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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District Public Affairs Office 332 Minnesota St., Suite E1500 St. Paul, MN 55101 Phone: (651) 290-5807 Fax: (651) 290-5752 cemvp-pa@usace.army.mil
Tom Novak, project manager for the recently completed Lock and Dam 3 Navigation Safety and Embankment Improvements project talks with stakeholders and partners at the end of the 862-foot upstream guide wall. A rededication ceremony was held at the facility May 31, signifying the completion of the nearly $70 million dollar project that significantly improves the navigational safety of boats entering the lock.
A ribbon cutting ceremony is held at Lock and Dam 3 in Welch, Minn., May 31, 2013. The event signified the completion of the nearly $70 million dollar project that significantly improves the navigational safety of boats entering the lock.
Aerial image of Lock and Dam 3 showing one of the new features, the extended 862-foot upstream guidewall. A ribbon cutting ceremony is held at Lock and Dam 3 in Welch, Minn., May 31, 2013. The event signified the completion of the nearly $70 million dollar project that significantly improves the navigational safety of boats entering the lock.
Looking upstream of Lock and Dam 3, the bend leading into the navigation structure is clearly visible. Part of a recent construction project to was extended upstream guidewall. Along withother related channel and streambank work greatly improves channel characteristics for approaching navigation tows. A ribbon cutting ceremony is held at Lock and Dam 3 in Welch, Minn., May 31, 2013. The event signified the completion of the nearly $70 million dollar project that significantly improves the navigational safety of boats entering the lock.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, conducted a project dedication ceremony and open house at Lock and Dam 3, near Red Wing, Minn., on May 31 at 9 a.m. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the recently completed project, in which nearly $70 million in improvements to the lock, and the work was performed without closing the lock to the navigation industry and pleasure craft operators. The project was also unique in the fact that it was the first time the district finished a plan as a design-build contract. This allowed the contractor to expedite the project delivery schedule.
Project improvements at the facility help navigation tow captains deal with unfavorable currents as a result of the lock being located on a bend in the river. The navigation improvements include an 862-foot-long guide wall extension, a closure dike that reduces adverse currents near the guide wall, channel dredging and the placement of approximately 150,000 cubic yards of material.
In addition to the navigation improvements, the Corps upgraded the natural embankments on the Wisconsin-side of the river. The lower embankment improvements include several thousand linear feet of earthwork and rock protection, concrete spillways and associated water-level control structures. The upper embankments improvements include reconstructing nine channel closures and rock protection near the dam. Collectively, these improvements reduce the risk of a catastrophic failure to the dam, which would rapidly reduce the water level within Pool 3.
Following the dedication, the attendees were invited to view the improvements and visit the observation deck, which was closed for the past three years during the construction.