18 October 2020

Not All Infrastructure Has Been Left to Decay

Emsworth Locks and DamsSome is getting the needed maintenance. Army Corps of Engineers gives tour of Emsworth Locks and Dams in advance of major rehabilitation project

The image is via Wikimedia and The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Click for a larger view and some info about the image.

In this case the project is on the Ohio River. The goal of the USACE was to inspect and reinforce a lock in the Pittsburgh area. Like a lot of the locks on the US Inland Waterway, this one is a Panamax lock. It is 110ft wide by 600ft long. The dam and locks in question were built in 1919 through 1922.

The Corps rebuilt and converted the dam to a gated structure between 1935 and 1938. That raised its pool about seven feet to accommodate more modern barges. Its electrical systems, operating machinery and buildings were upgraded in the 1980s, and the gates were upgraded about six years ago.

Given the age of the lock, the work was extensive.

The chamber walls were reinforced with at least 14 metal struts about 6-foot-tall and at least an inch thick to ensure stability.

See this link for the US Army Corps of Engineers page on the Emsworth Locks and Dam, and see this link for a previous posting on Inland Waterway infrastructure.

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