Here is a link about the Hoover Dam Bypass
http://www.hooverdambypass.org/
pchas…That’s a great bit of info on the new dam bypass…! I wondered what bridge was being discussed and now understand what is happening…Wow, what a project…! I’m rather familiar with that area as it was 30 years ago and who would have thought a bridge project would eventually be done as it is now…The route {93}, was redone right on the Az side as it goes up the hill in the time frame that I worked in the Kingman, Az area {30 plus yrs. ago}, and now it’s being done all over and even more than anyone would dream off…That will be an interesting project. By the way, one can see the railroad to the dam in the website picture I have been talking about above…Look closely, and the ROW can be seen as it heads from the dam back up towards Boulder City…Great info.
Glad to oblige! It helps being a road geek in addition to being a train geek! [:D]
Pchas…I have had a little time now to look at some of your web site on all the bridge construction…and all I can say is WOW…!! I put it in my Favorites and hope we can keep track of the progress…Anyone who has not seen that terrain can’t imagine what magnitude of a project that has to be…I hope you have been able to pick out the old rail line that went to the Dam site original construction…Note the loop right above the Dam site on the Nv. side and the 2 or 3 tunnels along the way as it works it’s way back towards Boulder City…
Sooooooo…which side is Nevada??? And it looks like I could see what may be a RR grade on each side.
kenneo…The left side of the photo is the NV side…Look at the *** of the dam and then come down a bit on the photo from that…{on the left side}, and note a circle about an inch in diameter…I say that is the end of the Construction RR that came out from Vegas while constructing the dam…Then follow the ROW down in the pic to see it work it’s way back towards Boulder City.
Ouentin- Yeah, I was able to find the old ROW you described. It took a bit of searching, so no wonder I didn’t notice it when I was out there.
Pchas-Thanks for the link. I was out there in October and just amazed by how far along the project is. As Quentin was saying it is hard to understand unless you are familiar with the terrain, and if you are familiar with the terrain it is even more impressive. I got to say I’m most interested in the pedestrian walkway the bridge is to have. That should be one impressive view!
Mike
…I see on that great web site provided by pchas, there seems to be a web cam that will show us the progress…I haven’t seen that yet…I hope it is a fact and in working order. I can’t imagaine a bridge being built across that chasm…It is awesome…! In fact, the reality of a bridge being built across there to bypass the road across the top of the dam in itself is way out there too…If someone would have related that to me 30 plus years ago when I crossed that area quite often…I’d have thought it would be just a pipe dream. That is rugged territory to say the least.
Mike…10-4 on you finding that loop at the dam and some of the ROW…Back farther from the dam and down near the water’s edge I believe the ROW would be plainly visible still…and perhaps a tunnel or two…
I have been wondering the same thing, But isn’t most of 95 on the right of way?
Keep in mind that there was probably more rail that got flooded then not. There were a few different branches. One went to a gravel pit down where the river originaly was. Then there was one to the mixing plant at the top (with tunnels). And another that I think went to the bottom of the dam. David Myrik’s book Railroads of Nevada and Eastern California has excelent coverage of the subject.
Chad…I’d say the one to the mixing plant on top…If I follow you correctly is the one that leads back towards Boulder City and has tunnels and then up grade and around a big horseshoe curve and then in a westernly direction and skirted Boulder City and then across Railroad Pass…{across hwy. 93}, and on down passed Hennderson and then on to the area of Vegas and the main line of the UP…