Las Vegas-Phoenix interstate plan moving along
WASHINGTON -- Plans to upgrade the road between Las Vegas and Phoenix to interstate quality are getting a boost in a highway bill advancing in the U.S. Senate, officials said Wednesday.
A provision in the bill makes the route eligible for federal funding for improvements and new construction, according to the office of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Leaders of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce have lobbied for designation of an Interstate 11 corridor, most recently this fall during their annual visit to Washington.
Las Vegas and Phoenix are the only two large U.S. cities not connected by a major highway.
Boosters say an interstate connector would improve commerce between them and eventually to destinations north and south as the corridor builds out from Mexico to Canada.
"This is the first step and a really important step," said Cara Roberts, senior director of communications for the Las Vegas chamber. "Needless to say we are very happy to see this designation as part of the transportation bill."
Senate officials said an Interstate 11 provision was inserted by Reid into a multi-year surface transportation bill approved Nov. 9 in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
The full Senate may take it up in January.
"I have worked for years with a bipartisan coalition including the Republican senators from Arizona and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce to make this interstate a reality," Reid said in a statement.
"As our economy continues to recover, connecting two of the largest cities in the Southwest will help grow our economy, create good paying jobs and boost tourism in our state," he said.
Nevada lawmakers 17 months ago unanimously approved a resolution calling on Congress and the Federal Highway Administration to designate U.S. 93 from the U.S.-Mexico border to Las Vegas and U.S. 95 from Las Vegas to the Canadian border as the future I-11.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephens media.com or 202-783-1760.
