Rendering of Selected Bridge Type
Posted on 05/18/2003 12:37:08 PM PDT by chance33_98
Rendering of Selected Bridge Type
Hoover Dam Project Gets International Attention
(May 16) -- The Hoover Dam Bypass Project is gaining international attention. This week, the leaders of major construction companies from across the country, including Europe, are in town in preparation of bidding on the massive project.
The federal government's main man for the job is based in Colorado and spoke exclusively to Eyewitness News. The bypass project is more than just another transportation extension. The new bridge that will be built over the dam will be the largest concrete arch in the western hemisphere and the fourth largest in the world.
The bypass isn't expected to be complete until the fall of 2007, but the first of four parts is already underway. The freeway approach to the new bridge has begun on the Arizona side of the dam. In relative terms, the freeway part of the project may be the easiest. For even the most veteran engineers, constructing this new bridge will be a challenge.
"A bridge of this magnitude, with this level of technical difficulty truly requires a unique skill set," said Dave Zanetell, Hoover Dam project manager. Once complete, it will span 1,900 feet. By any measure it's a world-class bridge.
"One of the largest concrete arches in the world," said Zanetell. He is the Federal Highway Administration's Hoover Dam project manager. "The whole bypass, from beginning to end, is a challenging process," said Zanetell.
So challenging and unique that the government held a meeting in the San Remo Hotel to provide information and explanations to potential project bidders, like Tim Mulle, who says this project is like no other. "A lot of interest on a national level, because it's a signature bridge."
The bypass will be built in four phases. Phase one is underway now with work on the Arizona freeway approach. Phase two will be construction of the Nevada freeway. Phase three, the most difficult, will be the new Colorado bridge and Phase four is the asphalt paving of the entire overpass.
Though there was talk about making the bypass a toll-only road, that idea is now just water under the bridge. "The Hoover Dam bypass will not be a toll facility and it will just simply be a seamless piece of the state transportation system," said Zanetell.
A seamless section of road that will include a second engineering marvel, just 1,500 feet downstream, from the famous Hoover Dam.
That's because you don't live in downstream of the Hoover dam. Right now the highway is directly on top of the dam. A terrorist with a large truck bomb or suitcase nuke could potentially destroy the dam. Not only would this immediately create a flooding danger downstream, but it would also immediately knock out about 2 megawatts of generating capacity from the region.
Well once you drive down to the river level I know of one kind of "floating bridge" all ready in wide spread use - a Ferry! :)
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