Hoover Dam, the dam on the Colorado River nestled on the border of Southern Nevada and Arizona, reopened for visitation on Friday, July 31, following a successful repair of the dam's cableway system.
The Bureau of Reclamation, which operates and manages the Hoover Dam, said it closed the dam for the last week of July after a "cableway carriage moved unexpectedly, placing stress on system components and prompting crews to secure the area as a precaution. To ensure public safety, visitor access was closed Monday, July 27, while inspections continued."
“We appreciate everyone’s patience while our teams worked to protect visitor safety and resolve this issue,” said Reclamation Lower Colorado Basin Acting Regional Director Genevieve Johnson. “Safety
is always our top priority. Securing the area allowed us to thoroughly assess the situation and complete the necessary repairs while keeping the public and our crews safe.”
Here's a closer look at details surrounding the Hoover Dam visitation closure.
Why was Hoover Dam closed?
The Bureau of Reclamation closed Hoover Dam from July 27 to July 30 to visitation in order to ensure visitor safety while crews worked on the cableway system.
According tothe Bureau of Reclamation, the 150-ton cableway system "is used to move large equipment and materials across the river and between the Nevada and Arizona sides of the powerplant. During routine maintenance, the cableway carriage moved unexpectedly and placed additional stress on system components."
On July 29, a specialty contractor was scheduled to assess the equipment. After the evaluation was completed and the cableway carriage was safely repositioned, visitor access to Hoover Dam reopened on July 31.
When will the Hoover Dam reopen?
Hoover Dam reopened to visitation on July 31, 2026, the Bureau of Reclamation said.
Who owns the Hoover Dam?
The United States government owns Hoover Dam; more specifically, the Bureau of Reclamation operates and manages the dam.
What river is blocked by the Hoover Dam?
The Colorado River is blocked by the Hoover Dam.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hoover Dam reopens July 31. See detail about the Nevada closure
