Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Bicyclists set to be first to cross Hoover Dam bypass bridge

Dam Bypass Bridge

Leila Navidi

Tourists walk on the sidewalk along the Hoover Dam, with construction of the dam bypass bridge seen in the background Friday, Feb. 26, 2010.

The first vehicles to use the new Hoover Dam bypass bridge likely won’t be cars.

The Regional Transportation Commission has arranged access to the bridge for bicyclists participating in the commission’s annual Viva Bike Vegas event.

The bike event’s 110-mile course will go across the bridge, and possibly have a rest stop there for cyclists to take a break, get some water and maybe a few souvenir photos.

The bridge is scheduled to open in November, more than a month after the Oct. 9 bike event.

RTC General Manager Jacob Snow announced the opportunity to use the bridge during the RTC’s board meeting Thursday.

“We think this will make the attendance record-breaking,” Snow said.

Last year, about 900 people participated in the bike event, about 100 more than in 2008, the first year the RTC took over the annual bike tours.

Snow said he expects more than 1,000 people to sign up for this year’s event.

Susan Martinovich, the director of the Nevada Department of Transportation, helped arrange the access to the bridge after participating in the event last year, Snow said.

This year’s event will include 110-mile, 50-mile and 23-mile courses.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Nevada Cancer Institute and the Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars. The event helps encourage people to use alternative methods of transportation, the RTC says.

The cost to participate in the 110-mile or the 50-mile ride is $75 until Aug. 4, when it jumps to $85.

The 23-mile ride costs $65 until Aug. 4, and then $75 until the day before the race.

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