the new bridge is great - one way

Drove from PHX to LV last Sunday. Was very impressed with the new bridge by-passing the dam. The road in is excellent - newly paved, 2 lanes, divided. 65 MPH (lol) to the bridge, then 55, then down to 45 as you merge back onto the old highway, near the Hacienda. Mostly two lanes into Boulder City. Kingman to Boulder City was just a hair over an hour. Tremendous time savings.

The bad news is for those heading out of town, either to AZ and points east, or to the lake or to tour the dam. It is basically one lane from BC to the dam. I know it was the last day of a holiday weekend, so lots of folks were heading home. Many others heading for the dam (can't get there any longer from the AZ side, I think.)

The back-up was not only to BC, but within a mile of the turn-off to 95 (Searchlight, Laughlin, Needles.) Previously, the bad delay was only about at the curve before the Hacienda, and was over an hour. I can only imagine what it will be like when the weather warms up and a ton of people are heading for the lake! It may be a little better without the security checkpoints, and the fact that lanes increase (and traffic decreases) once you make it to the bridge.

At least I can get into town a lot easier - and begin losing my money sooner!

The only short-term remedy I can see is making the road in one lane from the Hacienda to BC, and having two lanes all the way to the bridge. May help a little. Probably take quite a while to expand the roadway.

Al

My wife & I drove out to see the new bridge last Sunday (12-26-10) from Las Vegas and were in traffic for and hour. The back up I estimate to be 5 miles or more.

The second problem we encountered was we missed the exit sign that sends you to the bridge instead of the dam. When we got to the dam others were complaing that they missed it too. When we got to the Hasienda casino on the way back, the black jack dealor (a local) told me that the sign isnt up yet!!!and of coarse our 2 year old GPS wasnt much help as it doesnt have the new road or bridge on it!

I have been to hoover Dam 4 times now over the span of 15 years, and I have never seen anywhere near the amount of people that I saw this trip. A guid said they are setting attendance records since the bridge went up.

Watching the nightly news, they had the mayor of BC on and he was complaing to the State DOT to try to help fix the problem, then they put on another local who said, between 12 and 4:00PM weekdays was the worst and Sundays seem to be the very worst.

So,leave early and watch for road signs (that might not be there yet)

Hope this helps weggie

Thanks for all the time information. We're going out in a week and wanted to drive out and see the new bridge. Good thing we're morning people!!!

Hoo! I think we'll hold off for a while.

As I drove over the bridge around 4 pm (Nevada time) on Dec 18, I glanced to my right to see if there was a view. Although it was cold, cloudy and drizzly, the pedestrian walkway was packed with people. Last year early afternoon on Dec. 29, the dam was packed with tourists, many from other countries.