Corps awards $17 million contract to improve Mississippi River locks

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, awarded a $17 million contract
May 31 to Kraemer North America, LLC, of Burnsville, Minnesota, to carry-out tow rail rehabilitation projects at six Mississippi River locks and dams.

The purpose of the tow rail system, which includes travelling mooring bitts, is to assist and speed up the upstream travel of 1,200-foot tows through 600-foot lock chambers. The travelling mooring bitt systems, located on upper guidewalls to help guide upstream-bound tows out of the lock chamber, will promote efficient and safe passage for workers and long tows requiring multiple lockages.

Construction will take place at:

• Lock and Dam 4, near Alma, Wisconsin
• Lock and Dam 5, near Minnesota City, Minnesota
• Lock and Dam 5A, near Fountain City, Wisconsin
• Lock and Dam 7, near La Crescent, Minnesota
• Lock and Dam 8, near Genoa, Wisconsin
• Lock and Dam 9, near Eastman, Wisconsin

The district will provide construction updates for individual locks as work progresses.

Construction will take place in winter 2019 and 2020, during the non-navigation season.

For more information on the project, visit https://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Home/Projects/Article/692925/mississippi-river-locks-and-dams-2-10-tow-haulage-system-repairs/.