Converse Highlight - Hoover Dam Bypass

The construction of the landmark Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (also known as the Hoover Dam bypass),  is an internationally recognized engineering marvel.  It is the first concrete-steel composite arch bridge built in the United States, the longest concrete arch in the Western Hemisphere, and the second-highest bridge in the U.S. (890 feet above the Colorado River). The project has received many awards:

• 2014 - Special Mention, Awards for Outstanding Concrete Structures, The International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib)
• 2013 - Award of Excellence, Major Civil Engineering Projects, Centenary Awards, International Federation of Consulting Engineers
• 2012 - Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award, American Society of Civil Engineers
• 2011 - Grand Conceptor Award, Engineering Excellence Awards, American Council of Engineering Companies
• 2011 - Grand Award, Engineering Excellence Awards, American Council of Engineering Companies of Nevada
• 2011 - Eugene C. Figg, Jr. Medal, International Bridge Conference
• 2011 - First Place, Bridges (Projects > $100 Million) Category, Globe Awards, American Road & Transportation Builders Association
• 2011 - Excellence in Structural Engineering Award, Bridges and Transportation Structures Category, Structural Engineers Association of Arizona
• 2011 - Be Inspired Award Winner, Innovation in Bridges Category, Bentley Be Inspired Awards
• 2011 - Public Works Project of the Year, Transportation | Cost Greater Than $75 Million Category, American Public Works Association
• 2011 - Bridge Award of Excellence, American Segmental Bridge Institute
• 2011 - Outstanding Project, Bridges and Transportation Structures Category, Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards, National Council of Structural Engineers Associations

The bridge consists of a 2,000 foot-long composite concrete deck arch, requiring over 6000 cubic yards of concrete and 8 million pounds of steel to build at an estimated cost of $120 million. The Nevada Approach portion of the project consisted of over one million cubic yards of embankment, six concrete bridge structures and approximately 2.5 miles of asphalt concrete pavement, including traffic interchanges, drainage improvements, wildlife crossings and pedestrian and visitor improvements.

Converse is proud to have participated in this project. Our scope of services included materials testing and inspection on soils, concrete and asphalt, as well as the development and implementation of the QA/QC plan. 

 

Converse Consultants is an industry leader in geotechnical engineering, and environmental, groundwater and materials sciences. We are celebrating our 70th year of service.

For more information about Converse please contact Beth George at bgeorge@converseconsultants.com