Seattle District Sponsors Fun Run To Mark Miter Gate Replacement

In what may be a first, the Seattle Engineer District is hosting a 5K Fun Run, October 7 at 10 a.m., to launch the large lock center miter gate replacement project at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, or Ballard Locks, is a complex of locks at the west end of Salmon Bay in Seattle’s Lake Washington Ship Canal, between the neighborhoods of Ballard to the north and Magnolia to the south.

Participants in the Great Miter Retire Fun Run will have the chance to walk along the structures one last time during the event that starts and ends at the miter gates. Participants will have the opportunity to take photos at the gates before and after they run (or walk), view the engineering exhibits and visit the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden and the Visitor Center throughout the day.

The large lock center miter gates, original to the lock, have enabled navigation since 1916 when it became operational. Work to replace these gates will begin mid-October.

The improvements to this 106-year-old navigation infrastructure will help the Corps continue supplying consistent and dependable navigation over the years to come.

The runs are not timed. Participants are asked to register at www.discovernw.org/great-miter-gate-fun-run.html; all registration proceeds will go toward supporting new exhibits in the locks’ fish ladder viewing gallery.

Those interested can follow the progress of the work at  www.facebook.com/chittendenlocks and www.twitter.com/chittendenlocks for updates and more information about the Chittenden Locks.