Following a routine, scheduled inspection and test of the elevators by Reclamation maintenance staff and an elevator contractor, it was recommended that the elevator governor control cable be replaced (the governor monitors and controls the speed of the elevators). Since the elevators were already out of service for the scheduled inspection, Reclamation made a determination to leave them out of service and replace the cable to ensure their continued safe operation.

The cable replacement is expected to be completed in time for the tours to resume on Monday, May 4, at their normal time, 9:00 a.m. PDT.

Visitors will still have access to the Visitor Center and the top of the dam. An $8 admission fee to the visitor center offers numerous opportunities to learn about the dam: a 10-minute, general information film; a 30-minute film explaining how the dam was constructed; an exhibit gallery with audio, visual and other information, including a scale-model of one of the dam's generators; an observation deck that provides panoramic views of the dam, Lake Mead, and the new bridge being constructed downstream of the dam; and the opportunity to visit the dam's original exhibit building and view a 10-minute audio presentation in combination with a scale model of the Colorado River Basin and the major water storage and delivery features.

In addition, Reclamation guides will be stationed throughout the Visitor Center and on the dam to assist visitors and to answer any questions they may have.

Status updates on the resumption of tours will be posted on the Hoover Dam web site, www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam beginning Monday morning, May 4.