FLORENCE–The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District and the Tennessee Valley Authority have decided, following a joint risk assessment of the main chamber of Wilson Lock on the Tennessee River near Florence, not to reopen the chamber until the phase 2 dewatering is completed.
The repairs needed to restore the chamber to full operational capacity are scheduled for completion in spring 2025.
“The structural damage noted during inspection, particularly to the lower gates and pintle casting, presents an unacceptable risk to both safety and operational integrity,” said Megan Simpson, chief of the Maintenance Section for the USACE Nashville District. “The impact of reopening the chamber on operational performance, structural integrity, and personnel safety would be significant, and the temporary mitigation measures available during the current dewatering window do not sufficiently reduce the risks associated with operating the gates.”
A view into the de-watered main Wilson Lock chamber on Nov. 27, 2024 in Florence, Alabama. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regional Rivers Repair Fleet de-watered the lock chamber to allow engineers to thoroughly inspect the lock miter gates and begin critical repairs.
Temporary mitigation measures USACE and TVA evaluated included bracing and repairs to the cracks on the gates. The agencies are still investigating the root cause of the damage to the gates and pintle assembly.
Lt. Col. Robert Green, commander of the Nashville District, said that while the district intends to minimize the impact of the closure for the navigation industry, the risks to continued lock operation and public safety were too great to authorize a temporary reopening.
“Continuing operations with the gates in their current condition could result in a complete failure of the gate or further damage beyond repair,” said Green. “The decision to keep the gates closed reflects our commitment to mitigating these risks and ensuring their long-term operability.”
“A sudden failure of the lower gates could result in extensive infrastructure damage and potentially cause injuries or fatalities,” he added.
The estimated time for a total replacement of the gates, which would be necessary in the case of a catastrophic failure, is five years or more. By not reopening the chamber early, USACE and TVA hope to repair the damage to the chamber and restore full functionality as efficiently and safely as possible.
The Tennessee Valley Authority owns the locks and dams along the Tennessee River and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains the locks for navigation, in partnership with TVA.
The Nashville District has a longstanding partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority to operate and maintain navigation facilities on the Tennessee River. More than 65M tons of goods make their way to and from the Ohio River every year through USACE managed locks on the Tennessee River.
Media Release/Jeremy Croft/US Army Corps of Engineers
