The Nevada Department of Transportation is looking to widen and upgrade Interstate 15 between Sloan and Primm — a 27-mile stretch southwest of the Las Vegas Valley. The plans would also add new interchanges while updating existing ones.
As Southern Nevada continues to develop, the area surrounding that corridor could be used to fill an anticipated 6,000 acres of industrial land over the next 25 years, plus potential residential communities to support them.
A new airport to ease the burden on Harry Reid International is in the planning stages near Jean, but wouldn’t open until at least 2037. If and when it happens, another 17,000 acres near the airport would be targeted for commercial and industrial facilities.
Less certain: the Brightline West high-speed rail line between Vegas and Southern California, which has struggled to secure funding and move past the ceremonial groundbreaking stage. The tracks are supposed to run alongside or down the center of Interstate 15. A station at the new airport would make sense, but that’s more than a decade away — and we need a train first.
Don’t expect to see California do much to improve I-15 on its side of the state line. Caltrans believes added lanes don’t help traffic congestion and harm the environment 🤔
South valley communities like Southern Highlands and Inspirada continue to grow, giving energy and momentum towards Sloan and beyond. Primm fended off closure over the summer and was sold to Terrible Herbst’s parent company. The stateline casino town would clearly benefit from new homes and businesses along the I-15. (Hang in there, Primm!)
Vegas continues to grow in other directions too, thanks to future master-planned communities like Monument Hills north of Tule Springs (courtesy of a BLM land sale), Sky Summit near Red Rock Canyon, and Aries by the former Three Kids Mine in Henderson.
With that being said, Clark County’s population growth has slowed down a bit — and won’t hit 3 million people until 2055, ten years beyond what was originally projected.
- City Cast Las Vegas takes a closer look at the potential Interstate 15 project and why it could play a pivotal role in the future of Southern Nevada. Today’s news roundup also discusses the return of nuclear testing outside Vegas and a new concept that gives bros a beer and a spa day, all in one. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧
