Kentucky Lock lower miter gates are beehive of activity

Seven workers pass scaffolding sections up the chamber side of Kentucky Lock’s lower miter gate Aug. 19, 2013. The wraparound scaffold is being assembled to permit TVA-contracted GUBMK Constructors to sandblast, make any needed internal structural repairs, and paint the 91-foot tall miter gates. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District employees dewatered the 69-year-old, 110-by-600-foot lock and will inspect the culvert valves and all other areas of the lock that are normally underwater for any needed repairs. Corps employees will also replace the tow haulage system, used to move unpowered sections of barge tows through the lock. Kentucky lock is scheduled to resume normal operation at noon, Sept. 24, 2013.

Eight workers assemble a scaffold adjacent to a wraparound scaffold on the tailwater side of Kentucky Lock’s lower miter gates Aug. 19, 2013. The scaffolds are being assembled to permit TVA-contracted GUBMK Constructors to sandblast, make any needed internal structural repairs, and paint the 91-foot tall miter gates. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District employees dewatered the 69-year-old, 110-by-600-foot lock and will inspect the culvert valves and all other areas of the lock that are normally underwater for any needed repairs. Corps employees will also replace the tow haulage system, used to move unpowered sections of barge tows through the lock. Kentucky lock is scheduled to resume normal operation at noon, Sept. 24, 2013.

This view of Kentucky Lock’s lower miter gates should give the reader an idea of the size of the 91-feet tall gates that close off the lower end of the dewatered 110-by-600-foot navigational lock. The wraparound scaffold is being assembled to permit TVA-contracted GUBMK Constructors to sandblast, make any needed internal structural repairs, and paint the 91-foot tall miter gates. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District employees dewatered the 69-year-old, 110-by-600-foot lock and will inspect the culvert valves and all other areas of the lock that are normally underwater for any needed repairs. Corps employees will also replace the tow haulage system, used to move unpowered sections of barge tows through the lock. Kentucky lock is scheduled to resume normal operation at noon, Sept. 24, 2013.

This view from inside the upper end of Kentucky Lock should give the reader an idea of the enormity of the 110-by-600-foot chamber. The lock as been dewatered to permit TVA-contracted GUBMK Constructors to sandblast, make any needed internal structural repairs, and paint the 91-foot tall miter gates at the lower end. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District employees dewatered the 69-year-old, 110-by-600-foot lock and will inspect the culvert valves and all other areas of the lock that are normally underwater for any needed repairs. Corps employees will also replace the tow haulage system, used to move unpowered sections of barge tows through the lock. Kentucky lock is scheduled to resume normal operation at noon, Sept. 24, 2013.

Kentucky Lock’s upper miter gates at the top of this photo play a very significant role while maintenance repairs are being made in the dewatered chamber. They are holding back the waters of not only Kentucky Lake, but also of Lake Barkley as the Barkley Canal joins the two lakes upstream of their respective dams. The lock has been dewatered to permit TVA-contracted GUBMK Constructors to sandblast, make any needed internal structural repairs, and paint the 91-foot tall miter gates at the lower end. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District employees dewatered the 69-year-old, 110-by-600-foot lock and will inspect the culvert valves and all other areas of the lock that are normally underwater for any needed repairs. Corps employees will also replace the tow haulage system, used to move unpowered sections of barge tows through the lock. Kentucky lock is scheduled to resume normal operation at noon, Sept. 24, 2013.