Existed: 1989 – present East end: US 95 in Las Vegas Constructed 1989 | West end: CC 215 in Las Vegas Length 9.7 km | |
Summerlin Parkway is a freeway in the western portion of the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, connecting U.S. Route 95 (US 95) to Clark County Route 215 (CC 215) and serving the master planned community of Summerlin.
Contents
Map of Summerlin Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Route description
Summerlin Parkway begins at a signalized junction with access ramps to the Las Vegas Beltway (CC 215). The road becomes a full freeway just east of the intersection, and maintains this status as it heads eastward through Summerlin and Las Vegas. The freeway terminates at the interchange with Rainbow Boulevard (SR 595) and US 95, locally known as the "Rainbow Curve" interchange.
History
Summerlin Parkway was initially constructed by the developers of Summerlin through the Summerlin Homeowners Association. The first construction along the parkway consisted of rebuilding the US 95 interchange and constructing the divided highway west to Town Center Drive. Later projects funded by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada brought freeway interchanges to Buffalo Drive in 1992 and Rampart Boulevard in 1994.
By 2000, Summerlin Parkway was built up to expressway standards to a western end at Anasazi Drive, and by 2004 the expressway terminated at the Las Vegas Beltway. A half-interchange was added at Durango Drive by 2005, and the Anasazi Drive intersection was converted to an interchange by 2006. Also in 2005, the Nevada Department of Transportation had reconstructed the US 95/Rainbow Boulevard interchange as part of its US 95 widening project (including a new direct connection from eastbound Summerlin Parkway to US 95 north which was not constructed in 1989).
An HOV flyover has been constructed in order to facilitate HOV movements between Summerlin Parkway and US 95 heading to and from downtown. The direct connection ramps opened in July 2012, even though Summerlin Parkway does not yet have HOV lanes.
In 2016, the City of Las Vegas installed a median cable barrier system in the median of Summerlin Parkway. The $2 million project was designed to reduce impacts from drivers losing control of vehicles into the landscaped median and prevent crossover collisions.
Exit list
The entire route is in Las Vegas, Clark County. All exits are unnumbered.
Future
The City of Las Vegas and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada have previously proposed to improve Summerlin Parkway. Some of the proposed improvements include adding one additional lane, adding a new managed lane in each direction, adding auxiliary lanes and aesthetics improvements along the entire parkway. No timetable for these improvements was established.
Some improvements are planned for the near future. The HOV lanes will be extended westward from Buffalo Drive to Durango Drive, and a new westbound auxiliary lane to Rampart Boulevard are expected to open in Spring 2017. Additionally, auxiliary lanes will be constructed between the Rampart Boulevard and Town Center Drive, as well as eastbound between the CC 215 interchange and Anasazi Drive.
Additionally, the current interchange configuration of Summerlin Parkway at the Las Vegas Beltway was built as an "interim upgrade", due to lack of funds. Clark County plans to construct a full freeway-to-freeway interchange in the future, when funding becomes available. Summerlin Parkway is also expected to be extended westward beyond CC 215.