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Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
The nearly complete Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge section of the Hoover Dam Bypass Project is seen just south of the Hoover Dam on Aug. 19, 2010.
By Kyle B. Hansen (contact) 
Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010 | 1:31 p.m.
Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge
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Crews are near completion of the Hoover Dam bypass bridge which opens to traffic in November.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will dedicate the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge next week, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced today.
The bridge is the centerpiece of the $240 million Hoover Dam Bypass Project to improve traffic flow between Las Vegas and Phoenix on U.S. 93.
The bridge will be dedicated at a 10 a.m. Thursday ceremony on the observation deck of the Hoover Dam Visitor’s Center, officials said.
In addition to LaHood, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, U.S. Rep. Dina Titus and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer are expected to attend the dedication, along with family members of O’Callaghan and Tillman.
The bypass bridge is the longest single-span concrete arch bridge in the western hemisphere and is believed to be the second highest bridge in the nation.
Also, members of the public have been invited to walk on the bridge Oct. 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The bridge will open to vehicle traffic in the following weeks.
The first use of the bridge will be Saturday, with participants in the Regional Transportation Commission’s Viva Bike Vegas event. Riders in the 115-mile route will ride across the bridge and back.
While in Las Vegas, LaHood is also expected to speak Wednesday evening at the opening reception of a high-speed rail conference at Vdara. The conference is sponsored by the Western High Speed Rail Alliance, which hopes to build a high-speed rail network in the region.
Sun archives
- Construction on Hoover Dam bypass bridge quickly coming to a close (8-19-2010)
- Bicyclists set to be first to cross Hoover Dam bypass bridge (5-22-2010)
- Officials reach milestone on Hoover Dam bypass (5-20-2010)
- Bridge is part journey and part destination (8-14-2010)
- Hoover Dam bypass bridge inches toward completion (8-1-2009)
- Hoover Dam bypass bridge yields new approach for big rigs (6-15-2009)
- New bridge may require more emergency services (5-22-2009)
- Worker dies at Hoover Dam bypass bridge project (11-25-2008)
But government is BAD, government can't do anything, but but but
I'm scared silly of heights, but I think I'm going to walk this!
Construction Job Well Done! Vegas should have promoted this event a lot more then they ever did. Most people in surrounding states don't even know about it, what a shame. This is the kind of thing that can help our city, of course people need to know about it first.
MG,
Not sure who you been talking to but I have had friends from Fl., MO. and LA. all send me stories from their local papers about this bridge.
I guess people that READ in other states do know about it.
Engineering marvel. Beautiful.
It will increase tourism once people are aware it. Beautiful bridge. Look forward to walking across it.
Will 'walkers' be allowed on the bridge at all times [once it is open, of course] or just this one day?
Great construction work done. Congrats.
I intend to use that bridge exactly the way for which it has been built so far. Juts to cut short the extra round all along Hoover Dam. Imho this shortcut bridge is not that kind of "walk-in-the-park-and-talk" place. That's why I am only going to use it when going by car.
This magnificant achievement will hopefully speed up business travels and transport businesses of all kind.
Is it open to the public? - the bridge website says no more rsvp implying you can not walk it.