“If one person goes over the dam, it’s one too many,” Conrad said. Engineers said the force of the water at the dam is so strong that a person can drown if they go under, even if they are wearing a life jacket. Experts said vigilance is key, as boats without a motor, like kayaks and canoes, could potentially drift. “Those, in conjunction with the signs, make a very complete, comprehensive safety system,” Conrad said.īuoys and signs near the Highland Park Bridge remind boaters to avoid a dam.īut those two components aren’t the only things needed to stay safe on the water. “If you’re just buzzing along, you wouldn’t see it because it just blends, and that’s why these buoys here, to stop anyone from going that way, I think is pretty important,” said Troy Garrison, who fishes in the area. The signs restrict boaters from going under part of the Highland Park Bridge to avoid the dam that many people don’t know is there. It does have that ‘infinity pool’ effect,” said David Conrad of the Army Corps of Engineers.Īs a result, boaters on the Allegheny River might have noticed something new: bright red warning signs, seven-feet high and 14-feet wide that can be seen from up to a half-mile away. Near the Highland Park Bridge, it’s the area of the Allegheny River Lock and Dam - a sharp drop-off on the other side of the bridge. The official start of summer means more boats in Pittsburgh’s three rivers, and as the Fourth of July approaches, plenty of people will be out and about enjoying the Allegheny.īut just like with any body of water, danger could be hidden in plain sight. manufacturing, according to a 2015 Department of Homeland Security study on impacts of an unexpected Soo Locks closure.įor more information about the New Lock at the Soo project, visit our website: įor more details, contact Detroit District Public Affairs Specialist Carrie Fox, 90.ĭetroit District photos are available on Facebook. The Soo Locks are a nationally critical infrastructure and this critical node’s reliability in the Great Lakes Navigation System is essential to U.S. The New Lock at the Soo project is constructing a second Poe-sized lock (110 feet by 1,200 feet) on the existing decommissioned Davis and Sabin locks site. Over 85% of commodity tonnage traveling through the Soo Locks is restricted by vessel size to the Poe Lock. Marie, Michigan, and allow vessels to transit the 21-foot elevation change at the St. Bid solicitation should begin this summer with phase three construction starting in spring of 2022. The third phase, construction of the new lock chamber, will include rehabilitating downstream approach walls and is currently at the 95% design milestone. “We recently had a partnering meeting with phase two contractors who are starting this year and are confident this project continues the successful construction of the new lock.” Scott Katalenich, commander, USACE, Detroit District. “The Detroit District is looking forward to working with contractors Trade West and Kokosing-Alberici on phase one and phase two of the New Lock at the Soo,” said Lt. Phase two should be complete by fall 2023, with winter seasonal breaks. This will stabilize the existing approach walls allowing modern vessels to tie up and wait their turn to pass through the new lock. Kokosing-Alberici is starting phase two this year, rehabilitating the upstream approach walls. USACE officials expect phase one completion in November 2021. Trade West continues phase one, deepening the upstream channel to the Sabin and Davis Locks, which will be replaced by the new lock. Trade West Construction, Inc., and joint venture Kokosing-Alberici began moving equipment to the site the week of April 12 and 19. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New Lock at the Soo project is on schedule as construction resumes on phase one and is initiated on phase two this week.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |