Interstate 11 Moves Closer to Reality with New Infrastructure Funding Boost

Senator Mark Kelly announced that funding earmarked for enhancements along a segment of US 93 in Wickenburg may eventually support the development of the proposed Interstate 11, connecting Phoenix and Las Vegas.

On Monday, Arizona senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly revealed that $26 million from a recent infrastructure bill will be allocated to widen a four-mile stretch of US 93 from a two-lane to a four-lane highway. This endeavor also encompasses the construction of a new two-lane frontage road and a roundabout at the intersection of US 93 and SR-89.

Kelly emphasized the project’s significance, stating, “This investment will make a real difference for Wickenburg and take us one step closer to connecting Phoenix and Las Vegas via Interstate 11. These improvements will help reduce traffic, create jobs, and boost economic opportunities for years to come.”

The proposed I-11 corridor, identified in 2021, is intended to start at Wickenburg and extend south to Buckeye, then west through Pinal County, eventually reaching Tucson and Nogales. Initially conceived as an alternative route between Las Vegas and the Phoenix area, the project has faced both support and resistance.

Despite the backing from various elected officials, some Arizona residents have voiced objections to the proposed freeway. Environmental advocacy groups have previously filed lawsuits attempting to block the project, citing concerns about its impact on rural areas.

In a notable move earlier this year, the Pima County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution urging Governor Katie Hobbs to take action to prevent the project’s disruption in rural communities such as Avra Valley.

As it stands, the project’s website indicates a lack of current funding for the construction of I-11 in Arizona, noting that only a Tier 2 environmental and engineering study from Buckeye to Wickenburg has been financed.