Hoover Dam ByPass Bridge

[yelobird2002]

The Hoover Dam ByPass Bridge will be opening in November. On October 16th the bridge will have a dedication open to foot traffic. Thunderbirds of Las Vegas will be in attendance. I will be sending in the application for the group on Monday afternoon. Need RSVP's ASAP. We will be attending either from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or Noon to 2 p.m. Any interested parties please PM me that you are interested and how many people you will have. Also specify the time slot you prefer. The majority wins and that time slot will be chosen. Need RSVP's by noon Monday August 23, 2010. Here is the web site explaining the event. www.celebratehooverbridge.com

[Treken]

Love to go but can't make it there so soon. Thought you might want to see a few pictures of the bridge when I was there in April...


http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx185/TrekenSteve/Hoover%20Dam%20ByPass%20Bridge/IMG_0422.jpg

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx185/TrekenSteve/Hoover%20Dam%20ByPass%20Bridge/IMG_0400.jpg

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx185/TrekenSteve/Hoover%20Dam%20ByPass%20Bridge/IMG_0413.jpg

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx185/TrekenSteve/Hoover%20Dam%20ByPass%20Bridge/IMG_0412.jpg

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx185/TrekenSteve/Hoover%20Dam%20ByPass%20Bridge/IMG_0399.jpg

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx185/TrekenSteve/Hoover%20Dam%20ByPass%20Bridge/IMG_0421.jpg

[FUN X 3]

It's interesting that they seem to be using a similar engineering principle for the bridge that they used for the dam.

[Vegas Retrobird]

Wish I could make it!

Now all they need to do is build the proposed Interstate 11 between Vegas and Phoenix and we'll be in business. :thumbsup:

[4LOWBIRDS+1]

I AM IMPRESSED.

[YLO BRD]

Amazing photos Steve. We were able to see it back in February when we were visiting Gene and Karen, it was awesone. I know the Las Vegas Tbirds will have another memorable time.

[DavidA]

Here's what it looked like in October, 2008 when we were out there for Desert Thunder II.

[yelobird2002]

Wife & I live only 13 miles from the bridge and go out on a regular basis. About the only thing not done now is the guard rails, safety fencing, & lighting. Try to get a current picture next week. Don't want to be anywhere near the dam & bridge today (Sunday) as traffic will be outrageous.

[FritsB]

That is an impressive structure. Always amazes me how they manage to build things like this.

[camodude]

Here is a pic i got in a email awhile back.

[Treken]

I just saw a new Ram Truck commercial on TV and it showed the bridge...

Here is a snapshot...

http://home.cogeco.ca/~trekensteve/bridge.jpg

[yelobird2002]

Took a couple vacation days (today & tomorrow) to make a four day weekend. Hopped in the T-Bird to go take some up to the minute pictures of the by pass bridge at 9:45 a.m. Got to within 4 miles of the dam & bridge and the traffic was at a dead stop. They are doing blasting (road work) on the Arizona side. Electric billboard said up to 2 hour delays, so I turned around and came back. Will try again maybe earlier before the weekends up. It's only a 13 mile drive for me to the bridge & dam.

[Tweetie]

Lon - Have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY on Sat. Tweetie & 007

[yelobird2002]

Made it over to the bridge this morning. Here are some pictures.

[yelobird2002]

A few more;

[4LOWBIRDS+1]

THANKS FOR THOSE PHOTOS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

[yelobird2002]

It seems some have mis-understood the bridge trip. The bridge will be open to foot traffic only. No vehicles will be allowed on the bridge as it does not open to traffic until sometime in November. Parking will be in area of bridge and then shuttles will actually take people to the bridge. It is expected that throughout the day a total of 10,000 people will visit the bridge.



Click on the link for more updated info on what to expect including refreshments, displays, etc.



Lon




http://www.celebratehooverbridge.com/moreinfo.htm

[Treken]

The view is going to be awesome on the bridge. I can see that people will want to walk across...

When the time comes, I am sure there will be some great pictures...

[FritsB]

Great pictures Lon, thanks for sharing. Isn't concrete a wonderful stuff.

[yelobird2002]

This Saturday is the dedication day of the By-Pass Bridge. They have updated the estimated crowd from 10,000 to 20,000.

Cars will be parking at the Lake Mead Marina and then they will shuttle the people to & from the bridge about 5 - 6 miles. They will be using 70 Double Decker buses that they use on the Strip. People will be allowed to walk on the bridge, but no vehicles will be allowed. The bridge will open for vehicle traffic next month.

I will get some pictures of the bridge and the views from the bridge while there and will post some of them afterwards.

[5bird7]

Looking forward to seeing the new pictures. Hope the crowds aren't too thick and you can get the shots you want.

[Ediron]

I hope they give some "at-aboys" to the construction workers who did the work.I've had some reviews in my Ironworker International magazine about the bridge.Usually the architect gets all the recognition and the guys who build it are in the background .One thing with Donald Trump ,he always thanked labor for building for him.

[yelobird2002]

We went from the meeting place to Las Vegas Harbor at Lake Mead and parked our vehicles.

70 of the Double Decker buses were shuttling people to the bridge. On the bridge they had tents and viewing stands to look over the edge better on the west bound side of the highway. The east bound side was empty. On the other side of the west bound retaining wall is about a 4' - 5' wide walking lane. There is just a metal railing there that you can look over with nothing to block your view of the dam.
The buses drove down the new road and to our surprise before we even knew it the buses were crossing Black Canyon on the bridge! We continued on until we got to the Inspection Station on the Arizona side. We then made a u-turn and came back. We were dropped off on the bridge. The buses were going both directions on the east bound side. They made the two east bound lanes temporarly a two way highway.

We walked the entire length of the bridge a couple times. The few of the Dam is a spectacular view one has never seen in person before unless they were in a helicopter.

Will post some pictures later.

[YLO BRD]

Lon, Sounds like a fantastic experience, wish we could have been there. We were amazed watching it being built. Anxious to see your pictures.

[yelobird2002]

Some pictures from bridge event. Of course it is hard to get pictures of the bridge while standing on it.

[yelobird2002]

Few more

[yelobird2002]

Last ones.

[heyjude]

Hi Lon!! We keep track of the progress of the bridge every year when we go to AZ for the winter. We loved seeing the latest pictures - thank you so much for keeping us up to date!! Dennis & Judy

[Southern]

Loved the 3 of 3 in 26! Great, great shot!

[yelobird2002]

Hello Judy. Your next trip the bridge will be open to the public. It is completely finished. Painted, stripped, etc. Just have to clean up the tents, porta pottis, etc. They say it should open before November 1.

[FEsTbird]

Hi Lon--
Was this a special for pedestrian walk across, or will they allow walking all the time? Great pix!!

[yelobird2002]

There is a dedicated walking lane on the side of the bridge facing the dam. Only openings to the pedestrian portion of the bridge are at both ends. So you can walk part way and turn back or walk the entire length. It is totally safe from traffic with the large barrier.

[FUN X 3]

The bridge made the cover of Parade magazine this past Sunday.

[AZTB]

"Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge an American Triumph"
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/10/17/20101017hoover-dam-bypass-bridge-opening.html

"Bridge Finally Complete"
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/10/14/20101014arizona-hoover-dam-bypass-dedication-ON.html

[15AGAIN]

Lon, thanks for keeping us posted on the brdge and the pictures. Looks like you had alarge crowd for the walkathon!!!

[yelobird2002]

It's Officially Open!

The by-pass bridge officially opened to the Public yesterday.