Interstate 11

[TheBox]

When are they gonna do anything about the 2-lane undivided sections on US-93 (future I-11)

Like from here to there: (in the middle of nowhere)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/US-93,+Kingman,+AZ/@34.9505699,-113.6889213,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x80abe7ca5e36236f:0xe822420299ed10c3!8m2!3d34.9505716!4d-113.6682788!16zL20vMDFxandz?authuser=1&entry=ttu
https://www.google.com/maps/place/US-93,+Kingman,+AZ/@34.9122609,-113.677472,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x80abe7ca5e36236f:0xe822420299ed10c3!8m2!3d34.9122626!4d-113.6568295!16zL20vMDFxandz?authuser=1&entry=ttu

North of Wikieup
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wikieup,+AZ+85360/@34.7218133,-113.6231503,6872m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x80abe7ca5e36236f:0xe822420299ed10c3!2sUS-93,+Kingman,+AZ!3b1!8m2!3d34.9505716!4d-113.6682788!16zL20vMDFxandz!3m5!1s0x80d27a8681b71e1b:0x371b4820dd669d15!8m2!3d34.7051439!4d-113.6118214!16zL20vMDh5ODI2?authuser=1&entry=ttu

From here to there: (also in the middle in nowhere)
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3615539,-113.1733681,3a,75y,145.91h,88.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sj_Rzd6hZa6eENXjchflYMQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1&entry=ttu
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1022896,-112.9202324,3a,75y,133.16h,86.32t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srSYN72LShuDgRSUTirVZ6w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DrSYN72LShuDgRSUTirVZ6w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D46.190247%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1&entry=ttu

and finally north of Wickenburg

That's four unvidived 2-lane sections, which is a lot more than i remembered

[kkt]

Probably bypass Wikieup.  The others look enough in the middle of nowhere like a second roadway could be built alongside the existing one with little or no property acquisition.

[The Ghostbuster]

Would it be more practical to build an eastern bypass of Wikieup or a western bypass? I think it should be built before this segment of the US 93 corridor becomes part of Interstate 11.

[kkt]

Would it be more practical to build an eastern bypass of Wikieup or a western bypass? I think it should be built before this segment of the US 93 corridor becomes part of Interstate 11.

It's sometimes hard to tell just looking at Google Maps, but probably western, so that traffic from the interstate to the town and back doesn't have to go so far or cross the creek that might flood sometimes.  Looks like lots of empty land just a little west of the town.

I see there's already an ADOT maintenance yard in Wikieup.

[Bobby5280]

Wikieup is a small enough town that it might be more profitable to upgrade US-93 in place and just pay to relocate/rebuild any homes and businesses that get displaced to spots just outside the new ROW.

The current road in Wikieup is a 5-lane undivided roadway. It looks like adding new frontage roads might only just shave down some parking lots and driveways.

The easiest way for I-11 to "progress" is to re-sign and de-list I-515.

I don't think there is a feasible way (feasible in American terms) to connect I-11 into the South end of I-515 in Carson City and overlap it to I-80. The highway would have to cut through the mountain range on the West side of Walker Lake. That's North of Hawthorne and the Army Ammunition Plant. Going through those mountains would probably require at least one stretch of tunnels. We currently can't build tunnels in the US without it breaking the bank.

I think the more practical path for I-11 to reach I-80 is overlapping Pole Line Road just West of Tonopah.

Pole Line Road (CR-89) takes a fairly direct path Northwest to NV-316, skirting by the Paradise Peak Mine. From the intersection with NV-316 just South of Gabbs an I-11 route could take a fairly direct path West to Schurz. From Schurz I-11 could run parallel to the rail line to meet Alt US-95. Then it would be a simple matter of going North to US-50 and the intersection with NV-439, the 4-lane divided highway going into Clark and the big logistical/manufacturing hub there.

[kkt]

The easiest way for I-11 to "progress" is to re-sign and de-list I-515.

I don't think there is a feasible way (feasible in American terms) to connect I-11 into the South end of I-515 in Carson City and overlap it to I-80. The highway would have to cut through the mountain range on the West side of Walker Lake. That's North of Hawthorne and the Army Ammunition Plant. Going through those mountains would probably require at least one stretch of tunnels. We currently can't build tunnels in the US without it breaking the bank.

I think the more practical path for I-11 to reach I-80 is overlapping Pole Line Road just West of Tonopah.

Pole Line Road (CR-89) takes a fairly direct path Northwest to NV-316, skirting by the Paradise Peak Mine. From the intersection with NV-316 just South of Gabbs an I-11 route could take a fairly direct path West to Schurz. From Schurz I-11 could run parallel to the rail line to meet Alt US-95. Then it would be a simple matter of going North to US-50 and the intersection with NV-439, the 4-lane divided highway going into Clark and the big logistical/manufacturing hub there.

Are you thinking of the I-11 reaching the south end of I-580 at Carson City?  Because I agree that would be impractical.

I'm pretty sure DenverBrian was thinking of I-11 reaching just to I-15 in Las Vegas via I-515.

[Bobby5280]

Whoops. Derp.


I thought officials had all but made up their minds to let I-11 overlap I-515 and US-95 going out to the NW corner of the 215 loop.

[DenverBrian]

Whoops. Derp.


I thought officials had all but made up their minds to let I-11 overlap I-515 and US-95 going out to the NW corner of the 215 loop.

Still hasn't been signed as such though...except for one rogue I-11 sign on southbound I-515 just west of the Charleston Rd exit.

[KeithE4Phx]

Probably bypass Wikieup.  The others look enough in the middle of nowhere like a second roadway could be built alongside the existing one with little or no property acquisition.

There's not much property to acquire.  Wickieup is fading fast.  I believe the population is somewhere around 300 now.  The main gas station/convenience store/souvenir shop/restaurant/campground on the east side of 93 burned down a few years ago.  The gas station was rebuilt and was set to reopen, but as of early September, it had not.  I'll be up that way on Monday, and I'll see what's up.

The other major-chain gas stations on the west side of 93 are grossly overpriced (close to $6 a gallon in September, we'll see what they are next week).  There are still a couple of restaurants on the north side of town, but I don't see a future for them.  The rest of the town is a dump.

[The Ghostbuster]

I expect Interstate 11 to be completed and signed along the segment of US 93 between the Arizona/Nevada border and Kingman, before the segment between Interstate 40 and Wickenburg.

[SSR_317]

When are they gonna do anything about the 2-lane undivided sections on US-93 (future I-11)

Like from here to there: (in the middle of nowhere)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/US-93,+Kingman,+AZ/@34.9505699,-113.6889213,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x80abe7ca5e36236f:0xe822420299ed10c3!8m2!3d34.9505716!4d-113.6682788!16zL20vMDFxandz?authuser=1&entry=ttu
https://www.google.com/maps/place/US-93,+Kingman,+AZ/@34.9122609,-113.677472,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x80abe7ca5e36236f:0xe822420299ed10c3!8m2!3d34.9122626!4d-113.6568295!16zL20vMDFxandz?authuser=1&entry=ttu

North of Wikieup
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wikieup,+AZ+85360/@34.7218133,-113.6231503,6872m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x80abe7ca5e36236f:0xe822420299ed10c3!2sUS-93,+Kingman,+AZ!3b1!8m2!3d34.9505716!4d-113.6682788!16zL20vMDFxandz!3m5!1s0x80d27a8681b71e1b:0x371b4820dd669d15!8m2!3d34.7051439!4d-113.6118214!16zL20vMDh5ODI2?authuser=1&entry=ttu

From here to there: (also in the middle in nowhere)
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3615539,-113.1733681,3a,75y,145.91h,88.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sj_Rzd6hZa6eENXjchflYMQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1&entry=ttu
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1022896,-112.9202324,3a,75y,133.16h,86.32t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srSYN72LShuDgRSUTirVZ6w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DrSYN72LShuDgRSUTirVZ6w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D46.190247%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=1&entry=ttu

and finally north of Wickenburg

That's four unvidived 2-lane sections, which is a lot more than i remembered

Please see pages 8 & 9 of this topic --> https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14905.0 for more discussion on this particular stretch of planned future I-11.

But from just north of Wickenburg (where the fI-11 alignment will diverge from existing US 93) to the south, plans are a little less "set in stone".

[civilengineeringnerd]

i hope soon I-11 would be built to phoenix. i don't think i'd like to live near the arizona/utah/nevada border if its basically just going to end at wickenburg
i'd like to go to phoenix for some shopping while doing some gambling/socializing in vegas.

[Plutonic Panda]

i hope soon I-11 would be built to phoenix. i don't think i'd like to live near the arizona/utah/nevada border if its basically just going to end at wickenburg
i'd like to go to phoenix for some shopping while doing some gambling/socializing in vegas.

Maybe I misunderstanding your post, but are you suggesting that Phoenix has a better shopping scene than Vegas?

[Sub-Urbanite]

I mean, sure, in a wonderful dream world, the United States would have the wherewithal to tunnel under Mount Grant and take I-11 west from Hawthorne to Topaz Lake and then run it up the 395 corridor.

But that wonderful dream world does not exist on our continent. Europe can do it. But not North America.

The easiest way for I-11 to "progress" is to re-sign and de-list I-515.

I don't think there is a feasible way (feasible in American terms) to connect I-11 into the South end of I-515 in Carson City and overlap it to I-80. The highway would have to cut through the mountain range on the West side of Walker Lake. That's North of Hawthorne and the Army Ammunition Plant. Going through those mountains would probably require at least one stretch of tunnels. We currently can't build tunnels in the US without it breaking the bank.

I think the more practical path for I-11 to reach I-80 is overlapping Pole Line Road just West of Tonopah.

Pole Line Road (CR-89) takes a fairly direct path Northwest to NV-316, skirting by the Paradise Peak Mine. From the intersection with NV-316 just South of Gabbs an I-11 route could take a fairly direct path West to Schurz. From Schurz I-11 could run parallel to the rail line to meet Alt US-95. Then it would be a simple matter of going North to US-50 and the intersection with NV-439, the 4-lane divided highway going into Clark and the big logistical/manufacturing hub there.

Are you thinking of the I-11 reaching the south end of I-580 at Carson City?  Because I agree that would be impractical.

I'm pretty sure DenverBrian was thinking of I-11 reaching just to I-15 in Las Vegas via I-515.

[kernals12]

Come to think of it, how did a Phoenix-to-Flagstaff highway get built 60 years before the Phoenix-to-Las Vegas Highway? Was it meant to serve travel to the Grand Canyon?

[Max Rockatansky]

Come to think of it, how did a Phoenix-to-Flagstaff highway get built 60 years before the Phoenix-to-Las Vegas Highway? Was it meant to serve travel to the Grand Canyon?

A lot of I-17 was constructed as AZ 69 when the Black Canyon Highway was becoming the favored corridor between Phoenix-Prescott.  Hard to argue from there that I-17 had a superior routing over existing US 89 and US 89A north to Flagstaff.  In the early Interstate era improving access between Phoenix-Flagstaff would have been a much larger priority than Las Vegas.

[Sonic99]

Come to think of it, how did a Phoenix-to-Flagstaff highway get built 60 years before the Phoenix-to-Las Vegas Highway? Was it meant to serve travel to the Grand Canyon?

A lot of I-17 was constructed as AZ 69 when the Black Canyon Highway was becoming the favored corridor between Phoenix-Prescott.  Hard to argue from there that I-17 had a superior routing over existing US 89 and US 89A north to Flagstaff.  In the early Interstate era improving access between Phoenix-Flagstaff would have been a much larger priority than Las Vegas.

Not to mention neither city really had the "draw" that they developed closer to the end of the century, especially between each other. Flagstaff had Route 66 as a main thoroughfare connecting Chicago to Los Angeles, so getting a connection between Phoenix and Flagstaff made a lot more sense. In the mid-century, the main focus of travel was E/W, so connecting Vegas and Phoenix wasn't really needed for a while.

[Scott5114]

At the time the Interstate System was planned, Las Vegas didn't even merit being a control city (I-15 south out of Salt Lake City was signed for Los Angeles), much less a reason to build an entire Interstate route to an adjoining state's capital.

[Rothman]

At the time the Interstate System was planned, Las Vegas didn't even merit being a control city (I-15 south out of Salt Lake City was signed for Los Angeles), much less a reason to build an entire Interstate route to an adjoining state's capital.

Phoenix was dinky back then, too.

[Max Rockatansky]

With over 400,000 residents by 1960?

[Rothman]

With over 400,000 residents by 1960?

107,000 in 1950...

[Max Rockatansky]

With over 400,000 residents by 1960?

107,000 in 1950...

A significant portion of that population jump in Phoenix by 1960 was from unincorporated parts of Maricopa County via annexation such as Sunnyslope in 1959.  Maricopa County had over 330,000 residents by 1950. 

[kernals12]

With over 400,000 residents by 1960?

107,000 in 1950...

That's only because they annexed a bunch of land in the 50s. Maricopa County as a whole had 300,000 in 1950.

At the time the Interstate System was planned, Las Vegas didn't even merit being a control city (I-15 south out of Salt Lake City was signed for Los Angeles), much less a reason to build an entire Interstate route to an adjoining state's capital.

Come to think of it, how did a Phoenix-to-Flagstaff highway get built 60 years before the Phoenix-to-Las Vegas Highway? Was it meant to serve travel to the Grand Canyon?

A lot of I-17 was constructed as AZ 69 when the Black Canyon Highway was becoming the favored corridor between Phoenix-Prescott.  Hard to argue from there that I-17 had a superior routing over existing US 89 and US 89A north to Flagstaff.  In the early Interstate era improving access between Phoenix-Flagstaff would have been a much larger priority than Las Vegas.

Not to mention neither city really had the "draw" that they developed closer to the end of the century, especially between each other. Flagstaff had Route 66 as a main thoroughfare connecting Chicago to Los Angeles, so getting a connection between Phoenix and Flagstaff made a lot more sense. In the mid-century, the main focus of travel was E/W, so connecting Vegas and Phoenix wasn't really needed for a while.

Flagstaff had 7,600 people in 1950. Las Vegas had over 24,000. A route to Las Vegas would've still connected to I-40.

[Rothman]

With over 400,000 residents by 1960?

107,000 in 1950...

A significant portion of that population jump in Phoenix by 1960 was from unincorporated parts of Maricopa County via annexation such as Sunnyslope in 1959.  Maricopa County had over 330,000 residents by 1950.

Maricopa County is multiple times larger than Rhode Island...

[kernals12]

With over 400,000 residents by 1960?

107,000 in 1950...

A significant portion of that population jump in Phoenix by 1960 was from unincorporated parts of Maricopa County via annexation such as Sunnyslope in 1959.  Maricopa County had over 330,000 residents by 1950.

Maricopa County is multiple times larger than Rhode Island...

And almost all of it is barren desert, only around the Gila and Salt Rivers do you find significant quantities of human life.