LOWER SNAKE RIVER, Wash. – If your upcoming Washington’s
Birthday 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 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 Washington’s Birthday, Monday, Feb. 15.
Motorists crossing the dam should be alert to ongoing construction activities
for the Juvenile Fish Facility’s primary dewatering structure, which involve
the use of heavy equipment and construction vehicles along the Almota Ferry
Road leading to the south-shore vehicle entrance across the dam.
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.
Non-holiday hours for crossing dams in the Walla Walla
District are as follows:
Lower Granite Lock and Dam – crossings are allowed daily
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 – 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 253, at least 24 hours in advance for
crossing authorization.
Lower Monumental 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. 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.
At all three dams, 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 any time.
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