Too Big for a Dutch Boy
During a recent inspection at Lockport Lock, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff discovered severe cracking in the lower miter gates. The Lock, currently closed until March 25th for upper lift gate replacement, will now likely stay closed until late April to early May due to the additional repairs required. A team of experts from Rock Island District, Chicago District, and other partners, is working on a temporary fix to get the lock back in service. However, permanent repairs require replacing the original pintle castings, which will take time to manufacture. The current pintle castings are from the mid-1980’s gate replacement. A similar, less severe, issue was discovered and repaired in 2019. Engineers are working to identify a cause.
Temporary repair may extend closure by 4-6 weeks. Full repair requires pulling gates, welding new castings, and a second closure later this year. Experts are investigating all avenues to source parts and reduce further stress on components. Funding and crane availability are also key factors in the repair timeline.
— Story and photos courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
