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SALT LAKE CITY — Officials are studying public opinion about a highway that could eventually connect Canada to Mexico and span across Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho and Montana.
Interstate 11 would run through Arizona and Nevada, but could eventually become part of a larger system of roadways called CANAMEX, which would span through the Mountain West from north to south. It would be one of three continuous north-south Mexico-to-Canada interstate routes west of Texas, according to the I-11 study.
Through February, the Arizona and Nevada departments of transportation are accepting public opinion about I-11, a congressionally designated interstate from Las Vegas to Phoenix. The comments are part of a two-year study about the highway. The study is about three-quarters of the way through, and the analytics portion is wrapping up while the implementation plan is beginning, according to NDOT.
The justifications for the roadway and multimodal corridor include integration and economic development of Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson and Los Angeles, capitalizing on Mexico’s role in manufacturing and trade in America, as well as preventing congestion on I-15. The CANAMEX corridor was established under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Future connectivity segments have yet to be approved, determined or studied. The modes of transportation have also yet to be determined.
Among the public, objections to the corridor include environmental impacts, placement, sustainability and spending of taxpayer dollars.
Anyone interested in commenting can do so online.
