Wilson Lock Reopens

A Tennessee Valley Authority tow passes through the main chamber of Wilson Locks and Dam. The lock chamber officially reopened to navigation July 2 after being closed since September 25. It is expected to take about two weeks to clear the queue of vessel traffic. A crew from the regional heavy capacity fleet worked to repair cracking to both downstream miter gates and to install bracing. Machinists from the TVA Power Services Shop fabricated the new pintles, the “hinges” on which the gates swing. Wilson Locks and Dam are owned by TVA, but the Corps of Engineers operates and maintains the main and auxiliary locks at the site at Tennessee River Mile 259.4 in Florence, Ala. (Photo courtesy of the Nashville Engineer District)