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Work is set to continue for several more weeks on a winter-long project to inspect, repair and renovate Lock and Dam 2 along the Mississippi River at Hastings.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District invited members of the media to tour the empty lock chamber, dewatered to allow for the $3.5 million renovation project. It’s a sight only visible about once every 15 to 20 years, and in this case, the first time since 2007.
The rest of the time, the lock chamber is filled with water to facilitate barge traffic during the river’s navigation season.
Lock and Dam 2 is one of 13 locks and dams maintained by the Corps’ St. Paul District between Minneapolis and Guttenberg, Iowa. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project manager Billy Thomson said that in 2023, barges shipped an estimated six million tons of cargo through the locks.
The lock closed for the season on Dec. 4, with all the maintenance work scheduled to be completed by the time the river opens for navigation in early March.
Lockmaster Steve Heidbrider said the warmer-than-average winter has been great for construction.
“It's easier to work when it's 30 degrees than when it's 30 below,” Heidbrider said.
The corps said the work being done includes “inspecting and repairing concrete walls, miter gates, bubbler system and renovating the weepholes.” A weephole is a hole in the bottom of the lock chamber that helps relieve the water pressure.
