Interstate 11

[kkt]

I'd be surprised if it went to Reno and amazed if it went farther north than the Reno area or I-80. 

There's some demand for an east of the Cascades route, but the heavy traffic, especially trucks, is Weed-Bend, avoiding the high elevations and steep grades of I-5.  And honestly, 4 lanes would be enough for quite some time, a full freeway would be throwing money away.

Well, if the bill passes, it's not a question of if but when I-11 goes to Reno and toward Canada.

This bill only designates a route, it doesn't fund it.  And don't expect California, Oregon, or Washington to be falling over themselves to build their portions.

I do think US 97 could stand to be 4 lanes from Weed to Madras.  But not interstate.  The Reno-Susanville-Klamath Falls route will be fine at 2 lanes for the next 50 years.  All the west coast states have urgent needs that they can't afford already.

[Indyroads]

There is a need for a beter highway corridor from I-80 to Boise as this would encourage more interstate commerce between the southwestern states. most of Idahos commerce connections follow the interstate connections. Boise has stronger economic ties to SLC and the Northwest due to its interstate connections than it does to the southwest. I-11 would address that.

[Bickendan]

I'd be surprised if it went to Reno and amazed if it went farther north than the Reno area or I-80. 

There's some demand for an east of the Cascades route, but the heavy traffic, especially trucks, is Weed-Bend, avoiding the high elevations and steep grades of I-5.  And honestly, 4 lanes would be enough for quite some time, a full freeway would be throwing money away.

Well, if the bill passes, it's not a question of if but when I-11 goes to Reno and toward Canada.

This bill only designates a route, it doesn't fund it.  And don't expect California, Oregon, or Washington to be falling over themselves to build their portions.

I do think US 97 could stand to be 4 lanes from Weed to Madras.  But not interstate.  The Reno-Susanville-Klamath Falls route will be fine at 2 lanes for the next 50 years.  All the west coast states have urgent needs that they can't afford already.

This is the crux of it, I'd say. I-11 north of Reno -- whether via Oregon or Idaho -- would be nice, but not particularly needed.

[kkt]

There is a need for a beter highway corridor from I-80 to Boise as this would encourage more interstate commerce between the southwestern states. most of Idahos commerce connections follow the interstate connections. Boise has stronger economic ties to SLC and the Northwest due to its interstate connections than it does to the southwest. I-11 would address that.

I would say it's more that the interstates were built where there were commercial connections.  It's ultimately geography, where there's a combination of a good route and economic need to travel between places.  Relatively easy grades, water along the way.  Look at how many places the interstates parallel railroads built 100 years earlier.

The intermountain west is not like some extension of the midwest.  Most places are way too dry for agriculture and even ranching is iffy.  The water is ground water, and in most places people are pumping the ground water out faster than it's replaced.  The economy, other than tourism, is mostly mining, which doesn't need huge numbers of workers to support.  The last thing we should be doing is pushing more people to live on this land that will have trouble sustaining them long-term.

[nexus73]

I'd be surprised if it went to Reno and amazed if it went farther north than the Reno area or I-80. 

There's some demand for an east of the Cascades route, but the heavy traffic, especially trucks, is Weed-Bend, avoiding the high elevations and steep grades of I-5.  And honestly, 4 lanes would be enough for quite some time, a full freeway would be throwing money away.

Well, if the bill passes, it's not a question of if but when I-11 goes to Reno and toward Canada.

This bill only designates a route, it doesn't fund it.  And don't expect California, Oregon, or Washington to be falling over themselves to build their portions.

I do think US 97 could stand to be 4 lanes from Weed to Madras.  But not interstate.  The Reno-Susanville-Klamath Falls route will be fine at 2 lanes for the next 50 years.  All the west coast states have urgent needs that they can't afford already.

Then have all of US 26 4-laned from PDX to Madras and voila, a great connection between the largest city and Central Oregon would exist.  Some of 97 and 26 is already 4-lane so we might as well fill in the gaps.  It is an active road!

Rick

[sdmichael]

There is a need for a beter highway corridor from I-80 to Boise as this would encourage more interstate commerce between the southwestern states. most of Idahos commerce connections follow the interstate connections. Boise has stronger economic ties to SLC and the Northwest due to its interstate connections than it does to the southwest. I-11 would address that.

Upgrading US 95, where needed, would solve that without dragging an Interstate into the mix through mostly empty lands.

[andy3175]

http://kdminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=65300

The future of Interstate 11 boils down to funding, including $88 million to build an interchange at U.S. Highway 93 and Interstate 40 in Kingman - and that's not going to happen any time soon. ... The existing interchange doesn't have the capacity to support daily traffic and is the last remaining bottleneck in the I-11 corridor, which would connect Phoenix to Las Vegas and become a major trade route from Mexico to Canada. ... The long-term plan is to build a new road from I-40 just past Clack Canyon to the north, traveling behind businesses and homes and joining back with U.S. 93 at Coyote Pass.

ADOT started a $12.5 million project in February to widen U.S. 93 north of Wickenburg to four lanes, with completion expected in 2016. ... Since 1998, ADOT has invested about $350 million to upgrade the U.S. 93 corridor, which runs from Kingman to the Nevada state line and from Wickenburg to I-40. A 23-mile segment of I-40 east of Kingman connects U.S. 93 north and south.

[FightingIrish]

And considering the water shortage crisis currently going on in the southwest, does it really make much sense to bring more economic development to the desert of Nevada?

[Molandfreak]

I drove the part of 93 from Vegas to Kingman; the bypasses of Kingman and Boulder City can't happen soon enough, but it seems like all the at-grades without a traffic light are fine (at least for now).

As for 95 north of Vegas, I only drove to Kyle Canyon Road, but from my experience that could probably use an interchange (it might have just been Memorial Day traffic headed to Charleston Peak).

[andy3175]

As for 95 north of Vegas, I only drove to Kyle Canyon Road, but from my experience that could probably use an interchange (it might have just been Memorial Day traffic headed to Charleston Peak).

The NW US 95 project will add an interchange at US 95 and Kyle Canyon Road:

https://www.nevadadot.com/Projects_and_Programs/Road_Projects/U_S__95_Northwest_Corridor_Improvements_Project.aspx

Phase 2A will widen U.S. 95 from Ann Road to Durango Drive.  It is currently under construction and is anticipated to be completed in Fall 2015. ...

Phase 3A is anticipated to start construction in summer 2015 and wrap up in 2017.  It will:

Construct a northbound U.S. 95 to eastbound CC 215 ramp
Construct a westbound CC 215 to southbound U.S. 95 ramp, and improve the eastbound to southbound ramp ...

Phase 2B (Durango Drive to Kyle Canyon Road) is currently in the final design phase and is anticipated to advertise to bidders in 2017. It will consist of: Widening U.S. 95 from 2 general purpose lanes in each direction to accommodate 1 additional general purpose lane and auxiliary lanes in each direction from Durango Drive to Kyle Canyon Road ...

PHASE 5 - U.S. 95 at Kyle Canyon Road: This project is anticipated to begin construction in 2018 or later. This NDOT/City of Las Vegas partnership project will consist of the following: Construct a new service interchange

[Sub-Urbanite]

And considering the water shortage crisis currently going on in the southwest, does it really make much sense to bring more economic development to the desert of Nevada?

If it's rightsized, probably. Tonopah, Beatty and Goldfield are never going to be bustling metropolii. Even with an interstate highway, there isn't a lot of growth potential for those towns. But if any of them could land a mid-sized manufacturer that could support a stable population of 2000-5000, it'd be a better situation than they're in now.

[kwellada]

If it's rightsized, probably. Tonopah, Beatty and Goldfield are never going to be bustling metropolii. Even with an interstate highway, there isn't a lot of growth potential for those towns. But if any of them could land a mid-sized manufacturer that could support a stable population of 2000-5000, it'd be a better situation than they're in now.

I can't even imagine Goldfield rebounding.  I took a roadtrip through there last October specifically to take photos of the abandoned town and in particular the Goldfield Hotel.  Being that the only real source of income was mining it's doubtful anything else could take its place.  Tonopah can still retain the hotel/gas/restaurant traffic whether there's a freeway or regular highway like now since it's a short drive between them.

[roadfro]

If it's rightsized, probably. Tonopah, Beatty and Goldfield are never going to be bustling metropolii. Even with an interstate highway, there isn't a lot of growth potential for those towns. But if any of them could land a mid-sized manufacturer that could support a stable population of 2000-5000, it'd be a better situation than they're in now.

I can't even imagine Goldfield rebounding.  I took a roadtrip through there last October specifically to take photos of the abandoned town and in particular the Goldfield Hotel.  Being that the only real source of income was mining it's doubtful anything else could take its place.  Tonopah can still retain the hotel/gas/restaurant traffic whether there's a freeway or regular highway like now since it's a short drive between them.

Of these, Tonopah would have the best chance of taking off. It is the county seat of Nye County, and the most populated town in west-central Nevada. Many of the residents there work in mining nearby; it is also probably one of the closest towns of significance to the Nevada Test Site and Area 51. However, the likelihood of any manufacturing or industry coming to the town is minimal due to freight mobility (even if I-11 went through) and skilled workforce--mining industry/refining would be the only thing, but that is better handled by towns in central/eastern Nevada.

Beatty is the Nevada gateway to Death Valley, so is partially fueled by tourism. I-11 wouldn't really bring too much to town, except maybe an uptick in tourism. There is a little mining nearby, but less so than Tonopah.

Goldfield is currently the county seat of Esmeralda County, and is the most populous town in that county--not a ghost town, damn close. There is still some mining in the area, and that is probably what keeps that town running. (That and speeding tickets issued by county sheriffs). Nothing will happen here.
[Fun fact: Goldfield was the most populated city in Nevada at one time, due to plentiful mining claims in the vicinity. However, this was nearly 100 years ago (somewhere between 1900 and 1910, between census years so population numbers were never officially verified).]


The main benefit of I-11 in Nevada will be in connecting the existing Vegas and Reno/Carson population centers, and improving freight mobility between these points and the the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (a little ways east of Reno, where Tesla's Gigafactory is under construction).

[The Ghostbuster]

Have they decided what route Interstate 11 will take through the Las Vegas area? Personally, I think it should follow the existing US 95 and Interstate 515 alignment.

[myosh_tino]

Goldfield is currently the county seat of Esmeralda County, and is the most populous town in that county--not a ghost town, damn close.

But there certainly are ghosts in Goldfield.  At least that's what the Ghost Adventures Crew (featured on the Travel Channel) claimed during their 3 investigations at the Goldfield Hotel. 

[roadfro]

Have they decided what route Interstate 11 will take through the Las Vegas area? Personally, I think it should follow the existing US 95 and Interstate 515 alignment.

Nothing has been decided, to my knowledge.


If they bring it up I-515/US 95, then NDOT is going to need to dust off plans to widen I-515 including replacing the downtown viaduct. I actually think it might be better to loop it west along I-215, personally. The eastern alignment through the Lake Mead NRA doesn't make much sense to me (although would make sense in the context of the CANAMEX corridor and a possible realignment of US 93 out of Vegas to a shorter route).

[Billy F 1988]

If this was to be the case, at what points would you realign US 93?

[roadfro]

If this was to be the case, at what points would you realign US 93?

After looking at some more recent documents on the I-11 site, it appears the eastern alignment in Vegas area is no longer a recommended alternative.

It would have diverged from current US 93 somewhere around Boulder City, headed north through Lake Mead NRA east of Las Vegas (bypassing the valley completely) and connecting to I-15/US 93 north of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, then a wrong way concurrency on I-15 to the 215 northern beltway and over to US 95.

If this alignment had been adopted, US 93 could have been realigned along I-11 bypassing Las Vegas. It would have shaved off several miles off the length of US 93 and the CANAMEX corridor.

[DJStephens]

And considering the water shortage crisis currently going on in the southwest, does it really make much sense to bring more economic development to the desert of Nevada?

Elon Musk apparently doesn't think so.  Believe he has decided to locate his automotive battery factory in Sparks, which already houses several large distribution centers.   BTW wasn't Goldfield the place where the disc jockey in "Vanishing Point" (1971) was housed? 

[roadfro]

And considering the water shortage crisis currently going on in the southwest, does it really make much sense to bring more economic development to the desert of Nevada?

Elon Musk apparently doesn't think so.  Believe he has decided to locate his automotive battery factory in Sparks, which already houses several large distribution centers.   BTW wasn't Goldfield the place where the disc jockey in "Vanishing Point" (1971) was housed?

The Tesla gigafactory is actually located about 15-20 miles east of Reno/Sparks, at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center off USA Parkway (new SR 439) in Storey County. There are several other manufacturing (Kal Kan, among others) and distribution centers (Walmart, Toys R Us, Petsmart, among others) out there.

[texaskdog]

The Arizona plan for taking I-11 to Nogales seems designed specifically as a way to backdoor kill the metric signage on I-19 (as replacing I-19 with I-11 would require bringing the exit numbers and mileposts in line with I-11, unless they plan to extend metric to Nevada, which I doubt).  Note that I'm opposed to interstates terminating in a multiplex, so keeping I-19 down the corridor if I-11 were extended is IMO not something that should be done.

I still don't think traffic warrants building a whole new freeway parallel to I-10 here, but if Arizona insists on doing that, maybe they could at least build a freeway connection to MX 15D?

Time for the US to just get with it and go metric.  Football is metric!

[Bickendan]

The Arizona plan for taking I-11 to Nogales seems designed specifically as a way to backdoor kill the metric signage on I-19 (as replacing I-19 with I-11 would require bringing the exit numbers and mileposts in line with I-11, unless they plan to extend metric to Nevada, which I doubt).  Note that I'm opposed to interstates terminating in a multiplex, so keeping I-19 down the corridor if I-11 were extended is IMO not something that should be done.

I still don't think traffic warrants building a whole new freeway parallel to I-10 here, but if Arizona insists on doing that, maybe they could at least build a freeway connection to MX 15D?

Time for the US to just get with it and go metric.  Football is metric!

Soccer might be metric, but American Football? I believe that's in yards...

[Big John]

The Arizona plan for taking I-11 to Nogales seems designed specifically as a way to backdoor kill the metric signage on I-19 (as replacing I-19 with I-11 would require bringing the exit numbers and mileposts in line with I-11, unless they plan to extend metric to Nevada, which I doubt).  Note that I'm opposed to interstates terminating in a multiplex, so keeping I-19 down the corridor if I-11 were extended is IMO not something that should be done.

I still don't think traffic warrants building a whole new freeway parallel to I-10 here, but if Arizona insists on doing that, maybe they could at least build a freeway connection to MX 15D?

Time for the US to just get with it and go metric.  Football is metric!

Soccer might be metric, but American Football? I believe that's in yards...

Even though it is international, soccer still uses English measurements.  Rugby uses metric though.

[dfwmapper]

Even though it is international, soccer still uses English measurements.  Rugby uses metric though.

Soccer officially uses metric, just that all the measurements are converted from the original Imperial measurements. The goal is officially 7.32 m wide and 2.44 m tall, the center circle has a radius of 9.15 m, the ball must be 68-70 cm in circumference, and so on. Getting back closer to the topic, America's current weights and measures are officially defined based on metric, including the mile, officially defined as 1.609344 km, and, indirectly, the gallon, officially defined as 231 cubic inches, with an inch being defined as exactly 2.54 cm.

[mgk920]

Even though it is international, soccer still uses English measurements.  Rugby uses metric though.

Soccer officially uses metric, just that all the measurements are converted from the original Imperial measurements. The goal is officially 7.32 m wide and 2.44 m tall, the center circle has a radius of 9.15 m, the ball must be 68-70 cm in circumference, and so on. Getting back closer to the topic, America's current weights and measures are officially defined based on metric, including the mile, officially defined as 1.609344 km, and, indirectly, the gallon, officially defined as 231 cubic inches, with an inch being defined as exactly 2.54 cm.

Yepper, the story that I know is that football's powers-that-be once looked into the idea of adjusting the field measurements from 'hard' yards into 'hard' metric but dropped the idea when it was determined that it would have too much effect on the play of the game.  Ultimately, only the corner-kick arc were so changed (1 m radius).

Note than when a field is painted over an American football field with the midfield stripe being directly over the 50 yard line, the center circle coincides exactly with the two 40 yard lines.

And yes, you are correct, the standard for length in the USA is '1 inch' = 25.4 mm.  Do the arithmetic for the rest.

Mike