Hoover Dam Bypass

Mr. Cactus and I travel frequently between Southern Utah and Arizona.
We rather enjoy the relaxing drive and scenic desert along the way.
Previously, our number one frustration was the traffic jams and delays we experienced as we drove across Hoover Dam.
U.S. Highway 93 is the main route between the two heavily populated cities of Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Since 9/11 each car was required to go through security checks, and the traffic stopped for every pedestrian walking across the road.
Popular tourist site= a lot of stopped cars=a lot of "dam traffic" jokes.

Now that the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge is complete, it's clean sailin' between Nevada and Arizona.

I think it takes maybe a minute now to zip across the bridge.

There is a 1.3 mile sidewalk along the north side of the bridge we have been anxious to trek across.

We arrived late afternoon, just as the sun cast shadows of the spectacular arch across the dam.

Viewing the 900 foot drop to the Colorado river below made my heart go pitter patter, but at the same time I marveled at this man made wonder.

This is now the 7th highest bridge in the world.

The walkway has plaques with statistics to read along the way.

The bridge's construction employed 21,000 workers, and took 8 years to build at a cost of $240 million.

The arch is 1,060 feet across, making it the longest arch in the Western Hemisphere.

Imagine the amount of cement required to build 300 foot pillars.

As you travel across the bridge you not only move from state to state, but also change time zones.

Watching the various phases of construction over the years has been impressive.

Cars are still allowed across Hoover dam, but the road is blocked soon after you cross. If you want to travel to Arizona, you must use the bridge.

We figure we have cut off anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour in our previous commute.

No traffic jams= happy travelers.