I-215

About I-215

Also known as Las Vegas Beltway, Belt Route.

Interstate 215 is a three-digit auxiliary route of Interstate 15, with an even prefix digit marking it as a loop or bypass. The number is used in three western states. In Southern California, Interstate 215 is a north-south route through the Inland Empire that splits from Interstate 15, passes through Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino, and Riverside, and rejoins Interstate 15 to the north, serving as an inland alternative to the parent route.

In Nevada, Interstate 215 is part of the Las Vegas Beltway, a partial loop circling much of the Las Vegas Valley and serving its suburbs as a metropolitan bypass of Interstate 15. In Utah, Interstate 215, known locally as the Belt Route, forms a three-quarters loop around Salt Lake City and its suburbs, functioning as a bypass for both Interstate 15 and Interstate 80. The Utah route is the only auxiliary Interstate in that state.

All three instances serve their metropolitan areas as belt or bypass routes consistent with the even prefix digit, distributing traffic around or through fast-growing urban regions.

History

The California route grew out of an older state route corridor in the Inland Empire and was upgraded and renumbered as it was built to Interstate standards. The Utah Belt Route was constructed over several decades to ring the Salt Lake City area. The Nevada beltway was developed in stages as the Las Vegas Valley expanded, with portions later carrying the Interstate 215 designation.

Major cities and places

Did you know

• The California route is an inland alternative through the Inland Empire.
• The Nevada route is part of the Las Vegas Beltway.
• The Utah route is the only auxiliary Interstate in that state.
• All three instances function as loop or bypass routes.