Public invited to discuss Phoenix-Las Vegas interstate
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PHOENIX -- For those who'd like to see an interstate highway from Phoenix to Las Vegas, here's a chance to voice that opinion Tuesday in Phoenix.
The Arizona Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the downtown Burton Barr Central Library that will focus on the proposed Interstate 11 that would link the Valley to Sin City.
The proposed project is filled with unknowns: Would U.S. 93 be used primarily for the project? Would new sections of freeway be built? ADOT and the Nevada Department of Transportation spent $2.5 million to take a serious look at a potential freeway linking Phoenix with Las Vegas, with the potential to extend north towards Canada and south to the Mexico border.
"We don't have a date on when we could launch construction on I-11," said Laura Douglas with ADOT. "This high-level, two-year study is a starting point. Then we can determine support from there and funding."
One of the largest hurdles to building an I-11 will be coming up with the dollars.
"Transportation funding is very competitive," said Douglas. "A lot of needs and not enough funding to fill the needs, including I-11.
"Funding could be a mix of federal and state money, local money, public-private partnerships and the concept of a toll road has been floated. No definite decision has been made for any toll roads."
Phoenix and Las Vegas remain the largest cities in the nation not linked by an interstate highway.
Jim Cross, Reporter
