Kentucky Lock ( at Tennessee River Mile 22.4) will be closed to all traffic beginning 6:00 a.m. CDT on Monday 1 April, 2019 and continuing through 2:00 a.m. CDT on 2 Apr, 2019 (20 hours) in support of the on-going construction on the Kentucky Lock Addition Project. The closure is required to allow for the installation of the fourth concrete shell for the downstream cofferdam.
In addition to the lock closure for the shell installation, up to four additional 12-hour closures are planned within the 5 days following installation. The first of these closures is expected to commence at 8:00 a.m. CDT on Wednesday 3 Apr, 2019. The following three 12-hour closures will all commence at 8:00 a.m. CDT in the following three days. If nine or more vessels are in the queue at 8:00 a.m. on the day of any of these 12- hour closures, then that day’s closure will be postponed.
In addition to the closures, vessel speed restrictions will be in place in the lower approach channel for up to 10 days following the installation of the shell. Both upbound and downbound vessels will be restricted to a speed no greater than a slow walk from the downstream miter gates to the downstream Highway 62 bridge (a reach length of approximately 1,400 feet).
Pilots will receive specific instructions for these restrictions by the lock operator. This speed restriction is intended to minimize wheel wash impacts to the shell until such time that sufficient concrete can be placed to stabilize it. The contractor’s dedicated helper boat, the M/V Maverick, will assist all vessels through this constricted area.
For more information contact: John "Caleb" Skinnere, Kentucky Lock Masters Office, (270) 362-4226.