The construction of Interstate 11 that will connect Las Vegas and Phoenix was launched on Monday with the goal of boosting connectivity, tourism and overall commerce between Nevada and Arizona.
“The southwest region has experienced significant economic growth and increased traffic over the past few years, and I-11 is necessary so more people and goods can travel safely and efficiently between Nevada and Arizona, as well as along the entire trade corridor between Canada and Mexico,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said. “Breaking ground on these first 15 miles is a testament to the importance the local, state and federal governments have placed on building transportation infrastructure to support our state’s future and the region’s economic impact.”
According to the Regional Transportation Commission of Nevada, Phoenix and Las Vegas are the only cities in the nation with over 1 million residents to not be connected via interstate. The construction will begin between I-515 and U.S. Highway 93. They expect the interstate to be completed by 2018.
“Thanks to our local, state and federal partnerships, we are able to construct a historic interstate that will support our state’s future prosperity and create thousands of jobs in an area that has experienced one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation in recent years,” Nev. state Sen. Joe Hardy(R-Boulder City) said.
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