Southern Nevada Proposed Supplemental Airport Moves Forward

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An aerial perspective of the Southern Nevada airport proposal showcasing the expansive desert land designated for the airport.

News Summary

A proposed supplemental airport in Southern Nevada is set to open in 2037 to alleviate pressure on Harry Reid International Airport. Public engagement meetings for community input will feature an online meeting and two in-person gatherings next week. The 5,752-acre site, located south of Las Vegas, will undergo an environmental review by the FAA and BLM. Concerns have been raised regarding local endangered species and OHV access, yet public opposition remains minimal. The airport represents a significant development in local transportation, marking the first major airport construction in the U.S. since 1995.

Las Vegas — A proposed supplemental airport for Southern Nevada, expected to open in 2037, is being developed to alleviate capacity constraints at Harry Reid International Airport. The airport project has been under consideration since 2006 and is now moving forward with important public engagement opportunities scheduled for next week, allowing community members to voice environmental concerns.

The public will have three opportunities to provide input during meetings next week. An online meeting will take place on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Two in-person meetings are also slated, one on Wednesday at the East Las Vegas Library from 5-7 p.m. and another on Thursday at the Primm Valley Casino Resorts from 6-8 p.m. Additionally, government agencies will meet online on Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. A dedicated website for the airport review process has been established to provide further information: https://www.snvairporteis.com/.

The proposed site for the new airport covers 5,752 acres located between Jean and Primm, approximately 30 miles south of Las Vegas in the Ivanpah Valley, primarily on Roach Dry Lake. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have resumed the environmental review process this year after a pause in 2010, initiated by the Clark County Department of Aviation.

As part of this review, the FAA will produce an environmental impact statement while the BLM will amend its Resource Management Plan. This process will evaluate land designated for various purposes: 2,320 acres will be used for flood mitigation infrastructure adjacent to the airport, and 17,000 acres will be allocated as a noise compatibility area.

Proposed infrastructure for the airport includes two parallel runways, a taxiway system, an airport traffic control tower, aircraft navigational aids, and a central terminal with a federal inspection service facility. Other features will entail modifications to an I-15 interchange, necessary support facilities and utilities, as well as public and employee parking and drainage facilities. The airport aims to support passenger and cargo flights, as well as general aviation operations, which encompass private and corporate aircraft.

Despite the significant planning efforts and proposed infrastructure, public opposition has been minimal. However, advocacy has arisen from the Center for Biological Diversity, which has expressed concerns regarding the project’s potential impact on local endangered species, notably the desert tortoise and the white-margined penstemon. Additionally, some sections of the airport site may limit access for off-highway vehicle (OHV) users, and the implications of OHV use will be assessed during the planning phase.

If the Clark County Department of Aviation does not obtain a favorable record of decision from the review process, the airport land will revert to the oversight of the Bureau of Land Management. This new airport would mark the first major airport construction in the United States since Denver International Airport was established in 1995, demonstrating a significant development for Southern Nevada’s transportation landscape.

As of now, no cost estimate for the airport project has been disclosed, although funding is expected to primarily rely on federal grants. The public meetings scheduled for next week will serve as crucial platforms for stakeholder input and transparency as the vision of a new airport becomes closer to reality.