Historic Railroad Trail Tunnel 3 Closed Until Further Notice
BOULDER CITY, Nevada - Due to visible deterioration of the support beams within Tunnel 3 of the Historic Railroad Trail at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the tunnel will be closed until further notice.
On Oct. 15, construction crews began repairing cracks and missing shotcrete in the five tunnels when deterioration of the timber columns and arches in Tunnel 3 was observed.
As a matter of public safety, park management has temporarily closed the tunnel, until structural engineers can assess its integrity.
The restoration work in the remaining tunnels is expected to continue through Nov. 15.
During the closure and construction project, visitors will be able to hike along the trail from the National Park Service or Bureau of Reclamation trailheads to the tunnel that is under construction, or Tunnel 3, whichever comes first. Tunnels 1, 2, 4 and 5 will remain open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
“We are aware that there are some races planned on the trail in November and December. Our team is doing all it can to assess the damages and make any needed repairs before those events, but our number one priority is safety," said Martha Lee, acting superintendent.
“In the interim, the park is working with event coordinators to discuss alternate routes. We apologize for the inconvenience," she added.
To view a virtual experience along the Historic Railroad Trail, visit www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/hikerr.htm.
For more information on alternative trails at Lake Mead, please visit www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/hike.htm.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
