Should we detour around Hoover Dam?

[forfun]

We are planning on crossing the Hoover Dam approx 7:30 am Monday, Sept 14 and again Tues, Sept 15 after 6 pm.

Mapquest recommends detouring through Laughlin by taking 95S. then 163/68to Kingman, which adds 25 miles to the trip.

Will the Dam construction delay backup traffic enough to consider the detour?

 

[Fern Modena]

I wouldn't think so. Its not the busiest tourist season, and besides, you will be outside the hours that the dam is open for tourist shows. Its traffic, not the construction, that is the problem.

Fern

 

[cotraveller]

At the days and hours you listed I agree with Fern, you should not have any problems. We came over Hoover dam last March, heading into Las Vegas from Arizona. It was mid afternoon on a Sunday and traffic was moving slow but wasn't that bad. Coming from Las Vegas it was backed up a looong ways.

I'd go across the dam just to see the progress on the new bridge. In March they were working on the supporting arch. For an engineer like me it was quite a sight to see the arches coming up from each side with a gap in the middle. It seems like it would be a challenging construction project.

I don't know the current status of the construction but here's a picture from June that was posted in a different thread. If it comes up for you like it does for me you will need to scroll down a couple of posts.

 

[gorevs9]

I don't know the current status of the construction but here's a picture from June that was posted in a different thread. If it comes up for you like it does for me you will need to scroll down a couple of posts.

We were there a few weeks ago. The arch is completely closed.

 

[Red Rox]

Why detour? It's something special to see. Taking the longer route won't make that much difference in time. Where are you going? GCNP? It's a 5 hour drive (from LV) no matter which way you go.

 

[John Cummings]

I have traveled both routes. My choice would be to take the Hoover Dam route. If you wanted a little variety, you could take one route to LV and the other on the return. There isn't much to see in Laughlin. It is basically a few casino/hotels along the Colorado river.

 

[ScoopKona]

You could always do the I-15, Utah-9, Utah-59, AZ-359, AZ-Alt-89, AZ-89, AZ-64, I-40 detour. That would only add about 400 miles (each way) to your trip.

There are some nice "nobody has stayed here in awhile" hotels along AZ State Route 89. Good frybread, too.

While this suggestion is a total joke, there is some seriously beautiful stuff to be seen along this route. I did it once for kicks, and I'm glad I did.

 

[lprstn]

We went in July and didn't detour. We did run in to a litte traffic coming back but it wasn't bad.