Overview
- The Bureau of Reclamation closed public access after crews discovered that the dam’s 150-ton cableway carriage moved unexpectedly during routine maintenance and placed extra stress on system components.
- The closure, which began Tuesday, July 28, has left visitors turned away at checkpoints and officials have not given an estimated reopening date.
- USBR says the dam and its powerplant are operating normally and that employees and contractors continue to have safe access for essential work.
- A contractor arrived to assess the carriage and assist USBR crews and officials say visitor access will remain paused until the carriage is evaluated and safely repositioned.
- The cableway is a heavy-equipment transfer system above the main access road near the parking garage and the shutdown could prolong tourist disruption at a site that draws about 7 million visitors a year.