When a nearly 3-mile-long tunnel reached a preconstructed intake into Lake Mead in December, it was a decisive moment for a vast team of planners and contractors as it marked the beginning of the final stage of an $800-million project that began more than six years ago.
In the course of the project, which intends to add a third intake to Lake Mead, contractors set a world tunneling record. Perhaps more importantly for residents and business owners in Las Vegas, though, is that their drinking water will continue to flow even if water levels continue to decrease in the lake.