Hoover Dam Bypass
Last week, I posted about our December 28, 2008 crossing Hoover Dam on U.S. 93 northbound from Arizona to Nevada. Dam Security was the topic, but a remark in the comments about the Hoover Dam bypass project got me to do a little research. I found a lot of good information on the Hoover Dam Bypass Project website.
Image: What the future bridge will look like.
Here’s some of the history:
Design work for the Hoover Bypass Project began in August 2001. The earlier studies and environmental evaluations had identified the Sugarloaf Mountain Roadway Alignment as the preferred alternative. The new roadway alignment will begin near the Hacienda Hotel and Casino on the Nevada side and follow a route just south of existing U.S. 93 to the Reclamation warehouse area. The proposed alignment will then cross over the existing roadway in a northeast direction, curve back around to the southeast and cross back over to the south side of the existing roadway. The proposed alignment will then proceed in a southeast direction and cross the Colorado River approximately 1,500 feet downstream of the Hoover Dam. The new highway will then proceed past Sugarloaf Mountain and tie into existing U.S. 93 at about milepost 2 in Arizona. The proposed construction includes canyon crossing bridges, grade separation structures, wildlife crossings and the Colorado River crossing. Several power line towers will also have to be relocated to make way for the new highway.
After the bypass is completed the existing highway will remain in service but will not carry US 93 through traffic. The existing roadway will continue to provide access to the dam and the Bureau of Reclamation facilities. Also, the existing roadway will be needed to provide access for tourists visiting the Dam facilities. The design team is studying options to provide visitor facilities. These options will accommodate vehicular traffic, parking and pedestrian activities, both at the dam site and at the new bridge.
The inset image above is clickable; it came from a webcam image at the construction site, so I assume this is the current state of construction. The project, according to the website. is on schedule and will be open to traffic in late 2010.
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