March 30, 2026 - 6:00 am

The I-15/Tropicana Avenue interchange project might have been a pain in the neck for Las Vegas Valley motorists for a few years while work was occurring, but it was an award-worthy gem in the eyes of the Associated General Contractors of America.

The project was named one of the most significant construction projects of 2025 by the national trade organization. The contractor on the project, Kiewit, also earned the Baldwin Group Build America Award for the best design-build civil project, the association announced last week .

“Completing projects of this scale and complexity requires remarkable expertise, teamwork and determination,” Todd Roberts, the association’s president, said in a statement. “This award honors the construction professionals whose dedication and skill made this project a success.”

The awards are considered to be the among the most prestigious recognition of construction accomplishments in the country.

The 3.5-year project saw major upgrades of the 60-year-old Tropicana bridge over I-15. The bridge was torn down and rebuilt in phases, increasing the height of the structure while adding lanes and widening sidewalks to 10 feet on Tropicana along the bridge.

Two single-direction high occupancy vehicle lane ramps were built at Harmon Avenue, allowing motorists to exit I-15 northbound to Harmon and to enter I-15 southbound from Harmon.

The work led to several lane restrictions and even full weekend directional closures of I-15 and closures of Tropicana over the freeway.

“Being recognized by the Associated General Contractors of America for the I-15/Tropicana project is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the scale, complexity, and collaboration behind this work,” NDOT Director Tracy Larkin Thomason said in a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We know this project required patience from the public, and we’re grateful for that. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our team and partners who delivered a project that will have a lasting impact on how people move through the region.”

Kiewit delivered the $382 million project’s completion, which created a smoother commute to the south Strip, where multiple resorts, T-Mobile Arena and the Athletics’ under-construction ballpark are located, in addition to Allegiant Stadium just south of the project. Dean Martin Drive was reconfigured as part of the project, which also led to the new Joey Bishop Drive added to keep traffic on Dean Martin to and from Allegiant Stadium better flowing on event days. The new design of the road is set up to handle up to 300,000 vehicles per day.

The project’s construction ran through Super Bowl 58, multiple Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix weekends, with crews navigating the big event weekends and saved $23 million in the process.

“These projects reflect the highest standard of craftsmanship, innovation, and collaboration in our industry —strengthening communities, advancing infrastructure, and demonstrating what’s possible when excellence leads the way,” Joe Charczenko, partner and construction practice president for the Baldwin Group, said in a statement.

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X. Send questions and comments to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com.