2009-151; Dec. 18, 2009
SAINT PAUL, MINN. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, awarded a $27 million contract to Edward Kraemer and Sons, Inc., of Plain, Wis., this month for the design and construction of navigation improvements at Lock and Dam 3 on the Mississippi River.
The St. Paul District, received $70.24 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA, funding this year to improve navigation safety and rehabilitate the dam embankments at Lock and Dam 3, which is located north of Red Wing, Minn. The recently awarded navigation improvements design-build contract will extend the lock’s upper landward guidewall 860 feet and modify the channel to reduce the river outdraft forces that tend to pull barge tows towards the gated dam portion of the facility. The upper and lower embankments that maintain the river pool elevation will also be rehabilitated under separate contracts.
Construction under this contract is expected to begin in June 2010 and is scheduled to be completed by Sep. 30, 2011. During the 2010 and 2011 navigation seasons, the contractor will be allowed to close the lock to navigation for up to 96 hours per month. Navigation closures will be limited to a maximum of 24 hours at a time with at least 24 hours between each closure to clear backed-up barge traffic. Closures will not be permitted on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or holidays.
Recreational boaters who use Lock and Dam 3 should be alert to the various construction vessels working in the area during the navigation season and follow lock personnel’s instructions to safely navigate through the construction zone. Areas near the Lock and Dam 3 Upper and Lower Embankments may be congested with construction plant and supply barges. Additionally, boaters are reminded to review U.S. Coast Guard restrictions before traveling in this area.
Periodic Lock and Dam 3 construction updates and closure information will be distributed through news releases and e-mail. To receive email updates please submit your information to
http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/list_server/.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, serves the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. It contributes around $126 million to the five-state district economy. The more than 625 employees work at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states. For more information, see http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil.
