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Vehicles travel toward Henderson on U.S. 93 near Veterans Memorial Drive in Boulder City on Friday, Feb. 25, 2011.
By Kyle B. Hansen (contact) 
, Dylan Scott
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Dedication of Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge
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The Hoover Dam bypass bridge is officially completed. Federal and state dignitaries from Nevada and Arizona dedicated the 1,900-foot-long bridge Thursday, October 14, 2010.
Roger Tobler
Boulder City
Home News
Sun archives
- NDOT accelerates plan to widen U.S. 93 near Hoover Dam bypass bridge (2-12-2011)
- Boulder City gets backing over bridge traffic complaints (12-29-2010)
- Hoover Dam bypass bridge opens to traffic (10-20-2010)
- Bridging America event draws thousands (10-16-2010)
- Hoover Dam bypass bridge gets warm welcome at dedication (10-14-2010)
- Bicyclists get early glimpse of Hoover Dam bypass bridge (10-9-10)
- 2,000 bicyclists expected for Las Vegas fundraiser (10-8-10)
- Hoover Dam bypass bridge dedication planned next week (10-7-2010)
- 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)
Authorities banned truck traffic on Hoover Dam after the 9/11 attacks, and the federal government hustled to build the pricey and photogenic Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.
Trucks are able to take the bridge over the Colorado River as they head to Las Vegas, avoiding frustrating detours through Bullhead City, Ariz., and saving time and fuel costs.
But just four months after the bridge opened, Boulder City officials want it closed to trucks because their town can’t handle the traffic. The Nevada Transportation Department has announced it will widen U.S. 93 through Boulder City to address the traffic jams, but until that day comes, the city wants the trucks to return to Bullhead City, 80 miles south.
Bullhead City officials’ response: Uh-uh. No way, buddy. We took the traffic hit for years, and we’re done being nice.
Enter the federal government, where all heads are turning for a solution.
The Federal Highway Administration is stuck in the middle as Boulder City and Bullhead City — with the Nevada and Arizona transportation departments backing their respective residents — plead their cases over the heavy truck traffic on U.S. 93.
The plan was always to bring trucks across the bridge and through Boulder City when coming to Las Vegas. In preparation for the bridge’s opening, Arizona has spent almost $500 million widening parts of U.S. 93 to four lanes.
On Nevada’s side, though, little work was done. Transportation officials hoped to find state and federal money for the Boulder City bypass, which would take truck traffic around the city, but that project could be decades away because of Nevada’s tight finances.
U.S. 93 narrows to two lanes within Boulder City, and hundreds of trucks are pouring through the city each day since the bypass bridge opened in late October.
Last month, the Nevada Transportation Department announced plans to widen U.S. 93 to four lanes in Boulder City — a $10 million to $15 million project with a tentative completion date of Thanksgiving. Boulder City Mayor Roger Tobler has insisted truck traffic be rerouted through Bullhead City and Laughlin again until the widening of U.S. 93 is done.
Bullhead City Mayor Jack Hakim approached his state’s Transportation Department during a meeting two weeks ago, asking members to oppose re-establishing the detour through his city. Although trucks took that route after 9/11, Hakim said six accidents occurred involving commercial rigs, two of which closed Laughlin Bridge for nearly 12 hours. None was fatal.
Hakim showed pictures of those accidents to officials. He said he sympathizes with Boulder City’s problem, but that doesn’t mean he’s willing to risk the further traffic influx.
“Something should have been done … That bridge was built for that specific purpose, to handle the traffic — what was it for then?” he said. “You start bringing these trucks here again, it’s going to be a nightmare.”
Tobler has criticized the state and federal agencies for lack of preparation before the bridge opened. In September, the Boulder City Council approved a symbolic ordinance, urging federal transportation authorities to remove U.S. 93 from the official Canada-to-Mexico trucking route.
Tobler also said he doesn’t blame Hakim for standing up for his constituents, but the Boulder City mayor “can’t give him what he wants.”
“It doesn’t shut their city down like it does ours with this traffic. It comes right through the heart of our town,” Tobler said.
U.S. 93 is a major corridor for visitors flowing into the Las Vegas Valley from the east. According to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, drivers from Arizona account for 9 percent of all guests and more than $1 billion in annual spending.
Traffic on U.S. 95 in Searchlight — the former route — was down 23 percent in January compared with January 2010, according to the Nevada Transportation Department. Volume on U.S. 93 between Boulder City and Hoover Dam increased 32 percent, more than 3,000 extra vehicles a day, this January compared with last.
Sen. Harry Reid sent a letter in October to Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez asking him to “find a solution to accommodate the needs of Boulder City as well as the freight industry.”
Doug Hecox, a spokesman for the highway administration, said he couldn’t comment on the specifics of the U.S. 93 situation until his agency receives an application asking for the detour.
Jacob Snow, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission, said he would forward the application to the department within 30 days.
Timothy Tait, assistant communications director for the Arizona Transportation Department, said the agency “shares concerns” with Bullhead City about rerouting traffic. He declined to comment further.
Nevada Transportation Director Susan Martinovich said she isn’t sure how successful its application would be. She’ll see her Arizona counterpart, John Halikowski, this week at a meeting in Washington and said the two would “look at what is the best approach” for both cities and states.
When Nevada announced its plan to widen U.S. 93 in Boulder City, officials said they would use only state funding to add four lanes where traffic bottlenecks near Buchanan Boulevard. Tobler has said that widening the road is only a temporary solution until funding can be found for the Boulder City bypass.
That plan has been incorporated into the Interstate 11 project, which would connect Las Vegas and Phoenix. Officials have said funding for I-11, likely in the billions of dollars, won’t be available for years.
Work on widening U.S. 93 could make traffic worse in Boulder City, making the detour for truck traffic even more important, Tobler said.
“We can’t have the trucks coming through while we’re doing this kind of construction,” he said.
Leave it to the big boys to argue over irrelivant points. They didnt even do the resaerch as to why the roads are always backed up down to the state line. fact is the problem is not getting to the bridge, its getting to the dam. the dam visitors are so excessive they back up into the the regular traffic flow. No one wants to take resposiblilty to close the road to the dam to keep traffic from stopping. furthermore the speed limits in the area are completely daft, as if all must suffer so noone can use the new bridge.
Nevada really blew this one. Everyone else widened their roads and we sat on our hands.
This is just another case of crumbling infrastructure due to tax cuts for the rich.
Yet the rich get all the benefits and money from the economy.
It is time to start taxing rich people again.
Kingman probably doesn't mind the trucks. I haven't seen much of a back-up in Boulder City.
Boulder City should stop crying like a baby and adapt.....seriously, it's bringing business through the city. Time to grow up from the 1930's.
Why not route trucks through Lake Mead?
Why not have electronic signs at the Railroad pass and in Kingman showing what the wait time is in Boulder saying best route?
NV didn't prepare so NV should face the consequences of their inaction. Here is hoping this makes national news so that they can all see how inept planning and spending in NV has caused so many issues in this state.
Interesting, Arizona was able to complete its side of the project but Nevada can't?
What happened to all the stimulus money? I thought it was for projects like this. It certainly would employ some Nevadans out of job presently. Use the stimulus bucks for the Bypass.
I've been thru Boulder a few times recently at around 2pm. The place is crawling with 18 wheelers. Terrible. Feel for the residents. If something immediate can't be done, they better start planning a solution now.
This doesn't even touch on the costs to transportation companies, both in time and fuel, to have to be re-routed through Kingman. People who constantly object to big rigs might want take a look around their homes--truckers have a saying: "If you bought it, a truck brought it."
This is nothing but a failure of planning by Nevada Politicians - during the Best Economy Ever.
Now that things are much worse, they go hat in hand to the Federal Government for help in solving their incompetence. Tough Luck ! Driving from Phoenix to Las Vegas with Three Hour Backups at the bridge will convince drivers that going to Las Vegas is not worth the effort. Just as drivers from LA are getting disgusted with ten hour return trips. With rising airfares and incredible congestion coming in and out of LV it seems like the politicians have put a moat around the city and said visitors are not welcome.
Boulder City has always felt entitled to do as they please so this should come as no surprise to anyone. It is time for Boulder City to step up and accept some of the responsibility for a change.
I have to agree, I work in BC during very typical business hours and the traffic really isn't that bad, especially when you compare it to a vegas/hendo rush hour? PLEASE. Although around the holidays it was a nightmare. But otherwise, yes, I would have to imagine it brings more biz/revenue into BC gas stations and restaurants which is important considering that there are many newer restaurants now in BC that probably popped up during the good times, they should want any help they can get staying afloat during the current recession.
This is such an easy problem to resolve. Either build a bypass on a fast track basis or suffer the consequenses. End of discussion.
Why not route them thru Industrial Rd it would take the trucks further away from the center of town
gnelson, don't kid yourself - the only ones it will employ will be the illegals irregardless of where they live. I guarantee the only faces you'll see working on the widening project will be the color brown and you won't be able to stop and say 'hi' cuz they won't know what the heck you just said.
What the Truck is going on here?!
Now Boulder City speaks up? For the past decade while the new bridge was being built, what did they THINK was going to happen? And what are they thinking now? That a hugely expensive bridge was built only to NOT be available for trucks? I have no sympathy for BC on this one. Get used to it and enjoy the truckers' spending at your businesses.
Hey tcrawford, try this one on, America already spends too much on both entitlements for the non working poor AND in a lack of taxes for the rich...and who foots the bill? the working but rapidly disappearing middle class which includes our military. The backbone of this country, your economy, and your freedom.
You're welcome.
"When Nevada announced its plan to widen U.S. 93 in Boulder City, officials said they would use only state funding to add four lanes where traffic bottlenecks near Buchanan Boulevard."
Ah-ha! This time it is obviously President Buchanan's fault!
I suspect that Senator Harry Reid wanted the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge rushed to completion during his reelection campaign, so he could look like its benefactor. It was too soon, as this article shows.
The bypass around Boulder City should have been completed concurrently with the completion of the bridge. So far, the bypass isn't even funded. Therefore this is also another example of the absence of traffic engineering in Balkanized Clark County, Nevada.
Note also that this bridge is part of the NAFTA Highway system being built to allow free running of Mexican trucks from the deep-water Chinese Cargo Ship Port of Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan, Mexico, through Mexico City, Las Vegas, NV, Salt Lake City, UT, Canada, and on to Alaska.
The intent of the NAFTA highway system is to facilitate the merger of the United States with Mexico and with Canada, under the semi-covertly evolving North American Union.
This fits in with the illegal alien invasion of the United States, for the purpose of a demographically alloying of the US population with the Mexican population prior to
the comfortable merger of the North American nations.
For all the newbies in Nevada. Lets take it back 20 years ago when the bridge was put in thought. It was not supposed to be where it is now. Who bitched Boulder City. So now kets take it back 9 years. They wanted to route around Boulder City who bitched Boulder City. They said and I quote our city will dry up if you make a bypass to the bridge. Well my solution. Move you got what you wanted why should more tax dollars make you happy when you had the choice before.
When the bypass is built, then the locals (businesses) will be complaining about the loss to business (restaurants, fuel stations, etc.) along the current route.
When highway 58 was completed a few years back to bypass Mojave, California, business at the truck stops, restaurants and motels in town dropped by 80% in some cases. Many closed. A similar thing happened along the old route through Barstow when the freeway was connected from Lenwood to I-15. Of course, on the good side, those freeways have cut 15-30 minutes off of the Bakersfield to L.V. run.
I really do think the traffic planners in Nevada dropped the ball on this one. It should have been funded when the Feds were giving highway (pork) money out like crazy 5 or 6 years ago. There are currently 2 major projects (a new freeway and a 2 lane highway being widened to 4) being built in Bakersfield right now, paid for with those dollars. I know it's taxpayer pork, but why didn't Uncle Harry or Uncle Ensign work to include this project? Maybe all of the NV money in this bill went to the never ending I-15 reconstruction projects. This is the same pork bill that had the famous road to nowhere in Alaska on it.
I'm not suggesting pork is good, far from it, that's part of why we have the deficit now, but if the money was offered up, they should have applied.
The planning for the Hoover Dam Bypass began more than 20-years ago. I know, I was there. As the new bridge became more of a reality than a pipe dream, both ADOT and NDOT began the process of how to deal with the connecting pieces. The Arizona side is complete and open to traffic. In the same time frame, Nevada prepared an EIS (to qualify for federal funding) with as many as 3-build alternatives but chose not to move forward. Now after the outlay of one billion dollars for the new bypass and the improvements on the AZ side, the NV brainiacs want a do-over. As one who worked on these projects, and more importantly, as a taxpayer, I would hope that the leadership in AZ and at the Federal Highway Administration can see that what is happening in NV is nothing more than whinning and poor planning.
This is the reason 57 percent of Boulder City votes did not choose Reid last November.... So do you think he's going to be any help now???
Boulder City needs to realize its not the trucks.I have watched the highway for an hour on a busy sunday,and saw three trucks.Stop pointion the blame at trucks whan it is a problem that was created ny Boulder City.Before 9/11 happened I drove a truck across Hoover Dam four times a week,and never had a issue,no delay or anything.So,Boulder City this is a problem you have created somewhere,Not Bullhead City or TRUCKS!!!!