Ultimate Interstates:Corridor 11
Ultimate Interstate 11 is a proposed interstate corridor that originates from from Nogales, Arizona I-11 travels north into Nevada crossing the new Colorado River Bridge near Hoover Dam. Then continues north via Reno or Fallon NV potentially along one of two corridors. US-95 toward Boise and Spokane or US-395 from Reno through Burns to Pasco WA. This interstate would replace existing sections of US-93, US-95 and potentially I-515 and sections of I-19 and US-395.
Current I-11 Status and Development
Interstate 11 is currently open to traffic from the Arizona-Nevada State line near the Hoover Dam. The route passes through the cities of Boulder City, Henderson, and Las Vagas. The route reaches its current northern terminus at Nevada SR-157 junction at Kyle Canyon on the northwestern edge of the Las Vegas Metro area. The route is intended to extended further north and south from its current routing.
Las Vegas Metro
Several potential I-11 routings in Las Vegas were considered in the Las Vegas Metro. One possible option included using parts of CC-215 and I-215 around the west side of the metro area. Another option was to construct a new route south of I-215 to connect to I-15 then continue northward to US-95. Some believed that is because both Clark County and NDOT preferred a bypass routing rather than going directly through downtown Las Vegas due to very heavy congestion during peak periods.
However, after opposition to these alternatives, the routing through downtown Las Vegas was chosen, replacing I-515 in its entirety. The route continues north along US-95 until it reaches Nevada State Route 157 due to the freeway already being constructed to interstate standards. The NDOT plans on upgrading the corridor northward from there heading towards Tonopah bypassing small towns along the way. The I-515 designation was officially retired in May 2024 with new I-11 shields having since been installed along the route.
Ultimately, Indyroads believes that the best route has been chosen since it provides the best route continuity northward through the region. Additionally, the I-215/CC-215 bypass will still serve as a viable option for drivers wanting to bypass busy downtown traffic during peak periods.
Arizona
In Arizona the route is also in development and has posted Future I-11 sings along US-93 located north of Wickenburg to the state line. South of Wickenburg there are many options for a potential routing of the ultimate I-11 corridor as you will see below. A bypass project in Kingman Arizona will construct a new system interchange at I-40 as part of this project. There are also bypass projects in the works near Wickenburg. Unfortunately, it will take a lengthy amount of time to upgrade the Arizona segments of US-93 to Interstate standards.
Canamex Corridor
Interstate 11 is now being planned as a new Canamex Corridor, linking freight traffic from Mexico to Canada, while serving important US destinations in the process. If constructed to its fullest extent, the I-11 would become a third Canamex corridor in the west (in addition to the extant I-5 and I-15 corridors). Planners would like this route to connect from the Nogales border crossing to connecting major metro areas such as Tucson, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Reno, and potentially Portland, Boise, Seattle or Spokane in the north. The route would link to British Columbia even possibly Calgary, depending on whether I-11 is routed along US-395 or US-95 north of I-80.
As shown on the map above, Indyroads believes a route favoring the Idaho Panhandle and the Spokane/Coeur D'Alene Metro area would be the best option, since it would serve currently underserved parts of the US and Cananda, as well as route through the port city of Lewiston, ID. The route could ultimately connect to TCH-1 (the major east west frieght corridor between Vancouver and Calgary) in either Kamloops or Kelowna, BC.
Proposed Routings in Arizona
Several proposals for the routing of the ultimate buildout of I-11 have been proposed. Looking at the various maps and news articles about the subject over the last 5-10 years it seems that many groups have some skin in the game. Originally intended to be a connection route from Phoenix to Las Vegas, the options have ballooned from there to an ultimate extension southward to Nogales AZ as a north american trade route that would continue all the way from Mexico to Canada at a yet to be determined canadian border crossing. I-11 Study website
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Proposed Routing in Arizona -
Greater Phoenix/Tuscon Metro - Image depicts various routing options -
Tucson routing detail showing possible I-110 connection south of Tucson -
Recommended Build Alternative -
Hassayampa Freeway Proposals -
Recommended Build Alternative - Alternative routes shown
Tucson-Three Points Proposal
One proposal has the route beginning to the south of Tucson at Interstate 19 and would travel westward toward Three Points and eventually northward with a connection spur back to I-10 in the Avra Valley from there the route connects to the proposed Hassayampa freeway or I-8 and continuing to Gila Bend, Arizona I-11 travels northward generally following (or to the east) of AZ route 85 connecting I-8 and I-10 west of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Hassayampa Freeway Proposal
this route would beginning somewhere north of Tucson at a junction along I-10 north of the I-8/I-10 junction then travelling westward and eventually northward to connect to I-10 near SR-86 then continue toward Wickenburg AZ where it would connect to US-93. There are some options showing connections via I-8 instead of I-10, ans well as another option showing I-11 continuing eastward along a new route bypassing the Tucson metro to the north and connecting back to I-10 somewhere southeast of Tucson.
Combined Route Proposal
This proposed route would take elements of both the Hassayampa and Tucson routings and combine them into one proposed route. the PDF linked here gives the best description of the proposed routing and potential options. This routing as with others has some opposition due to the fact that it would travel largely in undeveloped desert regions and have an impact on the environment. Some conservation groups have addressed concerns about the routing of the new interstate in areas located west of Tucson.
Routing options Nevada and Northward
This segment of freeway can serve as a bypass for traffic around the Phoenix metro area via I-11 south to I-8 east to tucson. From there the corridor travels along new terrain located to the west of the White Tank Mountains until it reaches US-60. (Other proposals show I-11 using the southernmost segment of the new Loop 303 between US-60 and I-10 instead.) Since ultimate interstate 11 runs north and south west of the greater Phoenix metro area it is able to avoid costly right of way encroachments that would prevent construction. The route then turns northwest following US-60 to Wickenburg and then following US-93 north until it reaches I-40. From there I-11 continues north along US-93 until it crosses into Nevada at the new Hoover Dam Bridge. Once into Nevada I-11 would follow US-93 and then I-515 northward to I-15 in Las Vegas then terminating at the I-15 interchange.
Potential Northern Routes
North of Las Vegas the route will generally follow US-95 northward throughout the state north to a split somewhere south of Fallon NV.
Reno/Pasco
This route would head westward toward Minden and then would head north through Carson City and Reno then roughly follow the US-395 corridor through Oregon and then end at I-84 near the I-82 junction. It is possible that I-82 could then be redesignated as I-11. This option is not shown on the overview map above since the route through the Boise Metro would be preferred instead.
Boise/Spokane
This route would continue north through Fallon to I-80. From there it would be cosigned with I-80 from Fallon Junction to Winnemucca before continuing north along US-95 into Oregon. Eventually the route continues north toward Boise and Lewiston eventually ending in Spokane. This option is preferred by Indyroads as it would provide a more direct connection to Boise and the canadian border via the US-95 corridor.
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Proposed Routings Thru Nevada -
I-11 Route Options in Northern Nevada -
I-11 Route Options in Metro Las Vegas
Indyroads Recommended Routing
The route would begin at I-8 in Gila Bend AZ continuing north along AZ-86. Travel on a new terrain route to Wickenburg AZ then along the US-93 corridor through northern Arizona and connect to the exising I-11 in nevada. Once into Nevada I-11 would follow US-93 and then I-515 northward to I-15 in Las Vegas. North of Las Vegas the route would generally follow US-95 northward throughout the state north through Fallon then connecting to I-80. I-11 would be cosigned with I-80 from Fallon Junction to Winnemucca before continuing north along US-95 into Oregon. At McDermott NV I-11 would cross into Oregon from there it would likely follow US-95 north to Burns Junction then west to Jordan Valley. The route instead could a more direct easterly alternate routing from McDermitt over new terrain toward Jordan Valley and Idaho. From Jordan Valley the highway would travel possibly on either side of the state line until it turns northeastward along US-95 into Idaho a short distance north of Jordan Valley. Once in Idaho the route could either follow US-95 along the west side of the treasure valley or could connect to the future planned treasure valley bypass north to Caldwell and I-84, Then Continuing north on US-95 through Payette then north to Lewiston. An alternate route could also travel north along ID highway 16 through Emmett and along new terrain through the Indian Valley where it would rejoin US-95 south of Council,ID. This alternate has met some opposition as well although it would provide a safer more direct route north from Boise. From Lewiston it continues northwestward to the US-195 where it enters Washington. Once in Washington I-11 would generally follow US 195 through Pullman before terminating in Spokane WA.
Purpose and Need
This corridor solves several transportation issues. First it provides a connection from Phoenix to Las Vegas, Connects Las Vegas to Reno, and connects Sacramento and Reno to Boise, Lewiston, Spokane, and the Idaho Panhandle. Additionally there is a high volume of truck and commercial traffic along several sections of this corridor necessitates the corridor.
Alternate Routings
Near Hawthorne Nevada instead of turning north directly to Fallon NV the route could continue northeast on a new alignment generally following the state border with California or the ultimate interstate planned extension of I-580 and then follow US-395 to Reno where it would be Cosigned with I-80 back to its original alignment towards Winnemucca. The I-11 section heading Due north through Fallon to I-80 would then become the I-211 bypass.
I-11 could also take a more direct northerly path through the heart of Nevada traveling around various military ranges and then directly to Winnemucca where it continues north to Oregon and Idaho. This routing would reduce mileage however it travels through largely uninhabited lands and is not a practical routing to connect Phoenix or Las Vegas to Reno. North of Winnemucca I-11 could take amore direct northeasterly route directly to Boise, however construction costs of such a new terrain highway would be likely astronomical and negate any savings of the more direct route. Additionally upgrading the existing route would significantly improve travel times.