LAS VEGAS — The section of U.S. Highway 93 that goes over Hoover Dam reopened Monday following the weekend collapse of two cable cranes being used to construct a new bridge.
That stretch of 93 had been closed since about 3 p.m. Friday when high winds downed 280-foot-tall steel crane towers, which were connected by cables that spanned Black Canyon south of the dam.
Crews on Monday completed removal of debris that was blocking the roadway, clearing the way for it to reopen.
The cause of the collapse remained under investigation.
The bypass bridge project was about at its midpoint. The bridge is expected to open in 2008.
Nevada Department of Transportation spokesman Bob McKenzie said officials decided to wait until both lanes were clear before allowing traffic through.
People are also reading…
Dave Zanetell, a Federal Highway Administration engineer overseeing construction of a bypass bridge at the dam, said the cleanup took a long time because extensive amounts of cable needed to be untangled and individually secured.
"Cable is strewn everywhere," he said.
The road closure also prevented tourists from visiting Hoover Dam.
