I-11 tech project leads to 24/7 lane closures

by · Las Vegas Review-Journal

Motorists commuting on Interstate 11 between Rancho Drive and Rainbow Boulevard should brace for months of traffic impacts with lane restrictions 24 hours a day tied to a $22 million road improvement project.

The I-11 Safe Tech Corridor Project kicked off Sunday, closing the high-occupancy vehicle lanes in both directions of I-11 between Rancho and Rainbow through September, according to a Nevada Department of Transportation news release.

Additionally, nightly between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., through Friday, intermittent lane reductions are planned for both directions of I-11 along the stretch.

The project will add technology to the 5-mile stretch of I-11, including seven new active traffic management (ATM) signs like the ones found along Interstate 15 and a small portion of I-11 near the Spaghetti Bowl, which relay real-time traffic conditions, including adaptive speed limits, crash and lane closure information.

Additionally, 12 wrong-way driver alert systems will be added at six interchange locations, including Martin Luther King Boulevard, Rancho, Valley View Boulevard, Decatur Boulevard, Jones Boulevard and Rainbow, with two systems to be installed at each interchange.

A pair of strategic traffic management sites are also being added for law enforcement and incident response purposes. The spaces allow law enforcement to stage at key locations on a highway and include posted messages.

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) infrastructure is also being installed along the stretch to support system integration and future traffic management. ITS includes signage, road sensors, weather stations and traffic cameras to give officials the ability to monitor traffic in real-time.

Construction will occur in phases through 2027, with initial work including concrete barrier improvements and the installation of foundations for future ATM signs. The installation of ATM gantries is anticipated during a later phase of work due to extended manufacturing and delivery times, according to NDOT.