The Interstate 15 widening project between Speedway Boulevard and the Garnet Interchange was officially completed Tuesday morning, marking a significant upgrade for a critical transportation route in Southern Nevada.
This nearly 11-mile stretch of I-15 has been expanded from two to three lanes in each direction as part of an $83 million initiative aimed at improving commuter travel and facilitating interstate commerce.
Tracy Larkin Thomason, Director of the Nevada Department of Transportation, emphasized the importance of the I-15 corridor, stating, “It’s a critical corridor for commerce, commuters and our state’s continued growth.
As our region continues to grow, projects like these are essential not just to support today’s traffic, but to prepare for tomorrow’s freight demand, economic development and community needs. Above all safety remains our top priority.”
The project encompassed more than just lane expansion; it also included rehabbing bridges along the route, adding new commercial truck parking areas, installing truck weigh-in motion sensors, and upgrading drainage systems, lighting, and landscaping in the area.
This third phase wraps up the widening of I-15 between the Spaghetti Bowl and the Garnet Interchange.
The first phase of this multi-part project was completed in 2010, which saw the expansion of I-15 between the Spaghetti Bowl and Craig Road at a cost of $242 million.
Phase two saw the widening of the stretch from Craig Road to Speedway Boulevard, completing a five-mile segment in spring 2018 at a project cost of $33.8 million.
The I-15 corridor plays a vital role in moving people and goods into and out of Southern Nevada, as well as to neighboring states like California and Utah.
Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony highlighted the importance of continuous improvements along this route, stating, “I-15 is a big deal in Southern Nevada…This (project completion) is absolutely huge to continue the lifeblood of our community by increasing the capacity of I-15.”
The completion of the widening project is anticipated to spur further development in the area, particularly near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which has seen a surge of new warehouses, hotels, and retail establishments in recent years.
North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown remarked, “It also reinforces North Las Vegas as a logistics and manufacturing powerhouse, right here in the Southern Nevadan region.
This project is going to bring better reliability, smoother commutes and greater opportunities for people in North Las Vegas.”
The Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located along the recently improved stretch of highway, stands to benefit significantly from the enhancements.
According to Patrick Lindsey, the speedway’s general manager, the project will positively impact upwards of 80,000 attendees who travel from Southern Utah for events at the speedway.
Lindsey noted, “This project behind us has allowed us to do better than ever before. It’s not just our fans and our guests from Las Vegas and the resort corridor, but it’s also our neighbors from the north in Utah that are able to come here because of the safe and efficient roads that we have built.”
Overall, the completion of the I-15 widening project is expected to bring enhanced safety, improved traffic flow, and greater economic opportunities, reinforcing the interstate’s importance to Southern Nevada.
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