Crossing Hoover Dam: A Traveler's Guide …

                       Crossing Hoover Dam: A Traveler's Guide

Crossing Hoover Dam on U.S. Highway 93 has some restrictions for travelers, including commercial
bus and truck drivers. Presently, all vehicles that cross the dam are subject to inspection by officers at
security checkpoints on each side of the dam. To help understand the restrictions and potential impacts
to your travels, here are some guidelines to help you on your way:

What vehicles CAN cross the dam?

       ·   All passenger vehicles with a cargo capacity of one-ton or less, including:
                     automobiles
                     light trucks (including pickups with covered beds)
                     dual-wheel rear-axle vehicles
                     vans
                     sport utility vehicles
                     motorcycles

       ·   Semi-truck "bob-tails" without trailers

       ·   Commercial buses WITHOUT luggage
               NOTE: All buses will be inspected, including a walk-through of the bus passenger area;
       carry-ons such as small backpacks are okay.

       ·   Recreational vehicles and motorhomes

       ·   Vehicles towing camper-type or other small trailers, personal watercraft or boats, 5th wheel
           trailers, or non-commercial livestock trailers

       ·    Rental trucks (such as U-Haul/Ryder-type) ­ see size restrictions below
                NOTE: These vehicles and their contents will be inspected thoroughly ­ also, at the
       discretion of the inspecting officer, a walkable "aisle" must be available inside the cargo area for
       a front to back inspection of contents.

       ·   Tow trucks with 10 wheels or less towing no more than 2 vehicles

       ·   Military convoys ­ with prior approval from Hoover Dam Police (call: 702-494-2312)

       ·   Commercial trucks with permits (see permit section for more information)

What vehicles CANNOT cross Hoover Dam?

       ·   All commercial semi-trucks (18-wheelers), including those with empty flatbed trailers
               NOTE: Commercial trucks with permits are allowed ­ see permit section for more info

       ·   Commercial buses WITH luggage

       ·   Enclosed box trucks, moving vans, and/or racecar-type boxed vehicle/equipment transport
           trailers longer than 40 feet
What vehicles CANNOT cross Hoover Dam? (continued)

       ·   Double-stacked trailers

       ·   Vehicles with cargo that cannot be inspected

       ·   Vehicles carrying hazardous, combustible or flammable materials (other than the vehicle's
           fuel), munitions, explosives, fertilizer in excess of 40 lbs., fuel in authorized containers (gas
           cans, fuel drums, etc.) in excess of 25 gallons, or any material perceived to be a security risk.

Please remember, these are only guidelines...inspecting officers at Hoover Dam may use their
professional discretion in permitting a vehicle to cross or not.


Hoover Dam Inspection Checkpoints
What is their purpose?
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the checkpoints were established to provide security control
by restricting certain vehicles from crossing the dam.

Where are they?
The checkpoints are located on U.S. Highway 93 one mile north of the dam in Nevada, and 9 miles
south of the dam in Arizona.

Who must stop at them?
All motorists who wish to drive across Hoover Dam must stop for inspection at the request of security
personnel.

Who staffs them?
The checkpoints are staffed by Bureau of Reclamation Police Officers and contracted security personnel
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


Hoover Dam Vehicle Inspection Tips

Will my vehicle be inspected?
Any vehicle may be fully inspected before it is allowed to pass through the checkpoint and cross the
dam. Certain types of vehicles (RVs, rental trucks, etc.) will always be inspected.

What areas of my vehicle will be inspected?
Vehicle passenger areas, trunks, cargo areas, engine compartments, undercarriages, and cargo holds may
be searched, as well as any closed or locked containers. Also, bus cargo-bays, the covered beds of
pickups, and pop-up trailer interiors will all be inspected.

Will an officer open or remove any cargo from my vehicle?
No. Vehicle operators or passengers will be responsible for removing any cargo coverings and for
opening doors, compartments, cabinets, boxes, and crates, as well as repacking removed items.

What if I don't want my vehicle inspected?
If a driver does not wish to have the vehicle inspected, or if the vehicle cannot be fully inspected, it will
not be allowed through the checkpoint. See alternate routes below.
Can I carry weapons in my vehicle across Hoover Dam?
Yes, as long as their transport complies with state and federal standards, i.e. guns must be unloaded and
in compliance with concealment laws. Also, no more than 1000 rounds of ammunition may be
transported across the dam.

What are the alternate routes around Hoover Dam?
Motorists can use U.S. Highway 95 and State Routes 163/68 through Laughlin, Nevada, and Bullhead
City, Arizona, to cross the Colorado River to the south; this route adds about 23 miles to travel.
Another alternate route further to the south is Interstate 40, which intersects with Highway 95 near
Needles, California.


Hoover Dam Commercial Vehicle Permits

Who can get a permit?
Permits are issued to commercial trucks belonging to local businesses operating within a 75-mile radius
of Hoover Dam. The items they transport must be easy to inspect. Permits will not be issued to trucks
with box-type trailers/containers.

How do I get a permit?
Contact the Hoover Dam Police at (702) 494-2312 or (702) 494-2532 to request a permit application.
A form will be faxed to the local business owner listing the needed information including:

       ·   Name of the business owner
       ·   Nature of the business
       ·   Anticipated number of trips over the dam per week or month
       ·   Nature of cargo
       ·   Cargo departure/destination locations
       ·   Photocopies of drivers licenses
       ·   Photocopies of all vehicle registration documents

Upon completion, the application should be mailed to the Hoover Dam Police:

       Regular Mail:                                  FEDEX/overnight:

       Bureau of Reclamation                          Bureau of Reclamation
       Lower Colorado Dams Office                     Hoover Dam
       ATTN: Hoover Dam Police Department             ATTN: Hoover Dam Police Department
       PO Box 60400                                   Central Warehouse 2
       Boulder City NV 89006                          U.S. Highway 93
                                                      Boulder City NV 89005
                                                      Phone: (702) 494-2312

How long does processing take?
About 5 work days upon receipt.

When do I have to renew?
Permits may be issued for up to periods of one year; however, all expiration dates will coincide with the
date the permit was issued from the Hoover Dam Police Department.
What is the cost?
An annual permit is $500 (can be paid in quarterly installments).
Ten one-way (or five round) trips are $50.


Travel Tips

What are the best times to cross the dam?
Before 10 a.m. and after 3 p.m. (Pacific Time).

What are the worst times to cross the dam?
Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. as visitation to the site is typically highest during that timeframe. Also,
traffic across the dam during holidays and weekends can be extremely heavy with long delays on the
roadways to the site. The busiest seasons at Hoover Dam are the summer months from Memorial Day
until Labor Day, and during Spring Break in late March/early April.

Can I stop my vehicle on top of the dam?
No. Stopping any vehicle on top of the dam is prohibited, and pedestrians are prohibited from the top of
the dam during hours of darkness. You can stop at the parking lots and roadway turnouts on each side
of the dam.


Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge

Where can I get information about the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge?
Visit the Federal Highway Administration's web site at: www.hooverdambypass.org .

When is the bridge supposed to be completed?
The completion of the entire Hoover Dam Bypass Project is expected in late 2010.

Will the security checkpoints still be there after the bypass bridge is opened?
Security checkpoints will remain in operation to protect Hoover Dam after the completion of the bypass
bridge.


For updated information on the status of Hoover Dam traffic and construction updates,
          call toll free 888-248-1259 or contact the Bureau of Reclamation's
                          External Affairs Office at 702-293-8421.




                                                                                               May 2008