WALLA WALLA, Wash. – If your upcoming Memorial Day weekend plans include a road trip to visit family and friends on the opposite side of the lower Snake River, you may want to keep in mind that most U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams are closed to cross-dam public vehicle traffic on federal holidays, unless otherwise announced.
Starting Friday, May 24, Lower Granite Lock and Dam, near Pomeroy, Wash., will be open later for public vehicle crossings on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays -- 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, the dam will be open for crossings from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Walla Walla District operations officials want to remind the public of the holiday closure affecting two of three dams in Washington that normally allow public vehicle crossings – Little Goose, near Starbuck, Wash.; and Lower Monumental, near Kahlotus, Wash.
The usual hours for crossing dams in the Walla Walla District are scheduled as follows:
Lower Granite Lock and Dam – crossings are allowed daily from 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. Starting May 24, Lower Granite’s crossing schedule will change, allowing traffic to cross the dam on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for federal holidays unless otherwise announced. Tour and school buses must contact the dam at 509-843-1493 at least 24 hours in advance for crossing authorization.
Little Goose Lock and Dam – will be closed to public vehicle traffic across the top of the dam May 15 through July 13 while construction crews replace the intake gantry crane. That work includes assembling the new 130-ton-capacity crane, then disassembling and removing the existing 100-ton crane. The north and south shore approaches to the top of the dam will be gated – access through the construction work area will be limited during the work period to Corps employees, and authorized contractors and delivery vehicles. Travelers can cross the Snake River about 10 miles downstream of the dam via a bridge on state Highway 261.
Lower Monumental Lock and Dam crossings are allowed once an hour, on the half-hour, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday and closed on federal holidays unless otherwise announced. Crossing times are 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 in the morning, and 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 in the afternoon. If approaching from the south shore, travelers can reach the security guard for crossing escort by calling #228 on the phone at south gate. Tour and school buses must contact the dam 24 hours in advance for authorization 509-282-3219/3218.
Passenger cars, motorcycles, open trucks, recreation vehicles, small vans and farm equipment, with the exception of fuel trucks, will be allowed to cross. Large, commercial vehicles, trucks, vehicles hauling flammable or explosive cargo and vehicles that cannot be easily searched will not be allowed to cross the dams.
All vehicles crossing Corps dams are subject to a search. Photo identification is required for all vehicle occupants 18 years of age and older. All firearms must be unloaded and declared at the gate. Security guards are authorized to perform detailed vehicle searches and deny vehicle access across the dam. Drivers may not stop their vehicles to take pictures or sight see during escorted crossings. Pedestrian traffic across the dam is not allowed because of safety considerations.
Operations officials note there could still be closures: the district may, at any time, close access to traffic for extended periods of time due to operations, maintenance or construction-related activities at a dam. A change in security conditions could also terminate public access across the dam until such time as threat levels decrease. The public will be notified about closures, if possible, in advance, but the crossing is still subject to closing at anytime. Travelers can call 1-888-DAM-INFO (1-888-326-4636) for the most current dam-crossing information.
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