Olmsted Locks and Dam News - The Waterways Journal

New Book Details Last Ohio River Wicket Dams’ History “Last of the Old Wicket Dams: A History of Ohio River Locks and Dams 52 and 53, 1928-2018” details the history of the wicket dams along the lower Ohio River that were replaced when Olmsted Locks and Dam came online in 2018. (Photo courtesy of the Louisville Engineer District)

“Last of the Old Wicket Dams: A History of Ohio River Locks and Dams 52 and 53, 1928-2018” details the history of the wicket dams along the lower Ohio River that were replaced when Olmsted Locks and Dam came online in 2018. (Photo courtesy of the Louisville Engineer District)

New Book Details Last Ohio River Wicket Dams’ History

July 7, 2023

A new book exploring the history of the Ohio River’s last two wicket dams is available from the Louisville Engineer District. “Last of the Old Wicket Dams: A History of… Read More

German Transportation Delegation Explores America’s River System Dr. Norbert Salomon, head of the Waterways and Shipping Department of the German Ministry of Transport, introduces himself and the rest of the four-person delegation. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

Dr. Norbert Salomon, head of the Waterways and Shipping Department of the German Ministry of Transport, introduces himself and the rest of the four-person delegation. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

German Transportation Delegation Explores America’s River System

October 21, 2022

Gathered around a map of the inland waterways of the United States, a four-person delegation from the German Ministry of Transport only had two words: “unbelievable” and “wow.” Another map… Read More

Demolition At Ohio River L&Ds 52, 53 To Wrap Up In 2022 A blast from underwater demolition takes places November 19, 2021, at the former Ohio River Lock and Dam 53. Landside demolition at the former locks and dams 52 in Brookport, Ill., and 53 in Olmsted, Ill., was completed in 2021. The marine demolition at both projects is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Engineer District)

A blast from underwater demolition takes places November 19, 2021, at the former Ohio River Lock and Dam 53. Landside demolition at the former locks and dams 52 in Brookport, Ill., and 53 in Olmsted, Ill., was completed in 2021. The marine demolition at both projects is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Engineer District)

Demolition At Ohio River L&Ds 52, 53 To Wrap Up In 2022

April 1, 2022

Demolition at the former Ohio River locks and dams 52 and 53 in southern Illinois is expected to be complete by the end of the year. While landside demolition was… Read More

Chapman Retires After Productive Operations Career The $3 billion Olmsted Locks and Dam became fully operational in August 2018. The Louisville district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently won a top 10 national award from the American Society of Civil Engineers for the project.

The $3 billion Olmsted Locks and Dam became fully operational in August 2018. The Louisville district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently won a top 10 national award from the American Society of Civil Engineers for the project.

Chapman Retires After Productive Operations Career

January 7, 2022

Bill Chapman could have retired years ago, but he wasn’t done making a difference. Chapman, 62, of Crestwood, Ky., said before he left his job as chief of operations and… Read More

Crews Replace First Olmsted Wickets Right: A three-sided dive reflector box blocks the river flow and lowers the water level inside the box, allowing divers to work on two wickets at a time. (Photo by by Abby Korfhage/Louisville Engineer District)

Right: A three-sided dive reflector box blocks the river flow and lowers the water level inside the box, allowing divers to work on two wickets at a time. (Photo by by Abby Korfhage/Louisville Engineer District)

Crews Replace First Olmsted Wickets

November 12, 2021

Louisville Engineer District employees replaced the first five wickets at the Olmsted Locks and Dam this year amid a season that saw them raising the wicket dam a record 10… Read More

Olmsted Project Demolition Phase Continues Miter gates are removed from the former Locks and Dam 53 in December 2019. (Photo courtesy Louisville Engineer District)

Miter gates are removed from the former Locks and Dam 53 in December 2019. (Photo courtesy Louisville Engineer District)

Olmsted Project Demolition Phase Continues

July 2, 2021

Blasting at the former Dam 52 on the Ohio River near Brookport, Ill., is complete, with demolition at the former Dam 53 to begin within the next couple of weeks. Read More

Rock Island District Christens Towing Vessel The Quincy was previously the Gordon M. Stevens in the Louisville District.

Rock Island District Christens Towing Vessel

May 7, 2021

The Rock Island Engineer District christened the mv. Quincy at the Clat Adams Bicentennial Park in Quincy, Ill., April 30. Several hundred members of the public attended the ceremony, according… Read More

Landowner, Corps Differ Over Cause Of Erosion Near Olmsted Property owners along the Ohio River in and near Olmsted, Ill., talk to investigators from the Corps of Engineers during a site visit in June 2020. (Photo courtesy of Sandra Thornton)

Property owners along the Ohio River in and near Olmsted, Ill., talk to investigators from the Corps of Engineers during a site visit in June 2020. (Photo courtesy of Sandra Thornton)

Landowner, Corps Differ Over Cause Of Erosion Near Olmsted

May 4, 2021

Property owners along the Ohio River near Olmsted, Ill., and the Corps of Engineers both agree riverbank erosion is occurring, but they disagree as to its cause. Sandra Thornton, an… Read More

What Really Is ‘Deferred Maintenance’?

March 24, 2021

The recent release of the “Infrastructure Report Card” by the American Society of Civil Engineers saw the inland waterways category bumped up to D+ from a straight D for the… Read More

ASCE: Infrastructure Grade ‘Improves’ To C- Untitled design (74)

ASCE: Infrastructure Grade ‘Improves’ To C-

March 5, 2021

“For the first time in 20 years, our infrastructure is out of the D range.” So proclaimed the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), which released its 2021 Report Card… Read More