Sunday, October 24, 2010

Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

I have driven across the top of the Hover Dam in Colorado on journeys to and from Arizona a few times, and I must say it was a rather um! interesting drive. The road is very narrow with some rather tight curves to navigate, especially if a semi-truck, large RV or some other vehicle was coming from the opposite direction.
Although the view is stunning, what you could see of it while trying to keep your eyes on the road ahead, you can now bypass the view from the top of the Hoover dam, by driving an alternative route across the newly constructed Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.
The Federal Highway Administration, in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), officially opened the new segment of US 93, formally known as the Hoover Dam Bypass. Traffic began flowing on Tuesday night, October 19, 2010. Click HERE for more interesting information.

The new Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Spans the Colorado river's Black canyon, with the Hoover dam with it's narrow winding road leading up to, across and over the other side just 1500 feet away.

What an amazing feat of engineering construction, and a beautiful work of art to boot.

Most arch bridges are cast elsewhere, but this one was built here, 900 feet above the river.

The cost of the project was $240 million, took five years to construct by about 1500 workers.

An absolutely fabulous sight.

1 comment:

Gail Wilson said...

That is quite a bridge isn't it! Great pictures too. Love you, Gail