First phase begins for new river bridge

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002 | 9:47 a.m.

National and local politicians and highway officials joined hands Monday to launch the first major phase of construction of the Hoover Dam bypass bridge.

The political and bureaucratic heavyweights also used the "Hoover Dam bypass celebration" to call for a united front to bring in the $108 million still needed for the $234 million bridge project.

The four-lane bridge would span the Colorado River a quarter-mile south of the dam, replacing the narrow two-lane road that snakes across Hoover Dam and serves as the primary connection between Arizona and Southern Nevada.

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska and chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said the need for the bridge became obvious after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"It goes beyond just Arizona and Nevada. This is a national issue," Young said. "This is a project that helps everybody in this nation."

Young said the bypass was needed not only for security reasons, but also to keep the national economy competitive. Young and other speakers noted the importance of the new bridge, scheduled for completion in 2007, to the planned Canamex trade corridor -- a series of highways stretching from Mexico, through the United States and on to Canada.

The Canamex corridor "really has been one of the biggest goals of my administration," Arizona Gov. Jane Hull said, "but we need this bridge to do it."

Federal Highway Administration chief Mary Peters, a native Arizonan and member of the Bush administration, promised President Bush's support for the project and the funding necessary to complete the work.

"Bush looks forward to cutting the ribbon" and opening the bridge, she said.

Joining the chorus of support were fellow Republicans Gov. Kenny Guinn, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Rep. Jim Gibbons and Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl.

Democrats at the celebration included Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Shelley Berkley.

Government officials at the event included Mary Peters, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration; Jacob Snow, Regional Transportation Commission general manager; Tom Stephens, Nevada Department of Transportation director; and Victor Mendez, Arizona Department of Transportation director.

The gathering represented many of the governments and agencies directly participating in the project. Both Arizona and Nevada have contributed $20 million each to the effort, with the remainder coming from the federal government.

The timing of the event, held on the dam above the Colorado River, specifically marked the beginning of the first of five phases in the project: moving the huge electrical utility infrastructure that now is in the path of the planned bridge.

"We're here to mark a major milestone in the process," said Dave Zanetell, project manager for the Federal Highway Administration.

Construction work started last spring, but until now has largely been restricted to preliminary engineering work. Moving the utility lines and power switchyards, part of the $9.6 million utility diversion, will be a much more visible phase of construction.

Construction will continue on the Arizona side of the river in January 2003, when the eastern approach to the concrete and steel bridge will be built. Construction on the Arizona side could be complete by the end of 2004.

Construction on the Nevada side approach will begin in late 2003 and end in 2006. Construction of the bridge itself, which would use 259 million pounds of concrete and steel, is planned to begin next year and finish up in late 2006.

Several months of paving and roadwork would allow the bridge to open for traffic in mid-2007.