Interstate 11

Interstate 11
Fredddie · Public domain · source
Name	Interstate 11
Route number	11
Length mi	Approx. 100–200 (planned)
Established	2017
Direction	A=South
Terminus A	Near Las Vegas
Direction B	North
Terminus B	Near Henderson
States	Nevada, Arizona

Interstate 11 is a designation for a developing Interstate Highway System corridor intended to connect Las Vegas and Phoenix and extend along the U.S. Route 93 corridor toward the Mexican border and the Canadian border through the Great Basin and Sonoran Desert. The corridor was designated by the United States Congress and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials to improve freight movement between Nevada and Arizona, supporting links to border crossings near Nogales and trade routes to Los Angeles and San Diego County.

Route description

The initial signed section follows portions of U.S. Route 93 and Interstate 515 around the Las Vegas Valley, connecting to Henderson, Boulder City, and the Hoover Dam approaches, with planned alignments reaching Wickenburg, Buckeye, and the Phoenix suburbs. Corridor segments traverse federally managed lands including the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, cross ecological regions such as the Mojave Desert, and intersect major corridors like Interstate 10 and U.S. 60. The route provides an alternative freight and passenger corridor parallel to existing arteries serving Clark County and Maricopa County.

History

Planning for the corridor emerged from regional studies involving the Federal Highway Administration, the Arizona Department of Transportation, and the Nevada Department of Transportation following economic analyses tied to the North American Free Trade Agreement era trade patterns and later USMCA considerations. The corridor received congressional designation during reauthorization acts influenced by stakeholders such as the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Western Governors' Association, and drew on precedent projects like the expansion of Interstate 15, the Interstate 10 upgrades, and the creation of Interstate 515. Legislative milestones involved members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate from both Nevada and Arizona.

Future plans and extensions

Planned extensions envision a continuous freeway linking Las Vegas to Phoenix, with long-range studies proposing extensions north toward Reno and south toward the U.S.–Mexico border at Nogales to enhance continental freight routes to ports such as Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Project proposals are coordinated among metropolitan planning organizations including the Maricopa Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, and consider funding from sources like the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and federal discretionary grants administered by the Federal Highway Administration.

Exit list

Current signed exits utilize existing mileposts inherited from U.S. Route 93 and Interstate 515 with key interchanges at I-215, Interstate 15, and planned connections to Interstate 10. Exit numbering and interchange design have been influenced by design standards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), with auxiliary ramps serving communities such as Henderson, Boulder City, and future junctions near Kingman and Wickenburg.

Traffic and usage

Traffic volumes on the corridor reflect high seasonal tourism flows between Las Vegas and attractions like the Hoover Dam and destination resorts, as well as freight movements connecting truck traffic to intermodal facilities serving Los Angeles–Long Beach and distribution centers in Phoenix. Transportation studies by the Federal Highway Administration and regional planning agencies project growth in vehicle miles traveled influenced by population increases in Clark County and Maricopa County, and consider modal interactions with rail lines operated by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad.

Construction and engineering

Construction segments have involved large-scale earthwork, bridge construction over canyons near Lake Mead, and alignment work to mitigate impacts on protected species listed under the Endangered Species Act and on cultural resources associated with Hualapai Tribe and Havasupai ancestral lands. Engineering solutions use design practices from projects such as the Hoover Dam Bypass (Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge), including long-span bridge techniques, geotechnical stabilization, and stormwater management compliant with Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. Contractors on segments have included major firms experienced on Interstate 10 and Interstate 15 projects.

Impact and economic significance

Proponents argue the corridor will boost regional economies by improving access for logistics sectors serving Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona, supporting growth in sectors tied to trade with Mexico and distribution centers near Phoenix and Las Vegas. Economic assessments by the U.S. Department of Transportation and regional chambers such as the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council highlight potential job creation, freight-time savings, and increased tourism connectivity, while environmental groups and tribal governments have raised concerns reflected in processes under the National Environmental Policy Act and consultations with the Bureau of Land Management.

Category:Interstate Highways in Nevada Category:Interstate Highways in Arizona