Repairs have begun on Lock 9 near Lynxville
Repair work began on Lock 9 near Lynxville on Dec. 10. The repairs will involve removing old, damaged concrete and replacing it. It will also involve repairs to the tow haul rail system. Last winter, repairs were done to the lock extensions. (Photo by Ted Pennekamp)
By Ted Pennekamp
On Dec. 10, repairs began on locks 6, 8 and 9 to ensure they continue working as designed for the next navigation season. Lock and Dam 6 is near Trempealeau, Lock and Dam 8 is near Genoa, and Lock and Dam 9 is near Lynxville. The maintenance work is expected to continue through March 13.
Patrick Moes of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the concrete work at Lock 9 near Lynxville will involve removing the old, damaged concrete and replacing it. Most, if not all, of the work will be above the waterline and includes the concrete repairs and repairs to the tow haul rail system.
“Doing the work in the winter ensures the navigation channel is ready for traffic once Mother Nature opens the river in the spring,” said Moes, who noted Lock and Dam 9 was constructed and placed in operation in July of 1937. The site underwent major rehabilitation from 1989 to 2006.
The work is being conducted by Kraemer North America, of Plain, Wis. The work includes concrete repairs and repairs to the tow haul rail system, which is used to move barges upstream of the lock chamber when a tow is heading north and there is a need to break the tow into two lockages. A tow with more than six barges must be split up when going through a lock due to size limitations.
The completed work will improve safety for Corps lock operators and industry deckhands.
“Having the tow haul rail system working is critical to keeping our lock staff safe and ensuring navigation vessels can efficiently lock through our facilities,” said Jim Rand, St. Paul District locks and dams chief. “With a lot of this infrastructure more than 80 years old, it’s critical that we find value-added solutions to maintain the system and ensure navigation continues transporting commodities made in the Upper Midwest to global markets.”
The repairs are a part of more than $18 million in scheduled repairs at St. Paul District locks over the next three years.
Repairs to the lock extensions at Lock and Dam 9 were conducted in the winter of 2018-2019 as well. Repairs began in December of 2018 and ended in March of 2019.
The guidewall crib repair project was a unique project that focused on the voided areas under the guidewalls which are an extension of the lock both downstream and upstream. The extensions are built on wood pilings and have wooden cribs filled with rock to keep them in place. Over the years, voids occurred in the cribs, which need to be filled in with concrete grout. The guidewall crib repair project for locks 8 and 9 last winter cost $3.5 million.
Also, during the winter of 2015-2016, Lock 9 was dewatered to perform maintenance work. The maintenance included repairing concrete; repairing, sandblasting and painting the miter gates; and replacing the bubbler system.
The locks on the Mississippi River have a huge economic impact. If just one lock was closed for a day, $40,000 would be lost. The figures go up exponentially. For a week, it would be $1.75 million. For a month, $25 million, and for a year, more than $300 million. These costs would be borne by industry, and in turn would trickle through the nation’s economy.
