The once-paused plan to upgrade the Henderson Spaghetti Bowl has found new life in a phased approach.
The 20-year-old freeway interchange where the 215 Beltway, Interstate 11 and Lake Mead Parkway converge in Henderson is set to see the first of multiple upgrades starting soon.
The interchange is a vital piece of infrastructure, handling 190,000 vehicles daily. That number is expected to increase to 289,000 by 2040, according to a 2020 Nevada Department of Transportation traffic study.
Initial work includes the widening of the 215 between Stephanie Street and the I-11 interchange, the city of Henderson announced Tuesday. Additionally, the I-11 northbound ramp to 215 westbound and the Lake Mead Parkway westbound to 215 westbound entrance ramp will be restriped to go from one to two lanes, according to the city.
The Henderson City Council approved a $5 million design contract for the project Tuesday. The city didn’t note how many phases would be included in upgrading of the freeway interchange.
Plans call for getting the work underway on the interchange project and tie it in to a separate widening project already underway on the 215 in Henderson.
Crews last year began a widening project on the 215 between Pecos Road/St. Rose Parkway and Stephanie. The plan is to have both projects underway concurrently is aimed at reducing further traffic issues by carrying the work out during separate times.
“The good news is we’re finding ways to complete this project by the time the 215 widening is complete,” Steve Conner, Henderson city engineer said in a video posted to social media platform X. “This means no extra disruptions for our drivers.”
The $160 million 215 widening project, adding two lanes in both directions between Pecos/St. Rose and Stephanie and upgrading freeway ramps along the stretch, kicked off last year and is scheduled for completion in 2028.
The Henderson Spaghetti Bowl was planned for a massive revamp, but the Nevada Department of Transportation and Henderson leaders decided to pull back on those plans in 2024 as the projected cost of the project skyrocketed from between $250 million and $400 million to between $495 million and $520 million.
The projected cost then increased above the $520 million mark, with the final estimate not shared publicly since a notice of intent to award the contract for the work was never issued, Henderson officials said in 2024.
The interchange features 27 bridges. The original plan called for the demolition of five existing bridges and the construction of 11 new bridges, to bring the total to 33 bridges.
The project is a collaboration between NDOT, the city of Henderson and Clark County.
“Getting a project of this scale off the ground takes more than plans and budgets; it takes people working together,” Henderson Councilman Jim Seebock said in a statement. “I also want to thank Commissioner Jim Gibson for his help in moving this project forward. I’m proud we were able to bring all the right players to the table early on to make sure this project moves forward to benefit our residents for years to come.”
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.
