Interstate 11 Study Holding Public Meetings This Month

Courtesy of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

What do you think about Interstate 11 — the proposed highway that would link the Phoenix and Las Vegas areas (and possibly Mexico and Canada)? If you feel strongly about the idea one way or the other, now is your chance to have your opinion heard. The Arizona and Nevada departments of transportation are holding three public meetings this month regarding the I-11 study. They are:

Tucson Area: June 18, 6 to 8 p.m. (presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.), Tucson Electric Power Community Room, 88 E. Broadway Boulevard, Tucson

Phoenix Area: June 25, 6 to 8 p.m. (presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.), Palo Verde Energy Education Center, 600 N. Airport Road, Buckeye

Las Vegas Area: June 26, 4 to 7 p.m. (presentation begins at 5:30 p.m.), Fifth Street Historical School, 401 S. Fourth Street, Las Vegas

If you can’t make it to any of these meetings, a “virtual meeting” will be available from June 18 through July 18 on the study’s website, www.i11study.com.

Share Your Thoughts on the Proposed Phoenix-to-Vegas Interstate

Courtesy of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

There’s no getting around it: Driving from Phoenix to Las Vegas — Arizona’s closest big-city neighbor — can be a pain. The most direct route, which follows U.S. Route 93 from Wickenburg to the Vegas area, can be relatively slow going, especially in places where the road narrows to two lanes. And although the Hoover Dam Bypass, completed in 2010, saves some time, the fact remains that these two major cities aren’t connected by an interstate highway.

Our bosses at the Arizona Department of Transportation have been exploring that idea, and according to an article published this week in The Arizona Republic, the proposed Interstate 11 has gained momentum over the past two years. ADOT, in conjunction with the Nevada Department of Transportation, is studying the feasibility of such an interstate. But there are valid viewpoints on both sides of the I-11 proposal, and whether you think it’s a good idea or a bad one, now is your chance to have your voice heard.

The public-comment period on the study is still open, but it ends Friday, March 7. To share your thoughts and learn more about the proposed route, head over to the I-11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study page.