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Severe Cracks in Lower Gate Walls Extend Lock Closure Timeline
The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has postponed the reopening of the Lockport Lock along the Illinois River by over a month after discovering significant cracks in the lower gate walls.
The Corps now expects the lock to resume operations between 30 April and 6 May at the earliest. Previously scheduled to reopen on 25 March following the replacement of two upper-end gates, the lock’s chamber was dewatered earlier this month, revealing severe structural damage in both lower gates.
Supply Chain Disruptions and Economic Impact
The Lockport Lock is a crucial gateway to major trade hubs, including Chicago, Illinois, and Burns Harbor, Indiana, at the Illinois River's end. The ongoing closure, in effect since 28 January, has disrupted planned transit routes of major barge carriers. Originally expecting a late February reopening, stakeholders must now pause operations until April, affecting the shipment of key commodities such as metals, asphalt, petcoke, fertilizer, and biofuels.
Extended Repair Timeline and Challenges
The Corps estimates another 5-6 weeks of work will be necessary to replace the lower gate walls. Both lower gates must be removed, but the lack of spare castings for Lockport gates further extends the timeline. Additional delays stem from the need for a specialized heavy-lift crane and the acquisition of interim and permanent repair funding.
Work on replacing the upper gates is already underway, including bulkhead installation, rebar placement, and moving the upper gates into the chamber. However, the unexpected lower gate issues have prolonged the overall project schedule.
