Projects/Programs » Programs/Studies » I-11 Nevada » I-11 Las Vegas Metropolitan Area PEL Study

Background & History

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NDOT and the Arizona Department of Transportation jointly completed the I-11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study (IWCS) in 2014 to determine whether sufficient justification existed for a high-capacity transportation corridor and if so, establish potential routes. In 2018, the Boulder City Bypass opened and was designated as I-11 from US 93 near the Arizona state line to the I-215 interchange in Henderson, now referred to as the Henderson Interchange.

In 2019, NDOT initiated a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to focus solely on the Las Vegas metropolitan area. In January 2021, NDOT and FHWA determined a PEL study would achieve the same objectives in a shorter time period utilizing information and analysis already underway to evaluate and identify corridor alternatives for I-11.

Once I-11 is formally designated by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), this corridor will serve to further connect regional economies and provide an important link for extending I-11 as part of a contiguous Interstate Highway System.

For more information on PEL studies please visit the FHWA website.

I-11 History Timeline

The IWCS defined a “corridor vision” for the I-11:

Serving the nation’s north-south, multimodal transportation needs from Mexico to Canada, the I-11 and Intermountain West Corridor will provide a vital multimodal connection between the Arizona Sun Corridor and Las Vegas. It is also envisioned to promote freight linkages between the new and expanding ports in Mexico and Canada, existing U.S. West Coast ports, and future inland ports and commerce centers crucial to distributing goods across North America. These linkages will stimulate the development of new crossroads, spurring community and economic development opportunities spanning the entire corridor. Effective inclusion of multimodal infrastructure elements, such as natural resources, power, telecommunication, freight rail, and potentially passenger rail, serve as the foundation of a stronger and more diversified economy for the Western U.S. The I-11 and Intermountain West Corridor will become a major, multimodal, north-south, transcontinental corridor through the Intermountain West.