Reviving the Wilson Lock: A New Timeline Unveiled for June 2025 Reopening

FLORENCE, Ala. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District has updated the anticipated timeline for the completion of repairs to the primary chamber of Wilson Lock, located near Florence, with the reopening of the lock now projected for June 2025.

The primary chamber was rendered inoperable in September 2024 due to the detection of cracks in the chamber gates and pintle assembly. Dive-certified mechanics and a Remotely-Operated Vehicle (ROV) team from USACE documented the cracks, leading the district to formulate a projected timeline for repairs that initially suggested a reopening date of April 2025.

“The initial timeline was the best estimate available at the time of its release, based on our findings from the dive and underwater drone evaluations,” stated Brian Mangrum, chief of the Technical Support Branch of the Nashville District. “Inspections under dry conditions provided valuable insights that influenced our repair strategies and resulted in modifications from initial projections made prior to the dewatering.”

The Nashville District dewatered the lock in November 2024 to facilitate a physical examination of the components above the water level. The Heavy Capacity Fleet (HCF) of the Great Lakes & Ohio River Division was dispatched to Florence to carry out this work.

Although the overall scope of work to repair the lock remains unchanged, the dewatered assessment affected the district’s strategy for lifting and supporting the gates and the required sequencing to install the steel bracing during construction.

“We now estimate that the time required for the HCF to finish their repairs has increased by approximately three weeks,” remarked Mangrum. “Most of this additional time is attributed to the specific bracing requirements identified during the dewatered assessment and the work sequence needed for the installation of that bracing.”

“Moreover, the intricate nature of this repair demands technical evaluation at various stages of the design process to guarantee the safety of vessels and their crews,” he added.

The district is dedicated to ensuring the flow of traffic through Wilson Lock is maintained as much as possible throughout the main chamber outage. The auxiliary chamber is currently accessible for vessels to transit.

The district aims to save time during the repairs wherever feasible—lifting and work on the gates will be conducted on both gate leaves simultaneously to enhance efficiency. Nevertheless, the district’s foremost priority is to ensure repairs are executed safely and adhere to the highest engineering standards.

Further updates will be provided as repair work progresses at Wilson Lock.

Members of the public can obtain news, updates, and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps, and on X (formerly Twitter) at www.x.com/nashvillecorps. For the latest employment and contracting opportunities within the Nashville District, follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-army-corps-of-engineers-nashville-district.

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