Hoover Dam Bridge Bypass

This is the main section of the Hoover Dam Bypass bridge, constructed in sections on each side, building toward the middle. After design, the bridge took from 2003 to 2010 to build, opening in October of that year. This single bridge is only part of the project that included other, smaller sections of bridges, about 2 miles worth. This section is about 900' over the Colorado River about 1500' south of the dam. There is a pedestrian walkway on the dam side of the bridge, of which I walked the entire length. I really do not like heights, but it was a wide walkway, with a high concrete barrier between the traffic and the walkway. On the outside, a very sturdy, high railing. I still was a bit nervous standing there at the edge looking down at the scenery. All the towers you see are cantilevered off the sides of the rock mountains, ensuring that the cables, some multiple inches thick, do not touch anything.

 

The Hoover Dam has 17 turbines, which are 45' tall, power generators capable of producing 4.5 billion kilowatts a year, generating at 180 RPM. During the tour we were told that the main reason for the dam is water dispersement, and that power is the by-product. We were told that not all of the generators run all the time, possibly only 7-8 would be run at once. I'm not sure if there is not that much demand for the power, or it would be overload. The turbines are shown below, if you look closely on the left side, you'll see a worker checking the gauges.

 

 

The dam supplies water to more than 20 million people in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego and many other large cities and Indian communities in Arizona, Nevada and California. Power is also delivered from the dam to those areas. The sale of this power finances the operation and maintenance of the power generating equipment.

 

The are miles of tunnels underground for servicing the dam, all constructed back in the 1930s by blasting and the use of jackjammers.

 

This pipe is 50 in diameter and was part of the original diversion plan to divert the Colorado River from its normal course so the dam could be constructed. It is now used to bring water in to power the turbines for electricity.

 

This shiny steel pin is what held those sections of pipe together. They certainly didn't use cheap material, and the whole project was built to last.

 

I had a fun morning walking the bridge and then doing the tour. It sure was an amazing project, and it was built before more modern equipment could have made it easier.

 

 

Hoover Dam, Nevada

 

 

Hoover Dam was a massive undertaking back in the 1930s. The areas south of the Nevada had been flooded extensively by the Colorado River and the water needed to be harnessed. A group of companies got together and put in a bid to construct a dam somewhere in the southern part of Nevada. They scouted the area and found what they thought was a perfect place.

 

They constructed a dam that is 45' wide on the top, 1244' across the canyon and 726' high. The base is 660' wide and the structure is the tallest dam in the western hemisphere. It is estimated that it weighs 6.6 million tons. It's so large, it's difficult to get it all into one photograph when you're on the dam property. When it was completed, it created the reservoir known today as Lake Mead.

 

 

As if this was not enough, there were 4 intake structures built to bring water in from the bottom of the lake, two of which are shown above. These towers are 395' tall. Multiple miles of tunnels 50' in diameter were built as well as giant spillway, that will divert the water in case of floods. The last time the spillway was used was during a flood in the 1980s. Power from the generators run by this water is sent all over the southwest, including Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

 

The dam employed thousands of workers during the years of construction, many of them had traveled from the east looking for jobs.  The construction was during the depression, and the pay rates were anywhere from 50 cents to 87 cents per hour, depending on the job.  Since they worked 24 hour a day, the job was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.  Try getting that performance today!

 

Since the Colorado River divides Nevada and California from Arizona, the state border is in the middle of the river, more or less. There are clocks on two of the intake towers, one for Nevada time and the other for Arizona time.

 

Today, there are memorials near the visitor center for the men who lost their lives during the construction, about 96 of them, according to one sign in the museum. Apparently, there were some rumors about some being buried in the massive concrete structure, but the sign also states that it didn't happen.

 

There are two winged statues on each side of a flagpole that flies an American flag at a height of 142'. These statues are each 30' tall and contain 4 tons of bronze. Bronze was also used for elevator doors, memorial placques, state placques and other items around the plaza.

 

 

When I was towing my 5th wheel to Lake Mead about a week ago, there were some bridges going over the canyons. Because it was a bit windy that day, there were notices posted that all high profile vehicles had to use the left lane. They are very nice four lane bridges with dividers and although I knew it must be up high, I couldn't see the bottom of the canyon I was passing over. When I finally saw the bridge from the dam, I was glad that I had not known how very high it really was! At least it looks very sturdy, I will remind myself of that when I go back over it.

 

 

 

That was my first visit to the Hoover Dam, stay tuned for the next visit as well as a walk along that bridge in the photo above.

 

 

 

Lake Mead Recreation Area - Boulder City, Nevada

Lake Meade is a huge lake, over 115 miles long.  Of course, since the water level is low, it's probably not that long anymore.  But, it's very impressive.  From up on the hills, it's a deep blue, a stark contrast with the multicolored hills and mountains surrounding it.  The National Recreation Area surrounding the lake is extensive, obviously, containing 7 campgrounds with over 1,000 sites.  There are a couple marinas with all sorts of boats, from sailboats to small boats with outboards and then lots of houseboats.
 

 

The lake was formed when the Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s.  In order to get supplies to the dam site, a railroad was built connecting Boulder City to the construction site, about 30 miles long.  In order to get the train through the mountains, tunnels were blasted through.  These tunnels and the trail through them are on the Register of Historic Places.  None of the tracks exist, but the trail is a nice wide dirt path snaking around the mountains and through the tunnels.

While the dam was being built, the train hauled equipment and supplies to the dam site.  The tunnels were made extra wide to allow for huge equipment to be carried on the trains.  Most of the tunnels have been reinforced with huge wooden beams inside the tunnels and some have been sprayed with a concrete mix. 
 

The trail was easy walking and afforded great views of the lake and surrounding mountains.  I went in the early morning and there was a nice breeze, so it was a pleasant hike that wasn't strenuous.