Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

The Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge is a reinforced concrete arch bridge in Mohave County and Clark County that stretches 579 meters across the Colorado River, linking Nevada and Arizona. The roadway sits 270 meters (886 feet) above the water and offers pedestrians a direct view into the Black Canyon and down to the dam below.

Construction began in 2005 and finished in 2010, replacing a route that had run directly over the dam for decades. The new crossing relieved congestion and improved safety for traffic moving between the two states.

The crossing honors Mike O'Callaghan, who served as Nevada's governor, and Pat Tillman, a professional football player who joined the military and lost his life in Afghanistan. Their names link public service, sport, and military sacrifice in a single memorial structure.

Pedestrian walkways run along both sides of the crossing, allowing visitors to walk out over the canyon and take in the scale of the gorge below. The paths provide safe access to observation points and make it easy to photograph both the structure and the surrounding landscape.

This crossing contains the widest concrete arches in the Western Hemisphere and represents the first composite structure of its kind built in the United States. The design allowed engineers to span the canyon at record height while maintaining stability in desert winds.

Location: Mohave County

Location: Clark County

Inception: October 14, 2010

Official opening: October 16, 2010

Length: 579 m

Longest Span: 323 m

Made from material: reinforced concrete

Part of: Hoover Dam Bypass

GPS coordinates: 36.01250,-114.74139

Latest update: December 13, 2025 15:36