Interstate 11 alignment, though Vegas and points north

[michravera]

So what is the present northern terminus of I-11? How serious is a northern extension to Reno?

Present northern terminus is the interchange with I-515 and I-215 in Henderson. Seems only a matter of a couple years before it gets extended over I-515 and the US 95 freeway through Las Vegas.

The extension to Reno is actually written into federal law somewhere, but I will be shocked if it happens in my lifetime.

With three more Reno - Santa Barbara round-trips behind me covering all three routes (395-14-5-126-101, 80-5-41-46-101, and 80-680-101), I am very unconvinced that there is any need for a full interstate-standard limited access highway between Reno and Las Vegas. Improvements to make it four-lane divided with bypasses around the towns and no traffic lights (like 101 between Gilroy and Santa Barbara and 395/14 is getting close to between Lee Vining and Lancaster) gets you 95+% of what a full freeway gets you at much less cost. Of those three ways to Santa Barbara I listed, the one with the most freeway mileage - 80-5-41-46-101 - is my least favorite. I'd rather see any federal funds that could be used for an interstate between Reno and Las Vegas instead used to widen I-5 between I-580 and Wheeler Ridge.

San Luis Obispo (and probably Santa Barbara) is closer by road to Tahoe than to Las Vegas. US-95/I-11 would be involved in the trip (unless your goal is "out of the way and more boring").

[DTComposer]

San Luis Obispo (and probably Santa Barbara) is closer by road to Tahoe than to Las Vegas. US-95/I-11 would be involved in the trip (unless your goal is "out of the way and more boring").

From experience I can tell you Santa Barbara is much quicker to Vegas (5 hours) than Tahoe (7+ hours, depending on what side of the lake you're heading towards). I'm unsure how/why either SLO or SB would need to use US-95/I-11, though.

[michravera]

San Luis Obispo (and probably Santa Barbara) is closer by road to Tahoe than to Las Vegas. US-95/I-11 would be involved in the trip (unless your goal is "out of the way and more boring").

From experience I can tell you Santa Barbara is much quicker to Vegas (5 hours) than Tahoe (7+ hours, depending on what side of the lake you're heading towards). I'm unsure how/why either SLO or SB would need to use US-95/I-11, though.

Yeah. It's close to equal from SLO. but closer to South Lake Tahoe. Santa Barabara is about 90 minutes south. So, your numbers are certainly compatible with mine.

[RZF]

San Luis Obispo (and probably Santa Barbara) is closer by road to Tahoe than to Las Vegas. US-95/I-11 would be involved in the trip (unless your goal is "out of the way and more boring").

From experience I can tell you Santa Barbara is much quicker to Vegas (5 hours) than Tahoe (7+ hours, depending on what side of the lake you're heading towards). I'm unsure how/why either SLO or SB would need to use US-95/I-11, though.

Yeah. It's close to equal from SLO. but closer to South Lake Tahoe. Santa Barabara is about 90 minutes south. So, your numbers are certainly compatible with mine.

SLO is close in latitude to Vegas, so the route is more direct (101 to 58 to 15). In SB, you have to jog north by driving East into LA or the Inland Empire via 14 to Pearblossom to 138 to 18 or via 210 to Cajon Pass, respectively.

[michravera]

San Luis Obispo (and probably Santa Barbara) is closer by road to Tahoe than to Las Vegas. US-95/I-11 would be involved in the trip (unless your goal is "out of the way and more boring").

From experience I can tell you Santa Barbara is much quicker to Vegas (5 hours) than Tahoe (7+ hours, depending on what side of the lake you're heading towards). I'm unsure how/why either SLO or SB would need to use US-95/I-11, though.

Yeah. It's close to equal from SLO. but closer to South Lake Tahoe. Santa Barabara is about 90 minutes south. So, your numbers are certainly compatible with mine.

SLO is close in latitude to Vegas, so the route is more direct (101 to 58 to 15). In SB, you have to jog north by driving East into LA or the Inland Empire via 14 to Pearblossom to 138 to 18 or via 210 to Cajon Pass, respectively.

There may be a better route today, but when I was in SLO back in 1990 land looking for legal Blackjack, I discovered that Tahoe was closer. I just looked it up. It's VERY close.

[kdk]

Do they have a date on when they will renumber the rest of Interstate 515, and co-designate the rest of US 95 to NV 157 as Interstate 11? Or will we have to wait a few years for it to happen?

Likely later this year. Enjoy the I-11 extension now, because it's probably the last one we'll see in Nevada for a loooooooong time (if ever). On which note, I was on US 95 south of Hawthorne on Saturday. There were periods when I couldn't even see another car on the road. Hard to imagine that ever becoming a freeway.

But, but, but, if you build it they will come for Tonopah, Luning, Mina and Coaldale!

Can't wait to see how such road can "induce demand" in the middle of nowhere

.

I'm planning on buying into a Buc-ee's franchise at the Coaldale exit.

How much does the 20 acres of land necessary for a Buc-ee's cost in Coaldale?  Also, does it have enough of a nearby population to adequately staff just the bathroom maintenance requirements of an Buc-ee's alone?

Irrelevant, people will come once I-11 and Buc-ee's are constructed.

Plus, you'd have a bit of competition. When I drove between Reno and Vegas in early January, I saw a new truck stop under construction (might've been a Love's) just north of Tonopah (close enough to be considered in town, but it's technically in Esmeralda County not Nye County). Based on the progress I could see just driving by, I gotta imagine that the truck stop is open by now.

Surprisingly still not open as of this week, although it looks like now it could be open within 30 days, all that seems to be done on the outside would be the actual paving of the parking lots.  It's much needed as I have learned to avoid needing gas in Tonopah as the existing gas stations tend to have a wait time at each pump and the parking lots tend to fill up as well, as was the case last week.
On a related note, the Goldfield Truck Stop in Goldfield still looks to be an active construction site but little progress has been made in the past 8 months since I had last driven by.

Just made the Reno-Vegas and back drive earlier this month. The Love's is just about ready. They'll have to move the sign on NB 95 that says how far to next gas, though.

While there may not be enough traffic to build I-11 out there, I could easily see building it as far as the Mercury exit, and I don't see it being much of an issue (except for the bypass around Indian Springs/Cactus Springs), but NDOT REALLY needs more passing lanes north of Tonopah.

Loves was open last week when I did a Vegas-Reno-Vegas drive.  They were overwhelmed with business, and out of products inside, etc.  I have seen a lot of busy Loves but this one was the busiest, and it's not on an interstate.  Stopped both on way north and south.  Didn't notice if they updated the next gas signs yet though.

[cl94]

Do they have a date on when they will renumber the rest of Interstate 515, and co-designate the rest of US 95 to NV 157 as Interstate 11? Or will we have to wait a few years for it to happen?

Likely later this year. Enjoy the I-11 extension now, because it's probably the last one we'll see in Nevada for a loooooooong time (if ever). On which note, I was on US 95 south of Hawthorne on Saturday. There were periods when I couldn't even see another car on the road. Hard to imagine that ever becoming a freeway.

But, but, but, if you build it they will come for Tonopah, Luning, Mina and Coaldale!

Can't wait to see how such road can "induce demand" in the middle of nowhere

.

I'm planning on buying into a Buc-ee's franchise at the Coaldale exit.

How much does the 20 acres of land necessary for a Buc-ee's cost in Coaldale?  Also, does it have enough of a nearby population to adequately staff just the bathroom maintenance requirements of an Buc-ee's alone?

Irrelevant, people will come once I-11 and Buc-ee's are constructed.

Plus, you'd have a bit of competition. When I drove between Reno and Vegas in early January, I saw a new truck stop under construction (might've been a Love's) just north of Tonopah (close enough to be considered in town, but it's technically in Esmeralda County not Nye County). Based on the progress I could see just driving by, I gotta imagine that the truck stop is open by now.

Surprisingly still not open as of this week, although it looks like now it could be open within 30 days, all that seems to be done on the outside would be the actual paving of the parking lots.  It's much needed as I have learned to avoid needing gas in Tonopah as the existing gas stations tend to have a wait time at each pump and the parking lots tend to fill up as well, as was the case last week.
On a related note, the Goldfield Truck Stop in Goldfield still looks to be an active construction site but little progress has been made in the past 8 months since I had last driven by.

Just made the Reno-Vegas and back drive earlier this month. The Love's is just about ready. They'll have to move the sign on NB 95 that says how far to next gas, though.

While there may not be enough traffic to build I-11 out there, I could easily see building it as far as the Mercury exit, and I don't see it being much of an issue (except for the bypass around Indian Springs/Cactus Springs), but NDOT REALLY needs more passing lanes north of Tonopah.

Loves was open last week when I did a Vegas-Reno-Vegas drive.  They were overwhelmed with business, and out of products inside, etc.  I have seen a lot of busy Loves but this one was the busiest, and it's not on an interstate.  Stopped both on way north and south.  Didn't notice if they updated the next gas signs yet though.

Well, it's the last gas for a pretty long distance on either 95 or 6, and the only other comparable establishment in town is the crappy Chevron just down the road. The Love's in Ely also gets pretty busy for the same reason, despite not getting nearly enough traffic passing by to warrant a freeway.

[roadfro]

Plus, you'd have a bit of competition. When I drove between Reno and Vegas in early January, I saw a new truck stop under construction (might've been a Love's) just north of Tonopah (close enough to be considered in town, but it's technically in Esmeralda County not Nye County). Based on the progress I could see just driving by, I gotta imagine that the truck stop is open by now.

Surprisingly still not open as of this week, although it looks like now it could be open within 30 days, all that seems to be done on the outside would be the actual paving of the parking lots.  It's much needed as I have learned to avoid needing gas in Tonopah as the existing gas stations tend to have a wait time at each pump and the parking lots tend to fill up as well, as was the case last week.
On a related note, the Goldfield Truck Stop in Goldfield still looks to be an active construction site but little progress has been made in the past 8 months since I had last driven by.

Just made the Reno-Vegas and back drive earlier this month. The Love's is just about ready. They'll have to move the sign on NB 95 that says how far to next gas, though.

While there may not be enough traffic to build I-11 out there, I could easily see building it as far as the Mercury exit, and I don't see it being much of an issue (except for the bypass around Indian Springs/Cactus Springs), but NDOT REALLY needs more passing lanes north of Tonopah.

Loves was open last week when I did a Vegas-Reno-Vegas drive.  They were overwhelmed with business, and out of products inside, etc.  I have seen a lot of busy Loves but this one was the busiest, and it's not on an interstate.  Stopped both on way north and south.  Didn't notice if they updated the next gas signs yet though.

It's about time.

There wouldn't really be a need to update any "next gas" signs, given the Love's is only a half mile or so from the next closest gas station in Tonopah. Also, at least for US 95, I don't think there are any such signs.

[The Ghostbuster]

This is the best shot on Google Maps Street View that I could get of the forementioned new Love's Truck Stop in Tonopah: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0785343,-117.2537189,3a,75y,5.82h,92.82t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sP1husy7AJoreZ0kIxOLMig!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DP1husy7AJoreZ0kIxOLMig%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D84.94889%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu. The area around the new truck stop is pretty barren. The Satellite View of the same location was taken before construction started, so we'll have to wait for an update to get an overhead shot of it.

[roadfro]

This is the best shot on Google Maps Street View that I could get of the forementioned new Love's Truck Stop in Tonopah: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0785343,-117.2537189,3a,75y,5.82h,92.82t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sP1husy7AJoreZ0kIxOLMig!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DP1husy7AJoreZ0kIxOLMig%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D84.94889%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu. The area around the new truck stop is pretty barren. The Satellite View of the same location was taken before construction started, so we'll have to wait for an update to get an overhead shot of it.

That Street View was taken in May 2023. But the view there is about what it looked like when I passed through in early January 2023, just none of the actual "Love's" signage had been placed yet (I think maybe some of the panels on the gas island canopy had been installed or some glimpse of signage sitting on the site was what made me think it might be a Love's until I could confirm independently). Kinda sad that so little progress had been made in four months.

[michravera]

San Luis Obispo (and probably Santa Barbara) is closer by road to Tahoe than to Las Vegas. US-95/I-11 would be involved in the trip (unless your goal is "out of the way and more boring").

From experience I can tell you Santa Barbara is much quicker to Vegas (5 hours) than Tahoe (7+ hours, depending on what side of the lake you're heading towards). I'm unsure how/why either SLO or SB would need to use US-95/I-11, though.

Yeah. It's close to equal from SLO. but closer to South Lake Tahoe. Santa Barabara is about 90 minutes south. So, your numbers are certainly compatible with mine.

SLO is close in latitude to Vegas, so the route is more direct (101 to 58 to 15). In SB, you have to jog north by driving East into LA or the Inland Empire via 14 to Pearblossom to 138 to 18 or via 210 to Cajon Pass, respectively.

I can see that you've never driven CASR-58 between US-101 and I-5. CalTrans has put up a sign along US-101 saying, in effect, "If you can possibly use some other road, don't take CASR-58"

[Ellie]

San Luis Obispo (and probably Santa Barbara) is closer by road to Tahoe than to Las Vegas. US-95/I-11 would be involved in the trip (unless your goal is "out of the way and more boring").

From experience I can tell you Santa Barbara is much quicker to Vegas (5 hours) than Tahoe (7+ hours, depending on what side of the lake you're heading towards). I'm unsure how/why either SLO or SB would need to use US-95/I-11, though.

Yeah. It's close to equal from SLO. but closer to South Lake Tahoe. Santa Barabara is about 90 minutes south. So, your numbers are certainly compatible with mine.

SLO is close in latitude to Vegas, so the route is more direct (101 to 58 to 15). In SB, you have to jog north by driving East into LA or the Inland Empire via 14 to Pearblossom to 138 to 18 or via 210 to Cajon Pass, respectively.

I can see that you've never driven CASR-58 between US-101 and I-5. CalTrans has put up a sign along US-101 saying, in effect, "If you can possibly use some other road, don't take CASR-58"

Out of curiosity, what's wrong with this section of road?

[kkt]

San Luis Obispo (and probably Santa Barbara) is closer by road to Tahoe than to Las Vegas. US-95/I-11 would be involved in the trip (unless your goal is "out of the way and more boring").

From experience I can tell you Santa Barbara is much quicker to Vegas (5 hours) than Tahoe (7+ hours, depending on what side of the lake you're heading towards). I'm unsure how/why either SLO or SB would need to use US-95/I-11, though.

Yeah. It's close to equal from SLO. but closer to South Lake Tahoe. Santa Barabara is about 90 minutes south. So, your numbers are certainly compatible with mine.

SLO is close in latitude to Vegas, so the route is more direct (101 to 58 to 15). In SB, you have to jog north by driving East into LA or the Inland Empire via 14 to Pearblossom to 138 to 18 or via 210 to Cajon Pass, respectively.

I can see that you've never driven CASR-58 between US-101 and I-5. CalTrans has put up a sign along US-101 saying, in effect, "If you can possibly use some other road, don't take CASR-58"

Out of curiosity, what's wrong with this section of road?

Nothing wrong with it, it's just low design speed.  Route 46, parallel about 10 miles north, is the faster road, for those who like that kind of thing.

[lstone19]

From experience I can tell you Santa Barbara is much quicker to Vegas (5 hours) than Tahoe (7+ hours, depending on what side of the lake you're heading towards). I'm unsure how/why either SLO or SB would need to use US-95/I-11, though.

I didn't mean to imply it would. I was just trying to point out that the non-freeway 4-lane divided US 395 and US 101 I drove between Reno and SB are more than adequate for moving the traffic they have and that I expect a non-freeway 4-lane divided US-95 will be more than adequate at moving Reno-Las Vegas traffic without the added expense of a full freeway I-11.

[The Ghostbuster]

The Interstate 11 designation should run west of Interstate 15 so that it aligns withe the "grid" . Of course, aligning with the Interstate grid isn't saying much (Interstates 99 and 238 come to mind), but then again, the US Highway System isn't exactly grid-worthy either.

[Max Rockatansky]

Grid perfection is so boring though.  What if the grid was perfect and nobody had anything to complain about?

[kkt]

Grid perfection is so boring though.  What if the grid was perfect and nobody had anything to complain about?

Oh, isn't your life extremely flat
With nothing whatever to grumble at!
  - Princess Ida, by Gilbert and Sullivan

[cahwyguy]

The Interstate 11 designation should run west of Interstate 15 so that it aligns withe the "grid" . Of course, aligning with the Interstate grid isn't saying much (Interstates 99 and 238 come to mind), but then again, the US Highway System isn't exactly grid-worthy either.

Once it is N of Las Vegas, it is W of I-15.

[pderocco]

Grid perfection is so boring though.  What if the grid was perfect and nobody had anything to complain about?

Grid perfection is inefficient, because it can only be attained by abolishing all diagonal routes.

Maybe we needed a three-way grid, numbered according to the remainder when divided by three.

[Occidental Tourist]

The Interstate 11 designation should run west of Interstate 15 so that it aligns withe the "grid" . Of course, aligning with the Interstate grid isn't saying much (Interstates 99 and 238 come to mind), but then again, the US Highway System isn't exactly grid-worthy either.

Interstate 74 said that Interstate 82 would like to have a word with you by the bike racks after school. 

[DenverBrian]

This may not be news, but the NDOT plans for the I-515 repaving / rehab contract from last fall included replacing all the 515 shields with I-11 shields from 215 to Charleston Boulevard.

This stretch of freeway also includes the last remaining "McCarran Airport" signs.

[michravera]

San Luis Obispo (and probably Santa Barbara) is closer by road to Tahoe than to Las Vegas. US-95/I-11 would be involved in the trip (unless your goal is "out of the way and more boring").

From experience I can tell you Santa Barbara is much quicker to Vegas (5 hours) than Tahoe (7+ hours, depending on what side of the lake you're heading towards). I'm unsure how/why either SLO or SB would need to use US-95/I-11, though.

Yeah. It's close to equal from SLO. but closer to South Lake Tahoe. Santa Barabara is about 90 minutes south. So, your numbers are certainly compatible with mine.

SLO is close in latitude to Vegas, so the route is more direct (101 to 58 to 15). In SB, you have to jog north by driving East into LA or the Inland Empire via 14 to Pearblossom to 138 to 18 or via 210 to Cajon Pass, respectively.

I can see that you've never driven CASR-58 between US-101 and I-5. CalTrans has put up a sign along US-101 saying, in effect, "If you can possibly use some other road, don't take CASR-58"

Out of curiosity, what's wrong with this section of road?

Nothing wrong with it, it's just low design speed.  Route 46, parallel about 10 miles north, is the faster road, for those who like that kind of thing.

Thinking that it was the "quick and direct route", I actually drove it once coming to San Luis Obispo from Las Vegas. I-5 to CASR-46 to US-101 would certainly have been faster. I-5 to CASR-166 would PROBABLY have been faster. CASR-58 MIGHT be fun on a motorcycle, but in just about anything with three or more wheels (including trying to follow it in an airplane) is no fun.

[pderocco]

Thinking that it was the "quick and direct route", I actually drove it once coming to San Luis Obispo from Las Vegas. I-5 to CASR-46 to US-101 would certainly have been faster. I-5 to CASR-166 would PROBABLY have been faster. CASR-58 MIGHT be fun on a motorcycle, but in just about anything with three or more wheels (including trying to follow it in an airplane) is no fun.

I'm guessing you drove it at night, if you were coming home from Vegas. Yes, that would be a drag. All winding roads are awful at night. (Not that long ago, I drove CA-1 up in Leggett at night, and it was a nightmare.) But during the day, I love roads like that, especially in wildflower season.

And CA-166 may not be faster, but I think that route is really pretty. Try going from Gorman through Frazier Park and Pine Mountain Club. It's gorgeous, and avoids the deadly dull part of 166 in the Central Valley.

[roadfro]

This may not be news, but the NDOT plans for the I-515 repaving / rehab contract from last fall included replacing all the 515 shields with I-11 shields from 215 to Charleston Boulevard.

That was news to me, as I was unaware of that project. But also interesting because NDOT just got the AASHTO approval for extending I-11 in October.

Technically it's "mainline spot slab replacements, spall repair, and median barrier replacement; ramps coldmill with pbs and open grade; new median lighting and drainage improvements."

Interesting side note - the new signs in the contract plans keep the old US 95 exit numbers (measured from the CA/NV border) and not the new I-11 numbers from Hoover Dam.

I just drove through this project area today while heading to a work function. Median barrier rail and high mast lighting installation going on from roughly Russell Road north to Boulder Hwy. It was down to two lanes and super annoying (and unexpected because I had forgotten about it) during evening rush. No new I-11 signage seen.

However, going south on I-515 near Eastern Ave, there was an I-11 shield in place there. This was the only 11 shield I saw on the 515 stretch in either direction. Not sure if it was an errant one-off or the result of a different project (the viaduct between Las Vegas Blvd and Eastern was repaved and the bridge over Eastern was replaced fairly recently, and there are separate improvements currently happening around the adjacent Charleston Blvd interchange).

[DenverBrian]

This may not be news, but the NDOT plans for the I-515 repaving / rehab contract from last fall included replacing all the 515 shields with I-11 shields from 215 to Charleston Boulevard.

That was news to me, as I was unaware of that project. But also interesting because NDOT just got the AASHTO approval for extending I-11 in October.

Technically it's "mainline spot slab replacements, spall repair, and median barrier replacement; ramps coldmill with pbs and open grade; new median lighting and drainage improvements."

Interesting side note - the new signs in the contract plans keep the old US 95 exit numbers (measured from the CA/NV border) and not the new I-11 numbers from Hoover Dam.

I just drove through this project area today while heading to a work function. Median barrier rail and high mast lighting installation going on from roughly Russell Road north to Boulder Hwy. It was down to two lanes and super annoying (and unexpected because I had forgotten about it) during evening rush. No new I-11 signage seen.

However, going south on I-515 near Eastern Ave, there was an I-11 shield in place there. This was the only 11 shield I saw on the 515 stretch in either direction. Not sure if it was an errant one-off or the result of a different project (the viaduct between Las Vegas Blvd and Eastern was repaved and the bridge over Eastern was replaced fairly recently, and there are separate improvements currently happening around the adjacent Charleston Blvd interchange).

Not surprised at all if you spotted a one-off. For a real laugh, check out the "US 515" directional shields on Gibson Rd/Broadbent Blvd.