Follows a route from my hotel on the Strip to Arizona and back to the LV area on I-515 clinching all of the new I-11 in both directions. Director's Commentary and FAQ'a at the end of the ride.
@sherry hodges LOL, you can't, no more through traffic over the dam. it's not an hour out of the way, I drove the old road before, I-11 is faster with no stops.
Thank you for making this video. I had a near bad accident at the on ramp of 93 onto 11, and this video clearly shows why. It's a very dangerous merge point and I plan to follow up with Nevada DOT.
Thanks. I now understand I-15 through this region... the press on it was clear as mud. I clearly remember being through here in the late 70s as a kid... only Boulder Hwy. and miles of very little between The Showboat and Henderson... and Lake Mead was overflowing into the spillways. A lot more people an a lot less water seem to go hand-in-hand. And thanks for sharing your dam pictures!
You flat out nailed it with the soundtrack on the newest portion of I-11, excellent choice and downloaded on my end. I did not quite grasp just how desolate in appearance the new alignment around Boulder City really is, just from looking at internet photos and the planning documents NDOT published on the internet over the past several years...a far cry from the old alignment. I've really got to get out there sometime and see the new I-11 for myself...those views descending down towards Lake Mead look jaw-dropping.
It's going to be interesting to see what happens with that area in the future. BC has always been very restrictive on new growth, which is the main reason that it hasn't mushroomed like the rest of the valley has. That said, there's lots of folks wanting to add new residential and business ventures in that area since I-11 opened. We'll see how much $$$ talks...
I just watched your video Vegas to Barstow, and left a comment. I moved to Vegas in 76, by way of Hesperia from Phoenix Az, where I grew up! So this was another trip from Las Vegas to Phoenix I’ve made about a 100 times, initially from 76 to 84! And again when I moved back in 99 to 08! The first couple years going back to Phoenix was for my HS Sweetheart! And family and friends I have there. That girl and I broke up in early 79! So the reason I moved back to Vegas was that same Girl from Phoenix 20 years later! Anyway since we both grew up there, both still had family and friends in Phoenix, so would go 5/6 times a year from 99 to 08, but you had to go through Boulder City and through Hoover Dam, which I liked because it’s very scenic. We went to Phoenix a couple weeks after 9/11 when they first put in Security to check all Vehicles crossing Hoover Dam! That was surreal and of course still done to this Day. Of course even up until 08 the 11 wasn’t even a thought, well might have been a thought. Since 2021 I’ve have now been on the 11 and over the Mike O’Callaghan Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge about a dozen times! I have taken the old way several times going up Boulder Highway to old 93, the Great Basin Hwy until it throws you onto the interstate 11. I have driven as far as they let you go on Kingman Wash Access Road. It’s a nice drive
Totally Amazing ride Jim as always, you never disappoint with each new video you post, and you're doing a heck of a job selecting high energy music for the journey. Love the photo's you took at Hoover Dam. Thank you and the Misses for making that sacrifice to climb stairs and walk in 114 degree temperature to allow us to see the splendor of an Iconic site!! Thank you and GVJ!!!
I haven’t even watched the video yet but I can already tell from that amazing thumbnail that this is gonna be a good one Edit: yep, it was so good. This was the first video I’ve watched of I-11 and holy crap it looks even nicer than I thought!
@@sqwk2559 The thumbnail is NOT fake, I shot the photo with my Sony a7iii still camera while filming the video and had three other people in the car that will back that up. How do you think I get all the overhead road signs? I shoot while driving. BTW what you described as blending is called an HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo and they are not considered fake, but this photo is not an HDR, just a single shot.
Happy to see this vid. When I was about 12 (1982) on a rand mcnncnal atlas i drew my own I-11, Spokane-Boise-Elko-Vegas-Phoenix. Nice to see wasn't too far off there lol. :)
Thank you for posting such a great video! Love the NASCAR-like speed, the rugged scenery, and the fun soundtrack. I haven't been down to Vegas since about 2013, when construction work on I-11 was just beginning. The good folks of Boulder City must be relieved to have some peace back in their little town, and the summer gridlock banished forever.
As a fellow Georgian I agree our roads aren't built for beauty,enjoyed the video,the music seemed to fit the drive as you are excellent at doing and loved the pictures
Thank you very much, at least our roads in GA are more interesting than those in neighboring states (except for TN) and better quality than most states period.
Bellissimo il tragitto e mi emoziono guardare la meraviglia di quei posto fantastici. Bella anche la musica e si addicce perfetta. Grazie per questi filmati.
Awesome video! Lived in Las Vegas for 20 years and moved away in 2013. They had just finished the bridge before I moved and we drove across it a couple of times. The picture from the bridge look down to the Damn was great too. The music was perfect for the video also. Thanks for sharing!!!
This video helped me tremendously when I drove from Phoenix to Las Vegas a few weeks ago. Once I got to the Tillman bridge, I was able to turn off the map on my phone to get to my hotel (The Flamingo). This was in the dead of night too, but those Botts dots work incredibly well in lighting up the freeways! Even though I think they went overboard with them in Nevada.
Serious wow factor at around 8:57. I can imagine what it's like in person besides hot. Love the pictures, and the soundtrack definitely set the tone for the video. Great work as always.
Wow! Thanks for introducing us to I-11. The ride southbound looks fantastic. I haven't been to Hoover Dam since the 1960s on a family vacation with my parents. We took a tour of the dam, along with a guide who who explained its construction and operation. I was very impressed even as a teenager. I don't know if they offer such tours today, post 911. Nice soundtrack of music I hadn't heard before.
Thank you very much, yeah it's changed a lot around the Dam since you last visited, I think they still do the tours although I have not experienced one.
The pictures of Hoover Dam were awesome! Great shots you got there! Really enjoyed the drive, too. Oh yeah, and really like the commentary you're doing at the end of the videos, great stuff!
I have visited Las Vegas and Hoover Dam quite a number of times, but never climbed up and walked along the bridge. Need to try that one of these days... not during summer though lol.
As an old truckdriver, who made too many trips up and down 93 across the dam and into Vegas and up 95 before I-15, I have watched it change greatly over the years. The last trip I made you still had to detour through Laughlin with a truck, they were building the bridge still, I did think that bridge should have been built years ago, just to relive the traffic at the dam!! I wonder if they are going to take that good idea down to Phoenix and up to Reno, course, I have always wondered why I-70 didn't continue that way either, however, I always enjoyed US50, and US 6 across there anyway. Thank you sir, great video! Now I have to plan a vacation to Vegas! I just can't let them get away with building a new interstate that I ain't drove on!!! ;)
I understand what you’re saying about finding safe songs- Suggestion- There are numerous works from jazz artists such as Miles Davis, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Oscar Peterson, Gerry Mullins, Gene Ammons and MANY MANY others in the 40s-60s that would go well with your videos and not be obtrusive or offensive.... For ex- Miles Davis- Mr Pastorius Cannonball Adderly-Caribbean Cutie Wes Montgomery-Tune Up Gene Ammons-Angel Eyes The Modern Jazz Quartet- Woodyn You Oscar Peterson-Tin Tin Deo These are just a few of my favs that I listen to on the road along with funk-but that’s another convo for another day Great vids and compilation as always Thanks
Thank you, Except for that kind of music really doesn't go well most places, especially in a setting like this video. I have used a Miles Davis song in 17-14 at 11:30. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WhVDisdnWXU.html
dwoodard78 I’ve been to many of the places that Freeway Jim has been, and before satellite radio was invented and you had to feed cassettes into the dashboard like an ATM card, these songs were on HEAVY rotation in my dads car.... So much so that memories of where we went are associated some of these songs..... To each his own.....
Freewayjim That’s true- I thought about that- I’m going to try it and see what mixes well with time lapse and normal speed.... I’m sure I can find something- They were extremely innovative during that time......
@@OliverSolorzano Definitely the homeless and drugs. However, everything has gotten super expensive and over regulated (especially house prices), it’s incredibly overcrowded, it’s quite dirty, and most of all, the unique culture my hometown (San Diego) used to have is slowly diminishing.
Finally, the videos we’ve been all waiting for. The Vegas videos. I love how 15 and 215 look. I definitely wanna go and drive I-11 someday and see the Hoover dam
Neat. Last time I was on that route was around 1990, when the road US93 that connected I-40 from Kingman to LV was just a 2 lane road if I recall right.
It was around July or August of 1990 now I think about it. The A/C died along the way and it was like 115 outside around there. I remember it was right after the grand opening of the Excalibur. One day I may get to drive out there again hopefully.
Michael Mccarthy The only bad thing is that I-11 literally dead ends on some rural desert two lane in Arizona. It needs to be completed to I-40 in Kingman. Probably will could siphon some of our tax money from that bloated defense budget and allocate it to extending I-11 to Kingman Arizona.
Last October I did a circular tour of the Southwest from Las Vegas with the main intent of photographing the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. On the way back to Vegas, I took US 93 from Kingman, AZ which leads into this. I thought the music was appropriate and I "shazamed" a few tunes for subsequent purchase on iTunes! In Vegas, I went to both the Neon & Mob Museum which are interesting.
Thanks for another great ride, Jim. Sorry that it was so hot when you did your walking but that's how things are on the Colorado River all summer long. I've been in Laughlin when it was over 120. Interesting soundtrack, too.
It was great to ride with you and the crew to check out the newest Interstate and Hoover Dam, since I don’t check out those places much if at all, despite living nearby.
Very nice ride- awesome to see Vegas and a new interstate! Always fun! I am glad you also got to check out Hoover Dam- a sight I want to check out myself some day if I am ever in that area and to see Vegas as well- Viva Las Vegas- lol- great ride and great sound track- very impressed with how the freeway looks so new!
Thank you, that genre is a guilty pleasure of mine, I discovered the first three songs at smoothlounge.com here.... www.smoothjazz.com/smoothlounge-playlist#
If and when I-11 is completed between Vegas and Reno, and if the geography along the tricky California/Nevada border allows, I propose for a new interstate. Call it I-62, I suppose, since it is the closest even-number available for such a highway that would be lower/south to I-80. Starting from I-11 somewhere in western Nevada, well south of Reno, "62" would traverse through central CA before intersecting/concurring with I-5 somewhere in Modesto/Stockton, CA vicinity, and continue westward along what is present-day I-580 though the Bay Area all the way to it's end at U.S.101.
Jim, another great one :) All that earthmoving has finally paid off! NV. 8:54 vista of Lake Mead is picture postcard from another planet, though those water levels..I wonder how that view will look a generation from now.
My cousin turned me on to this channel I've been subscribed to you since 2016 keep up the good work man.. If you have a son have him do the streets and he can start up "StreetJim"
@Freewayjim, I-11 is an incredible new road. It looks like it was really fun to drive. I can't wait to see it when I get out to Vegas to see my family. You are right about GA freeways being functional, but not necessarily aesthetically pleasing. TN freeways where I am from may actually be worse. These roads cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build. Would it really cost that much more to add some artwork and landscaping to these projects? Just a thought. Oh, and I noticed that you have your wife listed first in the equipment details. I just find that a little funny lol. That's something I would do. And my wife would probably slap me across the head for it. It would be worth it though lol.
You'll love driving I-11 and can justify a trip to Hoover Dam to do so :) I agree with you on the highway aesthetics, at least TN puts a colorful state logo on the sides of some newer overpasses I've seen on I-24 and I-75, I would certainly like to see more of that. Georgia seems hellbent on making their newer roads and bridges look as utilitarian as possible, smh. That was actually my wife's idea to be listed as part of the equipment, she has a great sense of humor sometimes, lol. Thank you for the comment and for watching.
XL XL Interstates in New York are the exact same boring functional design. Both I-81 and the New York Thruway are the worst. No signature designed bridges over major crossings, no art work, no nothing. Just ho hum utilitarian highway design.
Great video, Jim. That view of Lake Mead is very spectacular! One of these days, I hope to get down there and take the drive myself-last time I was there was in 1985, when you could drive over the dam. As for 93 becoming I-11 in AZ? They have to upgrade it to full freeway before it can be signed, and an interchange built just west of Kingman for I-40. Next time you're in CA, see if you can hit the Central Valley. Either go up 5 on the West Side, or up CA 99.
@@Freewayjim and the security screening... I drove across it once before the bypass bridge opened up. It was quite a lengthy delay to cross the bridge.
I’m glade people can see the on and off ramps are same lane very dangerous design. Many accidents both going 65+ getting on and off the highway same lane
Thank you very much for stating this! I had a near very bad accident just 5 days ago, on ramping to 11 from 93. There is practically zero merge distance here. It just dumps you right into the 11 traffic. Was my first time on this new road, I couldn't even tell I was merging yet and there is was. Big trucker on 11 slammed brakes in time and I swerved to the right WHERE THERE IS NO SHOULDER leeway. Yep, could have died.
Cool fact...Trucks used to be allowed across Hoover Dam, but that was stopped just after 9/11/01. You NEEDED to keep a CB radio on because there was 1 curve on the Nevada side that you needed to radio ahead because 2 trucks couldn't go around together. After 9/11, the detour was via AZ68 through Laughlin to US95 through Searchlight, which brought about the need for I-11.
I remeber Driving on I -11 when I moved From Vegas to Nashville last year. Any other time we had to go thru Boulder City on the 93. I think I -11 is supposed to Follow the route of the 93 to Phoenix for the most part. Always hated those frontage roads on the 15. I remember When they were build. Love your sound tracks
I remember visiting Las Vegas about 10 years ago and seeing the dirt just get laid out for this interstate and the arch bridge overlooking the hoover dam just start to get constructed
It was a shame that the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge sign was lying on the ground on the Nevada side as we crossed back to Arizona yesterday evening. Hopefully NDOT fixes it soon.
New hwy with minimal traffic is always fun. I noticed in the beginning some sections of road had fencing alongside? Didn’t look like sound barriers (walls). Were those sun screens or maybe windbreakers? Difficult to tell while watching on my phone. Thanks for another great trip! Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks Jim! You never fail to disappoint. But my curiosity has been piqued so I have to ask. What was the "little matter" you had to tend to? If it was something personal, just forget I asked.
The funny thing is, the distance from Boulder City to Kingman used to be SHORTER by a few miles, I 11's routing increased the mileage. That final rise on southbound before entering Black Canyon is a strain for my car.
Very good video giving a more extensive look at I-11, but one thing that makes me scratch my head. It ends at the state line, but there is freeway roads going past. Gets a little confusing why they havent extended I-11 past the bridge. Just a thought.
Wow! You drive almost as much as I do! I drove that in May from an overnight stop in Vegas on a side trip to Hoover Dam, before resuming to San Francisco. Beautiful run! You clearly are a music aficionado so if I can make a suggestion. If you're into contemporary jazz, Paul Hardcastle & his group The Jazzmasters would provide some excellent music behind your videos. I played them on my trip cross country out to San Francisco and I tell you! That jazz with the mountains, the Great Plains, with a beautiful sunset, or a bright blue sky afternoon with white puffy clouds. At times I thought I was driving through heaven! Check it out. They're all over u-tube. You won't be disappointed. And keep those vids coming!
Thank you, I love Paul Hardcastle and the Jazzmasters and have many songs in my library, have experimented with a few songs but they don't ever seem to make the final cut but I'm sure they will at some point.
Whoa... I-11 does not disappoint! I'm scratching another item onto a proposed "12-12-soon" list! In the meantime, I'm looking forward to the next video. If it's anywhere near as awesome as "16-35" (I'm sure it will be), we're in for a treat!
Nice video. I believe I drove pretty much the same route last month, even down to when you entered Tropicana since I stayed at the NYNY. I drove to Flagstaff and used google maps. I'm not good with directions like yourself so I mostly rely on GPS. I never even knew I-11 was new, though I was wondering why I never heard of it before despite being a frequent Vegas visitor. Those views of the water (Lake Mead?) were nice.
Like to see what I-11 will go through California for a few miles between Hawthorne Nevada and Gardnerville/Minden Nevada. The twin cities in Douglas County are both unincorporated. Since Douglas County in Nevada is the fastest growing area. Will Minden (and Gardnerville) be incorporated cities in the future? It has been about 20 years the last time did Fernley became incorporated city in 2000, and before that, West Wendover at the Nevada/Utah state line became a city in 1990.
Equipment list towards the end: "WIFE" - hey, she's first on the list!..:) & it's funny how Manfrotto managed to get everywhere, got a little tripod from them myself as well, cool...
I know this area extremely well. You got there in the hottest month of the year, FWJ. BTW: this was an abnormally cool summer in the region, I kid you not. In your next LV visit, you might enjoy seeing Spring Mountain Ranch and Red Rock Canyon on the west side. :-)
My imagination or is NV the only state left using Botts dots on its freeways (at least in Clark County), even for new construction? Hawaii is starting to follow Washington (and I think Oregon, but theirs don't seem to last) in using the plastic profiled stripes, and California is using the Reno-style fat stripes (my only other frame of reference for the fat stripes).
Nice video! My family plans to go to Las Vegas in a couple of years so I hope that Interstate 11’s connection to Phoenix is complete by then so that we can just drive north from Interstate 10.
Ah yes, the replacement for US 93. Is I-11 supposed to go all the way down to Kingman, or just to where it is now? Obviously a lot of at-grades if the former is intended...
OK; I just remember, when driving along it (and thanks for making me honeymoon sick again), that there were quite a few at-grade intersections and businesses along the route, and that's obviously a no-no for new interstates.
I-11 is supposed to go as far south as the Phoenix area, and maybe even down to Nogales. It would be built mostly on the current US 93 corridor, with a new interchange planned at I-40 in Kingman. For now, all ADOT is doing is widening US 93 between Wickenburg and I-40.
Well done Jim and for the highway there should have been a time zone boundaries sign because Boulder City Nevada is Pacific Time well the other side in Arizona is Mountain Time Zone exception to this occurs during daylight savings to which Nevada and Arizona have the same time.
