Spaghetti Bowl (Las Vegas)
Encyclopedia
The Spaghetti Bowl is the colloquial name for a freeway interchange near downtown Las Vegas
, Nevada
. It is the intersection of Interstate 15, U.S. Route 95 and Interstate 515
(which is multiplexed with US 93 and US 95), as well as Martin Luther King Blvd.
The interchange, which was substantially rebuilt in 1999, carries more than 300,000 cars and trucks per day.
in downtown Las Vegas on the east, and as a new bypass of Rancho Drive for U.S. 95 traffic to the west.
In the 1980s, I-515 was extended east past downtown and out toward Henderson, Nevada
, and new interchanges, including one with a new feeder freeway, the Summerlin Parkway
, were constructed in the west. The increased traffic on the cross-freeway left the interchange, with two clover ramps, several merging ramps and no ramp wider than one lane, inadequate; it was designed to carry about 60,000 vehicles a day.
In the late 1990s, NDOT began a reconstruction project of the interchange, with new, wider ramps and elimination of the clover exits. This project was completed the next decade with the opening of ramps to all directions of the freeways from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, 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...
. It is the intersection of Interstate 15, U.S. Route 95 and Interstate 515
Interstate 515
Interstate 515 is a spur of Interstate 15 that runs from the junction of I-15, US 93 and US 95 near Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada approximately southeast to Railroad Pass near the borders of Henderson and Boulder City....
(which is multiplexed with US 93 and US 95), as well as Martin Luther King Blvd.
The interchange, which was substantially rebuilt in 1999, carries more than 300,000 cars and trucks per day.
History
The original Spaghetti Bowl was built in the mid 1960s, and connected I-15 to Las Vegas' new cross-town expressway. The expressway served as a mile-long spur to Las Vegas BoulevardLas 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...
in downtown Las Vegas on the east, and as a new bypass of Rancho Drive for U.S. 95 traffic to the west.
In the 1980s, I-515 was extended east past downtown and out toward Henderson, Nevada
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 new interchanges, including one with a new feeder freeway, the Summerlin Parkway
Summerlin Parkway
Summerlin Parkway is a freeway in the western portion of the City of Las Vegas, connecting US 95 to the Las Vegas Beltway. Summerlin Parkway serves the master planned community of Summerlin.-Route description:...
, were constructed in the west. The increased traffic on the cross-freeway left the interchange, with two clover ramps, several merging ramps and no ramp wider than one lane, inadequate; it was designed to carry about 60,000 vehicles a day.
In the late 1990s, NDOT began a reconstruction project of the interchange, with new, wider ramps and elimination of the clover exits. This project was completed the next decade with the opening of ramps to all directions of the freeways from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.