Corps Hosts Tour At Upper Miss Lock And Dam 25
The St. Louis Engineer District hosted an event May 22 at Lock and Dam 25 on the Upper Mississippi River to provide a look at the work to date and discuss plans ahead for construction of the 1,200-foot lock chamber. Attendees toured the site, viewed project displays and engaged with Corps staff on a variety of topics impacted by the preparation, construction and eventual result of tripling lockage capacity at the site, which currently consists of a single 600-foot chamber that opened on May 18, 1939.
Billed as a “community engagement” event, the biannual meeting was open to the public and drew around 75 people. Residents from the surrounding area were inquisitive as to how the construction site will impact their homes and businesses. Individuals representing the towing industry attended, along with agriculture and manufacturing representatives eager to hear how the commodities traversing through Lock 25 will be impacted during its transition to an active construction site.
The 1,200-foot chamber construction is part of the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), an effort composed of large- and small-scale navigation efficiencies, as well as improvements to riparian and riverine habitat. The Lock 25 portion of NESP received its initial funding through the Corps of Engineers’ January 2022 Work Plan release of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
During the May 22 meeting, the Corps team also apprised representatives of multiple contractor companies as well as organized labor union trades on progress of the new chamber’s design, which is approaching 95 percent completion.
Staff from congressional offices representing Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Reps. Bob Onder (R-Mo.), Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Mary Miller (R-Ill.) also participated.
The Corps is encouraging all interested parties to learn more about the project online at https://www.mvs.usace.army.mil .(Search “Lock 25 project.”) Comments may be submitted by email at: NESPLock25Project@usace.army.mil.
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Featured photo caption: Plans call for a new, 1,200-foot lock at Lock and Dam 25, part of the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability (NESP) program.
(Photos courtesy of Waterways Council Inc.)
