Boulder City in Clark County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Lay the Path with Cut & Fill
Journeys & Heroes
Photographed by Sandra Tidwell Hughes, September 9, 2025
1. Lay the Path with Cut & Fill Marker
Hail & Farewell
U.S. 93 enters and exits Nevada and Arizona near the Hoover Dam in the most dramatic manner of any U.S. highway crossing state lines.
Before the River Bridge opened, the original highway twisted down and up the cliffs of the Black Canyon to cross over Hoover Dam. The River Bridge and its highway approaches now eliminate traffic jams by bypassing the original dam crossing. U.S. 93 is a major highway within the north-south CANAMEX Corridor that crosses the United States.
You can still get the feeling of the historic, narrow, winding highway if you drive down the scenic canyon to the Hoover Dam Visitor Center.
Make Straight in the Desert A Highway
The civil engineers made the highway approaches to the River Bridge more direct and level by cutting and filling the land and by installing bridges over valleys.
The position of the River Bridge at the edge of the canyon allows a smoother, more direct approach to the crossing. The gently curved new highway and River Bridge allow the crossing of the canyon in a minute instead of an hour. The combined length of the approach bridge is greater than that of the River Bridge alone.
The new approach highway retains the wildlife trails while overcoming landform obstacles. Underpasses and fences help protect wildlife from highway traffic as they travel through the area. Bighorn sheep have quickly learned to use the broad underpasses while looking for food and water.
Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts.
Location. 36° 0.883′ N, 114° 44.675′ W. Marker is in Boulder City, Nevada, in Clark County. It is on Hoover Dam Access Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 81 Hoover Dam Access
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Nevada’s 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Choose the Site for Crossing & Bridge (here, next to this marker); Span The Gap with Cables 7 Arch (here, next to this marker); Protecting the Place of Nature & History (here, next to this marker); Clear the Way of Switchyard & Towers (here, next to this marker); Design the Dream with Science & Art (here, next to this marker); Raise the Road on Columns & Deck (here, next to this marker); Enjoying the Ride with Celebration & Pride (here, next to this marker); America's Finest (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boulder City.
Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, September 9, 2025
2. Lay the Path with Cut & Fill Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 58 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 3, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on October 2, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
