![Project Neon](https://www.jacobs.com/sites/default/files/styles/media_component/public/2022-04/neon_1.jpg?itok=EjSBedHW)
With the expectation for traffic in this area to double between now and 2035, Project Neon culminates a 20-year project to improve freeway transportation in downtown Las Vegas.
Jacobs began working on the project in 2008, providing consultant services from the environmental phase through completion of construction to bring improvements to safety, air quality and access and reduced congestion, delays and weaving to downtown Las Vegas and surrounding areas.
$1 Billion Project Neon, Largest Construction Job in State History
![NDOT Finishes $1 Billion Project Neon, Largest Construction Job in State History](https://www.jacobs.com/sites/default/files/styles/media_component/public/oembed_thumbnails/5qRGlXag0ZkiV2PDOtj1lh0fo4t3VAKW40X8Dv5uwC8.jpg?itok=CcTbiZfS)
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300 K
vehicles daily, or one-tenth of the state population, seeing 25,000 lane changes/hour
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717
various companies, including subcontractors and vendors worked on Project Neon
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4 K
direct, indirect and induced local jobs created
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~ 4
miles of enhancements on I-15 between Sahara Avenue and the “Spaghetti Bowl”
“Starting by delivering a draft EIS just eight weeks after the task was assigned to us and for the 12 years after, Jacobs has been working with NDOT to reduce congestion and improve safety on this busiest stretch of highway in Nevada. In the process, we helped NDOT reduce the program size by $750 million through value analysis studies, cost estimate validation process workshops, constructability reviews, Everyday Counts workshops and a team culture of value-added delivery.”
Moving Sin City Forward
Beginning in 2008, Jacobs provided consultant services from the environmental phase through completion of construction for the roadway – which is currently the busiest stretch of highway in Nevada with 300,000 vehicles daily, or one-tenth of the state population, seeing 25,000 lane changes an hour.
Our work on Project Neon’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process included delivery of a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) just eight weeks after the task was assigned. Through close coordination with NDOT, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the City of Las Vegas, the draft EIS was delivered on schedule. In May 2010, the Final EIS for the nearly $1.5 billion total program was signed.
During preliminary design, we led the development of 60% design plans for improvements to the freeway and surface streets in the heart of Las Vegas. When NDOT elected to use design-build delivery, we then assisted them in packaging multiple phases of the project into a single design-build procurement.
Following these activities, we served as NDOT’s Owner’s Engineer and assisted with developing and issuing the design-build procurement documents and assisted with the extensive right-of-way needed for the project. As part of this task, the team provided support during design and construction to verify the final design met the requirements of the design-build contract.
With traffic through the corridor expected to double by 2035, Project Neon is improving safety, reducing congestion and travel delays, creating jobs, improving air quality and freeway operations and providing new surface street connections and better access to downtown Las Vegas for tomorrow.