GRAND COULEE, Wash. - The Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center will temporarily move operations to the John W. Keys III Pump Generating Plant beginning October 1 through mid-December while the new 500kV lines are strung across the Columbia River.
The safety of our visitors and our employees is our top priority," said Lynne Brougher, Grand Coulee Dam Public Affairs Officer. “Moving visitor center operations is our best short-term solution." The lines run over the visitor center and the visitor parking lot from the forebay dam behind the Third Power Plant to towers located on the west side of Highway 155.
The project is expected to take about 2½ months. During that time, visitors will still be able to view exhibits and speak with Reclamation guides at the John W. Keys III Pump Generating Plant. They will also have access to viewing areas outside of the pumping plant where they can watch the placement of the new lines.
The John W. Keys III Pump Generating Plant will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours into the pumping plant will be offered daily at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. until October 13. Visitors should use the parking lot to the south of the pumping plant where the statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt overlooks Lake Roosevelt. A free shuttle van will be available to transport visitors from the parking area to the pumping plant. View a map of the area at http://goo.gl/maps/Ma5D8.
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For more information, call the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center at (509) 633-9265 or visit the website at http://www.usbr.gov/pn/grandcoulee/.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
