Pride in the Hoover Dam bridge and road expansion project continues in spite of worker’s death

Steve Lombardi

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(866) 735-1102 Ext 335

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During the Great Depression of the 1930’s the Hoover Dam Project employed between 3,500 and 5,200 men and women in the construction trades. In the original project it is reported that 120 men died during the construction phase. Twelve men perished in the original building project. Today the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge expansion to widen the roadway is underway and providing more construction jobs. The Hoover Dam borders both Arizona and Colorado as it tames the Colorado River.

“When completed in late 2010, the bridge will carry four lanes of U.S. Highway 93 traffic between Arizona and Nevada, bypassing a winding two-lane road across the landmark Hoover Dam. U.S. 93 is the main route between Las Vegas and Phoenix.”

A 48-year-old construction worker died from blunt trauma to his heart, liver and chest from a fall. He was the first construction worker to die on the expansion project. NIOSH has not yet released its finding as to the cause. News reports state that Sherman Jones was adjusting a cable used in a temporary support system. A fall or compression type injury may be the cause. We’ll just have to wait and see.

In December 2007, the last living construction worker of the original dam project died. There is great pride held by the workers who participated in building the Hoover Dam. If you’re wondering about the size, scope and purpose of the original project here are the numbers.

Hoover Dam
726.4 feet high (221m)
1,244 feet wide (379 m)
660 feet (203 m) thick at the base
45 feet (13 m) thick at the top
$165 million dollars to build
4.5 years to build
4.4 million yards of concrete used for construction
March 1931 building began
September 30, 1935 President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the completed dam

Powerhouse
17 generators
4+ billion kilowatt hours produced each year
10 acres of floor space

Power used by:
56% California
25% Nevada
19% Arizona

Lake Mead
6.5 years to fill (A slow filling process was required to lessen the pressure change on the dam and to help prevent small earthquakes due to land settlement.)
589 feet (181 m) at the deepest point
247 square miles in size
110 miles (176 km) long
Named after Dr. Elwood Mead, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation (1924 - 1936)
Largest manmade reservoir in the United States

For an additional story see Sherman Jones Dies At Hoover Dam Bypass Project, OSHA Investigating