posted at either terminus.

[Max Rockatansky]

I would have liked there to have been an End Interstate 11 sign posted somewhere along the Mike O'Callaghan—Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. However, there does not appear to be an End Interstate 11 sign posted at either terminus.

There definitely isn't one, I was looking just a couple weeks ago.  There is the Future I-11 sign on US 93 near the Kingman Wash Road exit.

[kernals12]

The way things are going I-11 is being planned to bypass the Phoenix Metro area completely by way of undeveloped Buckeye.

Either way, it will still provide a non-stop interstate connection via I-10.

Considering Arizona hasn't asked for single mile of I-11 to be officially designated with AASHTO or the FHWA I'll believe it when I see it.

https://azdot.gov/projects/northwest-district-projects/i-40us-93-west-kingman-traffic-interchange

Arizona is going to be building a full system interchange where US 93 meets I-40 in Kingman, the first step in converting the highway to an Interstate.

[Henry]

the new freeway would also provide a much-needed direct link between Las Vegas and Phoenix – the only two cities in the U.S. with populations of more than 1 million people that are not linked by an interstate.

I feel like this is entirely not true either... Something that comes to mind immediately is Hampton Roads and Raleigh-Durham. They are both metropolitan areas of over 2 million each not linked via an interstate highway. I'm sure there's at least one more city pair in the country that qualifies here.

At least I-87 is going to connect those two areas eventually. No such plans exist for Denver and Dallas-Ft. Worth, however; good luck getting a direct link.

[KeithE4Phx]

The way things are going I-11 is being planned to bypass the Phoenix Metro area completely by way of undeveloped Buckeye.

Either way, it will still provide a non-stop interstate connection via I-10.

Considering Arizona hasn't asked for single mile of I-11 to be officially designated with AASHTO or the FHWA I'll believe it when I see it.

The traffic on the current US 93 does not justify an Interstate highway south of I-40, complete with full interchanges at the many ranch turnoffs as well as at AZ 89, 71, and 97.  It does justify a 4-lane highway for its entire length between I-40 and Wickenburg, extended south to I-10 (signed as 93, though).

I'm going to Laughlin next week.  We'll see how the traffic is.

[Max Rockatansky]

The way things are going I-11 is being planned to bypass the Phoenix Metro area completely by way of undeveloped Buckeye.

Either way, it will still provide a non-stop interstate connection via I-10.

Considering Arizona hasn't asked for single mile of I-11 to be officially designated with AASHTO or the FHWA I'll believe it when I see it.

The traffic on the current US 93 does not justify an Interstate highway south of I-40, complete with full interchanges at the many ranch turnoffs as well as at AZ 89, 71, and 97.  It does justify a 4-lane highway for its entire length between I-40 and Wickenburg, extended south to I-10 (signed as 93, though).

I'm going to Laughlin next week.  We'll see how the traffic is.

And here I was hoping that Nothing would get a full on frontage road...   

[KeithE4Phx]

The way things are going I-11 is being planned to bypass the Phoenix Metro area completely by way of undeveloped Buckeye.

Either way, it will still provide a non-stop interstate connection via I-10.

Considering Arizona hasn't asked for single mile of I-11 to be officially designated with AASHTO or the FHWA I'll believe it when I see it.

The traffic on the current US 93 does not justify an Interstate highway south of I-40, complete with full interchanges at the many ranch turnoffs as well as at AZ 89, 71, and 97.  It does justify a 4-lane highway for its entire length between I-40 and Wickenburg, extended south to I-10 (signed as 93, though).

I'm going to Laughlin next week.  We'll see how the traffic is.

And here I was hoping that Nothing would get a full on frontage road...   

[roadfro]

I don't get it. The article says it's on the west side of I-11, and it's 75% complete. I don't see anything in the GE imagery from last month that looks like a truck stop under construction anywhere along I-11.

The article also says, "In February another small part of I-11 – between the U.S. Highway 95 interchange and Railroad Pass Casino in Henderson – opened". What the heck does that mean?

I think they're talking about the recently-expanded truck rest area at Railroad Pass Casino. The part that was expanded specifically is the lot west of Railroad Pass Casino Road, though I'm not sure how recently that was completed, but it looks like it's been completed since early 2021. I'm also not sure what the part about the new highway segment opening is all about, and can't really look into it since I don't have a LVRJ subscription. It almost feels like they published this article a couple years too late somehow.

The way I'm reading the article, it seems like this is a completely separate truck stop on the other side of the freeway, perhaps at the intersection of Railroad Pass Casino Road and Dawson Road (the semi-frontage road on the west side of I-11). The most recent Google Street View is April 2022, and doesn't reveal much activity...but a project like this could have started last summer and be 75% complete by now.

The article provides no other information about I-11 other than that one sentence. I have no idea what it is referring to, and seems to be a misleading statement since, to my knowledge, the actual I-11 and all other related construction work in that project was completed a few years ago.

[Joseph R P]

I don't get it. The article says it's on the west side of I-11, and it's 75% complete. I don't see anything in the GE imagery from last month that looks like a truck stop under construction anywhere along I-11.

The article also says, "In February another small part of I-11 – between the U.S. Highway 95 interchange and Railroad Pass Casino in Henderson – opened". What the heck does that mean?

I think they're talking about the recently-expanded truck rest area at Railroad Pass Casino. The part that was expanded specifically is the lot west of Railroad Pass Casino Road, though I'm not sure how recently that was completed, but it looks like it's been completed since early 2021. I'm also not sure what the part about the new highway segment opening is all about, and can't really look into it since I don't have a LVRJ subscription. It almost feels like they published this article a couple years too late somehow.

The way I'm reading the article, it seems like this is a completely separate truck stop on the other side of the freeway, perhaps at the intersection of Railroad Pass Casino Road and Dawson Road (the semi-frontage road on the west side of I-11). The most recent Google Street View is April 2022, and doesn't reveal much activity...but a project like this could have started last summer and be 75% complete by now.

The article provides no other information about I-11 other than that one sentence. I have no idea what it is referring to, and seems to be a misleading statement since, to my knowledge, the actual I-11 and all other related construction work in that project was completed a few years ago.

You look to be correct about the truck stop being just across I 11 at the frontage road. Looking at the Clark County OpenWeb aerial imagery from February 16, 2023, that is most definitely an under-construction truck stop: https://maps.clarkcountynv.gov/openweb/?@853416,26689964,7

[pderocco]

And here I was hoping that Nothing would get a full on frontage road...   

If they end up building something there, will they have to change its name?