Extended Navigation Lock Outage
Columbia & Snake rivers, Dec. 2010 to Mar. 2011
Portland and Walla Walla districts will replace the downstream navigation lock gates at The Dalles, John Day and Lower Monumental dams December 2010 through March 2011. The gates range in size from 350 to 1,000 tons, and will require 12-14 weeks to install and test. Other locks in the system will undergo outages ranging from routine 2-week maintenance outages to more extensive 8-week repair outages.
No waterborne transportation on the Columbia/Snake navigation system--a vital part of the Pacific Northwest's commercial transportation network--will be possible during this outage. We understand the impact this outage has on our navigation stakeholders, and will do our utmost to complete the needed work in a timely manner. We have been closely coordinating the development of outage schedules with shippers and their customers, so they can develop and communicate alternative transportation plans.
The alternative to this planned, coordinated outage is an unplanned emergency outage that might shut down the navigation locks for a year or more. Completing this project will help the Corps assure the viability of the Columbia-Snake navigation system for decades to come.
About the Extended Navigation Lock Outage
- Last conference call: 3/1/11
- Outage schedule updated: 3/18/11
The most recent conference call was on Tues., Mar. 1, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. Click here for the written transcript. No further conference calls are scheduled. See site-specific updates below, and contact the appropriate Public Affairs Office with any questions.
| Project | Close | Return to service | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 6:00 a.m., 1 March 2011 | 11:59 p.m., 23 March 2011 | CO RM 145 |
| The Dalles | 6:00 a.m., 10 December 2010 | 11:59 p.m., 23 March 2011 | CO RM 192 |
| John Day | 6:00 a.m., 10 December 2010 | 11:59 p.m., 18 March 2011 | CO RM 215 |
| McNary | 6:00 a.m., 6 February 2011 | 5:00 p.m., 17 March 2011 | CO RM 292 |
| Ice Harbor | 6:00 a.m., 10 January 2011 | 5:00 p.m., 15 March 2011 | SN RM 9.7 |
| Lower Monumental | 6:00 a.m., 10 December 2010 | 5:00 p.m., 26 March 2011 | SN RM 41.6 |
| Little Goose | 6:00 a.m., 30 January 2011 | 5:00 p.m., 15 March 2011 | SN RM 70.3 |
| Lower Granite | 6:00 a.m., 18 January 2011 | 5:00 p.m., 15 March 2011 | SN RM 107.5 |
Full audio recording of the conference call from Feb. 1, 2011 .WMA format, 19 MB
Written transcript from Jan. 4 conference call
Full audio recording of the Dec. 7, 2010 call .WMA format, 11 MB .mp3 format, 23.3 MB
Conference call about the extended navigation lock outage: Nov. 2, 2010.
Summary
Full audio recording of the Nov. 2, 2010 call: .WAV format, 35 MB
(Transcripts are available upon request)
Site-specific updates
- The Dalles
Updated 3/25/11 - John Day
Updated 3/19/11 - Lower Monumental
Updated 3/26/11
Overview
The navigation lock is scheduled to be out of service Dec. 10, 2010, through March 23, 2011 for replacement of the downstream miter gate and associated components. The Corps announced a five-day extension from the original March 18 completion date on Jan. 3. Dix Corporation of Spokane, Wash., is the prime contractor for the installation of the gate. The contract was awarded for $15.7 million, with a $9 million addition due to a contract modification. Thompson Metal Fab of Vancouver, Wash., is Dix’s gate fabrication subcontractor.
On Site
The navigation lock returned to service Thursday, March 24 at 11:59 p.m..
For more information
Portland District Public Affairs Office
(503) 808-4510
cenwp-pa@usace.army.mil
Overview
The navigation lock is scheduled to be out of service Dec. 10, 2010 through March 18, 2011 for replacement of the downstream gate and the two friction sheaves for its lifting mechanism. Advanced American Construction of Portland, Ore., is the prime contractor for the installation of the gate and sheaves. The contract was awarded for $15.6 million, with a $2.2 million addition due to a contract modification. Oregon Iron Works was AAC’s fabrication subcontractor.
On Site
The navigation lock returned to service Friday, March 18 at 11:59 p.m.
For more information
Portland District Public Affairs Office
(503) 808-4510
cenwp-pa@usace.army.mil
As of March 26, 2011: The navigation lock returned to service Friday, March 25 at 11 p.m.
Background and project details:
The downstream navigation lock gate at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam will be replaced. To accommodate this work effort, the navigation lock is scheduled to be out of service Dec. 10, 2010 through March 26, 2011, as adjusted due to weather-related work delays.
Dix Corporation of Spokane, Wash., is the prime contractor for the fabrication, delivery and installation of the new gate. The contract amount, with modifications, is approximately $13.6 million.
Thompson Metal Fabrication, of Vancouver, Wash., is the sub-contractor which fabricated the new gate. The new gate's dimensions are approximately 88 feet wide, 84 feet high and 15 feet thick at the broadest point (exterior dimensions – the gate is hollow). The gate weighs approximately 1.4 million pounds (about 700 tons). The steel structure was fabricated in three sections. The two lower sections contain mostly ribs and skin plate. The upper one-third of the gate consists of a more complicated matrix of ribs, intercostals, girder web and plates.
On-site construction activities center around removal of the old gate and installation of a new gate. Ancillary equipment rehabilitation or replacement to support this effort include new wire ropes, new guide slots bearing plates, modification to the counterweight system, new lift rods, miscellaneous field welding and painting, and replacement of the gate tower roofs.
For related news releases or to see photos and video, check out the media resources for this project at: http://www.facebook.com/WallaWallaUSACE.
For more information about the Lower Monumental Dam, call the Walla Walla District Public Affairs Office at (509) 527-7018 or e-mail cenww-pa@usace.army.mil.
E-mail updates
To receive extended navigation lock outage updates via email, send your valid e-mail address to:
cenwp-pa@usace.army.mil.
