WALLA WALLA, Wash. – If your upcoming Forth of July 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.
Lower Granite Lock and Dam, near Pomeroy, Wash., will be open for public vehicle crossings on the Forth of July. Walla Walla District operations officials want to remind the public of the holiday closure affecting two of their three dams in Washington that allow public vehicle crossings – Little Goose, near Starbuck, Wash.; and Lower Monumental or “LoMo”, near Kahlotus, Wash.
The usual hours for crossing dams in the Walla Walla District are scheduled as follows:
Lower Granite Lock and Dam – allows traffic crossings daily, 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 – open for crossings 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. Tour and school buses must contact the dam at (509) 399-2233, extensions 227, 231 or 252, at least 24 hours in advance for crossing authorization.
Lower Monumental Lock and Dam – closed for crossings until further notice due to operational limitations. Travelers should plan alternate routes across the river.
Travelers can call 1-888-DAM-INFO (1-888-326-4636) for the most current dam-crossing information at Lower Granite, Little Goose and Lower Monumental dams on the lower Snake River in the Corps’ Walla Walla District.
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 Walla Walla District dams are subject to a search. Photo identification is required for all vehicle occupants 16 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.
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. The public will be notified about closures, if possible, in advance, but the crossing is still subject to closing at anytime.
Photo identification, vehicle searches and other previously listed requirements are standard policy for the public to cross at Walla Walla District dams.
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