Kentucky Lock Has Mechanical Failure

Kentucky Lock, at Tennessee River Mile 22.4, has been closed for repairs since a mechanical failure on January 24.

According to a navigation notice from the Nashville Engineer District, the lock is closed “until further notice.” Navigational traffic may detour via the Barkley Canal and Barkley Lock. Further information about the cause of the mechanical issues or the estimated time to repair the chamber was not immediately available from the Nashville district as of WJ press time January 26.

Kentucky Lock was already scheduled for intermittent closures February 6-10.

The Nashville Engineer District said in a navigation notice that the upcoming closures are necessary to place a tower crane on monolith M26 on the downstream end of Kentucky Lock. That will allow for placement of monoliths in the adjacent lock chamber construction area, the Corps said.

Roughly two to four closures, each lasting four hours, should be necessary for crane placement, with exact hours of closure varying depending on conditions at the site.

Other District Lock Closures

Barkley Lock, at Cumberland River Mile 30.6, will close daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 9-31, the Nashville district said.

The closure is to make required diving inspections and repairs to the bioacoustic fish fence (BAFF) invasive carp deterrent system located in the lower approach of the lock.

Vessels may transit through Barkley Lock between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Additionally, Pickwick Auxiliary Lock, at Tennessee Mile 206, will close February 21 through April 14 for valve stem repairs in the lock chamber. During this time the Corps’ light capacity fleet will remain inside the auxiliary lock chamber and will have barges attached to the upper long wall of the auxiliary chamber for the entire duration.