Interstate 11

Interstate 11 marker
Interstate 11
Purple Heart Highway
Map
I-11 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NDOT
Length53.9 mi[1] (86.7 km)
ExistedAugust 16, 2017[2]–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end US 93 at Arizona state line
Major intersections
North end US 95 / SR 157 in Las Vegas
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNevada
CountiesClark
Highway system
  • Nevada State Highway System
US 6NV I-15

Interstate 11 (I-11) is an Interstate Highway that currently runs for 53.9 miles (86.7 km) on a predominantly northwest–southeast alignment in the U.S. state of Nevada, running concurrently with either or both U.S. Route 93 (US 93) and U.S. Route 95 (US 95) from the Arizona state line and Boulder City. The freeway is tentatively planned to run from Nogales, Arizona, to the vicinity of Reno, Nevada, generally following the current routes of I-19, I-10, US 93, and US 95.[3] Planners anticipate upgrading two existing highway segments to carry future I-11: US 93 in Arizona from Wickenburg to the Nevada state line on the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge over the Colorado River and US 95 in Nevada from the Las Vegas Valley to Tonopah. The most recent extension came in 2024, when officials replaced I-515 signs in Las Vegas with I-11 signs and added I-11 signs on US 95 north of Downtown Las Vegas, which extended I-11 northward about 30.5 miles (49.1 km).[4] An extension of the Interstate northward along US 95 to Mercury, Nevada, is planned after that. An exact alignment for I-11 has yet to be determined outside of these sections; a number of corridor alternatives, however, have been identified for further study and refinement. The building of I-11 in Arizona is also facing local opposition from conservation groups.

As originally proposed in the 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, the highway would run only from Casa Grande, Arizona, to Las Vegas.[5] This was to provide a Las Vegas–Phoenix freeway link. Extensions of the corridor to the north toward Reno and to the south toward Nogales, however, have since been approved by the 2015 Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act).

The numbering of this highway did not initially fit within the usual conventions of the existing Interstate Highway grid as the whole route was east of I-15. I-17 was already built to the east of the I-11 alignment in Arizona, making it impossible to fit this freeway's Interstate number into the national grid and remain within the traditional numbering convention. I-11 being extended along US 95 through Las Vegas and crossing over I-15 remedied this situation since it put a portion of I-11 west of I-15 and thus in line with the national grid numbering conventions.[4]

The 80th session of the Nevada Legislature passed a bill designating the entire route of I-11 in the state as the Purple Heart Highway, which went into effect on July 1, 2019.[6][7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference google was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Marroquin, Art (August 16, 2017). "2.5-mile segment of southbound I-11 opens to traffic". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference adot1215 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Vigil, Joe (May 22, 2024). "Interstate 11 signs going up in Las Vegas; Mexico-to-Canada interstate plans move forward". www.fox5vegas.com. Retrieved May 22, 2024."Construction of Interstate 11 Moves Ahead in Nevada". Roads and Bridges. May 29, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "Phoenix-to-Vegas Interstate Included in Federal Transportation bill". Kingman Daily Miner. June 29, 2012. ISSN 1535-9913. Retrieved July 1, 2012.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Nevada SB331 | 2019 | 80th Legislature". Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  7. ^ "SB331 Overview". www.leg.state.nv.us. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.