There has been so much talk about the new bridge at Hoover dam that we decided to check it out.
• The highest and longest arched concrete bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
• The second-highest bridge of any kind in the United States and 14th in the world.
• The world's tallest concrete columns of their kind.
I knew who Pat Tillman was, a former football player for the Arizona Cardinals killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan. I had to Google to find out who O'Callaghan was; a Korean War veteran and two term governor of Nevada.
Thus it is named for people from each of the two states hosting the bridge.
9-11. Since highway 93 crossed over the dam it was feared terrorists might try to blow it up, so prior to the completion of the bridge in October 2010 commercial traffic had to make a 75 mile detour and private vehicles had to pass a security checkpoint. Now this bottleneck to traffic on highway 93 has been eliminated.
The checkpoint is still there, private vehicles can cross the bridge to park and visit the dam. There was a long line at the checkpoint when we were there.
You can find more bridges at Sunday Bridges, hosted by Louis at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.
8 comments:
Wow! That's some bridge!! I'd still be scared to go over it..LOL Nice photos Martha!!
Great pics, and good information. I didn't know it's official name and why it was so named.
We were there over six years ago, when it was under construction, and we drove over the dam.
When you think of the work involved. My. I have decided to do a post on bridges. Realized how many photos I have of them!!!
Cheers from S.E. Ontario Cottage Country!
I do know who Pat Tillman was, but not the other man. Thanks for the very interesting information regarding the bridge and its history. 9/ll understandably left such a mark on the history of this country. Marvelous captures and a great post for the day as always, Martha! Hope you have a wonderful week!
Sylvia
Hubby and I have GOT to get up there sometime! Thanks for posting your photos and the info.
Interesting facts about the bridge. It's an impressive structure.
We hadn't heard of this (been away from Western news for too long)...good to hear the history (I was wondering who the 'other' person it was named for was.)
Wonderful history and of course so interesting to see the changes in an area we've visited in prior years.
Very interesting. Very attractive bridge.
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