Interstate 515
Encyclopedia
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
of Interstate 15 that runs from the junction of I-15, US 93
U.S. Route 93 in Nevada
In the U.S. state of Nevada, U.S. Route 93 is a major U.S. highway traversing the eastern edge of the state. The highway connects the Las Vegas area to the Great Basin National Park, and provides further connections to Ely and Wells...
and US 95
U.S. Route 95 in Nevada
In the U.S. state of Nevada, U.S. Route 95 is a major U.S. highway traversing the state from north to south directly through Las Vegas and providing connections to both Carson City and Reno...
(the Spaghetti Bowl Interchange) near Downtown Las Vegas
Downtown Las Vegas
Downtown Las Vegas is the central business district of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the original gambling district of Las Vegas, prior to the Strip, and the area still incorporates downtown gaming.-Tourism:...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) southeast to Railroad Pass near the borders of Henderson
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
and Boulder City
Boulder City, Nevada
Boulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is approximately from the City of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 census the population of Boulder City was 15,023.Boulder City is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibit gambling....
.
I-515 exists concurrently with U.S. Routes 93 and 95 along its entire length.
History
The freeway, which began construction in 1982, is a continuation of the Oran K. Gragson Expressway (named for the former Las Vegas mayor who advocated for the construction of the then Las Vegas Expressway) which ran primarily along the former West Fremont StreetFremont Street
Fremont Street is a street in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is the second most famous street in the Las Vegas metropolitan area after the Las Vegas Strip...
alignment between Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas Boulevard
State Route 604 is the route number designation for parts of Las Vegas Boulevard, a major north–south road in the Las Vegas metropolitan area of Nevada in the United States best known for the Las Vegas Strip and its casinos. Formerly carrying U.S...
and Rainbow Boulevard
Rainbow Boulevard
Rainbow Boulevard is a main roadway located in southeastern Wyandotte County and northeastern Johnson County, Kansas. It runs north-south.Its northern terminus is just south of Interstate 35 at Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas. Its southern terminus at Shawnee Mission Parkway in Mission...
. The spur was completed southeast to Charleston Boulevard (SR 159
Nevada State Route 159
State Route 159 is a east–west highway in southern Nevada, providing access to Red Rock Canyon and serving as a thoroughfare in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. A portion of the west end of the route is designated a Nevada Scenic Byway....
) in 1984, to Tropicana Avenue (SR 593) by 1986, to Russell Road by 1988 and to Lake Mead Drive (SR 564
Nevada State Route 564
State Route 564 is an east–west highway in Henderson, Nevada connecting the southern Las Vegas area to Lake Mead. The route is known as Lake Mead Parkway.-Route description:...
) by 1990. By 1994, the entire freeway was completed to Boulder Highway, just south of Wagonwheel Drive. Although the I-515 designation was first granted in 1990 from I-15 to Boulder Highway (at exit 70), the route was not signed consistently throughout until the freeway reached Railroad Pass in 1994. It is speculated that the I-515 designation could be extended south around Boulder City along the future US 93/Boulder City Bypass. There is also the speculation this freeway could become part of a proposed Interstate 11
Interstate 11
Interstate 11 is a possible designation for a locally-proposed Interstate Highway in the United States to run from Tonopah, Arizona, northwest to Las Vegas, Nevada, by way of Kingman, Arizona. The designation is a local proposal that has not been accepted by AASHTO or FHWA, the agencies normally...
to Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
(indeed, Phoenix is the first control city
Control city
A control city is a city or locality posted on a traffic sign indicating forward destinations on a certain route. These destinations aid motorists using the highway system to reach destinations along the various routes...
on southbound I-515's pull-through sign at exit 75B, and reflects the concurrent signing as US 93 and US 95).
Prior to the completion of the freeway, US 93 and US 95 originally followed Fremont Street/Boulder Highway from downtown Las Vegas southeast through Henderson towards to Boulder City. Boulder Highway was signed as a business route of US 93/95 after the freeway was completed, but that designation has since been removed; it is now just State Route 582
Nevada State Route 582
State Route 582 is a major highway in the Las Vegas valley. It connects Downtown Las Vegas with Henderson and Boulder City to the southeast. The highway is primarily known as Boulder Highway, but is named Fremont Street within the Las Vegas city limits. The highway is the former route of U.S....
.
Despite being designated and signed for several years, most Las Vegas residents refer to the I-515 freeway as "US 95". This is due to the continuation of US 95 as a separate freeway west and north of I-15 (I-515 ends at I-15, while US 93 joins I-15). Some people incorrectly refer to the freeway as I-95.