For a third day, tourists can't see the concrete behemoth of the Colorado River along the borders of Arizona and Nevada as the Hoover Dam has been closed since Tuesday, July 28, while maintenance crews address an issue with the dam's cableway system.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which built and operates Hoover Dam, has provided updates to the public on the status of the cableway issue and public access to the dam. It most recently stated that the dam would remain closed July 30, as crews continue to work on the cableway system.
"We appreciate the public's patience and understanding while our teams work through this situation," Genevieve Johnson, Reclamation Lower Colorado Basin acting regional director, said in a statement. "Safety remains
our top priority."
The dam and powerplant are operating normally despite the cableway issue, Johnson added.
Why is the Hoover Dam closed?
Public access to Hoover Dam closed because of an issue with the dam's 150-ton cableway system. The cableway is used to move large equipment and materials across the Colorado River and between the Nevada and Arizona sides of the power plant, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.
While workers were conducting routine maintenance, they noticed the cableway carriage "moved unexpectedly and placed additional stress on system components," the bureau stated.
Visitor access can resume when the cableway carriage is safely repositioned. The bureau has not given an estimate on when the work might finish.
When will the Hoover Dam reopen?
The Bureau of Reclamation's website for Hoover Dam states, "There is currently no estimate for when visitor access will resume. Updates will be shared as more information becomes available."
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Road trip bummer. Why the Hoover Dam is closed and when will it reopen
