Project Neon returns; NDOT plans work on Spaghetti Bowl in 2027-28
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas valley locals will likely remember the so-called Project Neon. A $1 billion overhaul of a portion of the I-15 Spaghetti Bowl, which ended in 2019. Now, residents are girding themselves for a sequel.
Ryan Wheeler from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has confirmed that phase two of Project Neon is in the works, with construction scheduled for as early as 2027 or 2028. Wheeler said the project stems from a lack of funding for the original.
“At the time we didn’t have enough money to complete all the studies for the improvements that were planned for this corridor,” Wheeler said.
Some business owners in the area fear the neverending road work may find its way to their doorstep. Welding Nevada is a school in Las Vegas aimed at helping young people find a career. According to DeCall Thomas, the school owner, few experts are left in the field, and the demand for welders is increasing. Thomas, who worked on Project Neon, admits concern related to the follow-up project.
“That would be frustrating, my whole life’s work being threatened by a new project,” Thomas said.
The goal of separating traffic and reducing congestion will be paramount for those in charge of Project Neon Phase Two, essentially the same plan as Phase One, but on northbound I-15 on a stretch between Sahara Avenue and Charleston Boulevard.
While Thomas waits to discover the fate of his business, NDOT, for their part, confirms that Project Neon will not be going for a three-peat.
“There’s no phase three,” Wheeler said.
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