Boulder City in Clark County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Breaking the Bottleneck
Hoover Dam
Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, September 9, 2025
1. Breaking the Bottleneck Marker
Hoover Dam has been a magnet for tourists - and their cars - from the earliest years of its construction.
The Memorial Bridge has reduced the number of vehicles traveling across the dam. This not only improves the visitor experience but also enhances the air quality.
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When U.S. Highway 93 was rerouted, the approaches to the Memorial Bridge were chosen to limit disturbance to historic sites, trails, and significant wildlife habitat.
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Before the Memorial Bridge opened, the two-lane road atop the dam - a historic site with heavy pedestrian usage - was a bottleneck on the main highway connecting Las Vegas and Phoenix.
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As many as 16,000 vehicles traveled across the top of the dam daily before the bridge opened. Two-hour delays were not uncommon.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Parks & Recreational Areas.
Location. 36° 0.896′ N, 114° 44.743′ W. Marker is in Boulder City, Nevada, in Clark County. It is on Hoover Dam Access Road. Located at the Boulder Dam Bridge Parking Lot.
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Regionally, this marker is in the Colorado River Valley, in the Mojave Desert, and in Greater Las Vegas. It is also in the American Southwest and in the Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Design Decisions (here, next to this marker); Step by Step (here, next to this marker); Discover Hoover Dam (here, next to this marker); America's Finest (here, next to this marker); For the Record (here, next to this marker); Worthy of the Neighborhood (here, next to this marker); Get Good Footing with Anchors & Foundations (within shouting distance of this marker); Find Solid Ground with Surveys & Tests (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boulder City.
Photographed by Craig Baker
2. Breaking the Bottleneck Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker
3. Breaking the Bottleneck Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 27, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2, 3. submitted on October 12, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
