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Why is this Project Needed?
The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate potential improvements to address aging infrastructure and provide reliable travel along a 4-mile-long segment of Interstate 11 (I-11)/U.S. Highway 95 (US 95)/U.S. Highway 93 (US 93). [1] The project is referred to as the Downtown Access Project.
Purpose of the Project
The purpose of the project is to address the aging infrastructure and seismic concerns, safety, and congestion along I-11/US 95/US 93 between Rancho Drive and Mojave Road in Las Vegas to increase the efficiency of the movement of people, goods, and services on the freeway.
Need for the Project
Improvements are necessary to address the following needs: (1) aging bridges, (2) closely spaced ramps that create short weave and merge distances, and (3) unacceptable congestion caused by increased traffic volumes on a freeway structure that has never been widened in a city that has grown 1,000% since US 95 opened to traffic in 1968.
Aging Bridges
The Las Vegas Viaduct is approximately 1.6 miles long and is made up of two bridges. The functional and structural condition of the Las Vegas Viaduct is the primary factor in NDOT’s decision to undertake the Downtown Access Project. The Las Vegas Viaduct is functionally obsolete, and its structural integrity is degrading because of its age. The viaduct is also seismically deficient because of its degrading structural integrity, which poses risks to safety and public health.
Interchange and Ramp Spacing
According to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines (2018), minimum interchange spacing is 1 mile in urban areas. Interchanges on I-11/US 95/US 93 were built close together to serve downtown Las Vegas – the interchanges at I-15, Casino Center Boulevard,
and Las Vegas Boulevard are spaced less than 1 mile apart from each other.
Where the interchanges are too close, the ramp separation distances are also substandard. When vehicles enter or exit the freeway at closely spaced ramps, they must cross paths with other vehicles. This is referred to as “weaving.” In general, speeds decrease and congestion increases as the weave segment shortens.
Crashes
The majority of fatal and serious crashes on and around US 95 are associated with congested conditions and a challenging driving environment.
Congestion
Congestion on I-11/US 95/US 93 in the study area is caused by closely spaced ramps and high traffic volumes, which reduce speeds and increase delays. Since the freeway was constructed in 1968, the Las Vegas Valley’s population has grown approximately 1,000 percent and no capacity has been added (Macrotrends 2024). In 2019, traffic volumes were at 182,000 vehicles per day. In 2050, traffic volume is forecast to be 210,000, a 13 percent increase over 2019 traffic.
Morning Rush Hour Average Speeds (2017)
Evening Rush Hour Average Speeds (2017)
Project Goals
NDOT and the community identified several goals to revitalize and reconnect the community. They reflect topics important to the public, stakeholders, and agencies.
Restore Community
Improve Neighborhood Multimodal Mobility
Reconnect Neighborhoods
Enhance Public Health and Wellness
Advance Sustainability
Improve Human and Natural Environments
Improve Infrastructure Resiliency
Support Economic Growth
Public and Agency Input
NDOT and FHWA have engaged in extensive efforts to inform, involve, and encourage feedback from the public and agencies about the Downtown Access Project.
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