Dam Bridge & Gate Painting – Lower St. Anthony Falls Through Lock and Dam 10

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District
Published Feb. 26, 2015
Updated: Sept. 26, 2023

Purpose

The project is the routine maintenance, including painting and repair, of the dam gates. Phase 1 consisted of report development, including alternatives and life cycle costs.  For Phase II the Corps decided to pursue an Indefinite Delivery – Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) acquisition strategy with maintenance performed on site for the majority of our portfolio, and, due to funding in the fiscal year 2023 President’s Budget a single contract for Lock and Dam 5.

Location

The St. Paul District operates and maintains 13 locks and dams from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Guttenberg, Iowa.

Description

Each lock and dam is a critical step in the "stairway of water" that allows navigation between Minneapolis and St. Louis, Missouri. The Corps constructed Locks and Dams 2 through 10 in the 1930s. Each site includes a dam bridge and varying numbers of dam gates. The gates are critical navigation components because they control pool elevation for navigation, flood control and environmental purposes. Typically, the gates are partially submerged in flowing water and subjected to abrasion from sediment and debris. Abrasion degrades the paint systems, contributing to corrosion and degradation of the steel structures.

Status

The life expectancy of modern paint systems ranges from 15 to 25 years.

Site

Location

Length (ft)

Last Painted

LSAF

Minneapolis

168

1985

2

Hastings

570

1987

3

Red Wing

320

1988

4

Alma

990

2002

5

Minneiska

1,200

1978

5A

Winona

575

1982

6

Trempealeau

750

2005

7

Dresbach

715

1995

8

Genoa

680

1991

9

Lynxville

610

1992

10

Guttenberg

560

1980

 

The district will pursue routine dam gate maintenance, including repair and painting, through an IDIQ contract for the majority of our portfolio. Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will be used to develop and review routine dam gate maintenance plans and specifications. Approximately $24,640,000 is available in the fiscal year 2023 President’s Budget to perform routine maintenance on Lock and Dam 5. Lock and Dam 5 is currently pending construction contract award in September 2023. Construction is scheduled for completion in November 2029. Lock and Dam 5A will be soliciated for contruction in 3rd Quarter, FY 2024.

Authority

The project was authorized as part of the Rivers and Harbors Act approved July 3, 1930.

Funding

The St. Paul District received $1 million from BIL in FY 2022 to prepare plans and specifications for Lock and Dam 5 and 5A. Additionally, there is $15.2M available from BIL in FY24 to perform routine gate maintenance on Lock and Dam 5A. Lock and Dams 2, 10, 8, and 4 were included in FY25 budget submission.