Interstate 11

[The Ghostbuster]

Construction of the US 93/future Interstate 11-to-Interstate 40 connector has finally appeared on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2000925,-114.0744966,1860m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

[Bobby5280]

It's also visible in Google Earth. Pretty recent imagery too (5/2/2025).

[dbz77]

So it will be the first piece of the 11 to be constructed in Arizona.

[Sonic99]

So it will be the first piece of the 11 to be constructed in Arizona.

Arizona has shown zero interest in officially signing anything as I-11. They've also seemingly gone quiet in referring to I-11 at all, only referring to US 93 for this project.

[stevashe]

So it will be the first piece of the 11 to be constructed in Arizona.

Arizona has shown zero interest in officially signing anything as I-11. They've also seemingly gone quiet in referring to I-11 at all, only referring to US 93 for this project.

For this project, it wouldn't really make sense to refer to I-11 anyway since there isn't a significant portion of US 93 being upgraded to interstate standards (there are at grade crossings beginning shortly north of the AZ 68 interchange).

I don't think there would be much point in signing such a short segment as I-11, especially since it is disconnected from the Nevada segment.

[sprjus4]

Agreed. The designation of an interstate highway should be in logical portions.

The first segment was the Nevada segment between north of Las Vegas and the Arizona state line.

The second logical segment would be once US-93 is upgraded between I-40 and the Nevada state line.

[The Ghostbuster]

I agree. We won't see any Interstate 11 signs posted until parts of US 93 between Exits 2 and 67 are upgraded to Freeway and Interstate Standards. Heck, it may take all of US 93 between the Arizona/Nevada State Line and Interstate 40 being upgraded before 11 is signposted.

[DenverBrian]

Agreed. The designation of an interstate highway should be in logical portions.

The first segment was the Nevada segment between north of Las Vegas and the Arizona state line.

The second logical segment would be once US-93 is upgraded between I-40 and the Nevada state line.

The entire initial construction of the Interstate highway system was done in segments - sometimes with scores or hundreds of miles between segments. How soon we forget.    

[kkt]

And most of the time "Temp I-whatever" signs were put up before construction was done.

[kphoger]

The entire initial construction of the Interstate highway system was done in segments - sometimes with scores or hundreds of miles between segments. How soon we forget.

But how glad I am to not have been alive and roadgeeking back then because of it.

[Bobby5280]

The entire initial construction of the Interstate highway system was done in segments - sometimes with scores or hundreds of miles between segments. How soon we forget.

I can remember 40+ years ago when the government was able to get a lot more new Interstate highway mileage built per year compared to the far slower pace common now.

[Max Rockatansky]

The entire initial construction of the Interstate highway system was done in segments - sometimes with scores or hundreds of miles between segments. How soon we forget.

I can remember 40+ years ago when the government was able to get a lot more new Interstate highway mileage built per year compared to the far slower pace common now.

Everyone who had chargeable Interstate mileage was eager to get that 90% Federal funding contribution. 

[Bobby5280]

If the federal gub'ment has any desire to get projects like I-69, I-49, I-14, etc. completed any time soon at all (if ever) they might need to bring back that old chargeable mileage system. Otherwise we're all going to be long dead before any of this shit gets finished.

[Max Rockatansky]

I don't foresee either of the big parties becoming interested in something like 90% fund contributions again in my lifetime.   

[Scott5114]

If the federal gub'ment has any desire to get projects like I-69, I-49, I-14, etc. completed any time soon at all (if ever) they might need to bring back that old chargeable mileage system. Otherwise we're all going to be long dead before any of this shit gets finished.

I don't think the feds had any interest in any of those beyond whichever random senator's vote was needed to pass whatever bill created those.

We might actually see I-11 in Arizona finished at some point, because it fills a legitimate need that existed before someone had the idea of slapping a blue shield on it. (The same might be true of I-49, at least.)

[kkt]

The entire initial construction of the Interstate highway system was done in segments - sometimes with scores or hundreds of miles between segments. How soon we forget.

I can remember 40+ years ago when the government was able to get a lot more new Interstate highway mileage built per year compared to the far slower pace common now.

Everyone who had chargeable Interstate mileage was eager to get that 90% Federal funding contribution. 

Yep.  Also there was the tendency to build the easier, less controversial parts first.

[Sub-Urbanite]

The entire initial construction of the Interstate highway system was done in segments - sometimes with scores or hundreds of miles between segments. How soon we forget.

I can remember 40+ years ago when the government was able to get a lot more new Interstate highway mileage built per year compared to the far slower pace common now.

I can remember when the federal gas tax was twice what it is now (adjusted for inflation) and the highway trust fund had money to build stuff.

[sprjus4]

The entire initial construction of the Interstate highway system was done in segments - sometimes with scores or hundreds of miles between segments. How soon we forget.

I can remember 40+ years ago when the government was able to get a lot more new Interstate highway mileage built per year compared to the far slower pace common now.

I can remember when the federal gas tax was twice what it is now (adjusted for inflation) and the highway trust fund had money to build stuff.

With recent inflation, it's probably closer to triple or quadruple what it is now. A basic overpass here in Virginia that may have cost $10-15 million 5 years ago now costs north of $50 million in some cases.

[howlincoyote2k1]

I think it needs to be said now...US 93 is in absolutely horrific shape all the way from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg. The road is full of potholes, badly-sealed cracks, and severe road wear, and desperately needs to be resurfaced.

Arizona used to have such great quality roads, and over the last 10-15 years, they've just let them deteriorate to the point where they're barely drivable. How does AZDOT let such an important link degrade so badly over time without resurfacing the highway?

[Max Rockatansky]

I think it needs to be said now...US 93 is in absolutely horrific shape all the way from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg. The road is full of potholes, badly-sealed cracks, and severe road wear, and desperately needs to be resurfaced.

Arizona used to have such great quality roads, and over the last 10-15 years, they've just let them deteriorate to the point where they're barely drivable. How does AZDOT let such an important link degrade so badly over time without resurfacing the highway?

Rubberized asphalt.

[jdbx]

I think it needs to be said now...US 93 is in absolutely horrific shape all the way from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg. The road is full of potholes, badly-sealed cracks, and severe road wear, and desperately needs to be resurfaced.

Arizona used to have such great quality roads, and over the last 10-15 years, they've just let them deteriorate to the point where they're barely drivable. How does AZDOT let such an important link degrade so badly over time without resurfacing the highway?

You are absolutely right, US-93 is in terrible condition.  I'm usually very disciplined about keeping in the right lane except to pass, but a few weeks back when I was driving between Kingman and Surprise on this route, I pretty much stayed in the left lane on all of the 4-lane stretches just because the condition of the right lane was so poor.  It was nice to see progress underway on some of the 4-laning work.  The roundabouts in the vicinity of Wickenburg were rather frustrating, a typical big rig pulling a trailer is not capable of remaining in their own lane through them, so even though they are multi-lane, you're not using the left lane next to a truck.

[pderocco]

I think it needs to be said now...US 93 is in absolutely horrific shape all the way from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg. The road is full of potholes, badly-sealed cracks, and severe road wear, and desperately needs to be resurfaced.

Arizona used to have such great quality roads, and over the last 10-15 years, they've just let them deteriorate to the point where they're barely drivable. How does AZDOT let such an important link degrade so badly over time without resurfacing the highway?

Fortunately, Arizona Highways can photoshop it all out.

[Max Rockatansky]

I think it needs to be said now...US 93 is in absolutely horrific shape all the way from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg. The road is full of potholes, badly-sealed cracks, and severe road wear, and desperately needs to be resurfaced.

Arizona used to have such great quality roads, and over the last 10-15 years, they've just let them deteriorate to the point where they're barely drivable. How does AZDOT let such an important link degrade so badly over time without resurfacing the highway?

Fortunately, Arizona Highways can photoshop it all out.

Or use some cool color effects:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid026zgYtc9qQFwSACqPg3aXJoQ17mzJGM6GH3bpTyY1wneu8VuoNgUxcKKh75AN5thFl&id=100063655972258&mibextid=wwXIfr

[ElishaGOtis]

I think it needs to be said now...US 93 is in absolutely horrific shape all the way from Hoover Dam to Wickenburg. The road is full of potholes, badly-sealed cracks, and severe road wear, and desperately needs to be resurfaced.

Arizona used to have such great quality roads, and over the last 10-15 years, they've just let them deteriorate to the point where they're barely drivable. How does AZDOT let such an important link degrade so badly over time without resurfacing the highway?

You are absolutely right, US-93 is in terrible condition.  I'm usually very disciplined about keeping in the right lane except to pass, but a few weeks back when I was driving between Kingman and Surprise on this route, I pretty much stayed in the left lane on all of the 4-lane stretches just because the condition of the right lane was so poor.  It was nice to see progress underway on some of the 4-laning work.  The roundabouts in the vicinity of Wickenburg were rather frustrating, a typical big rig pulling a trailer is not capable of remaining in their own lane through them, so even though they are multi-lane, you're not using the left lane next to a truck.

Not only would I-11 effectively require much of the corridor to be rehabbed, it would allow the speed limit to be 75. The 65mph ultra-rural divided highway is kinda silly if you ask me despite being the default and max allowed speed limit in AZ.

[The Ghostbuster]

The entire US 93 corridor would likely have to be completely reconstructed to bring the Interstate 11 designation into Arizona (and south to Interstate 40 in Kingman). I wouldn't be surprised if future Interstate 11 never goes beyond Kingman.