L&D 2 Tainter Valve Replacement Contract Awarded

The St. Paul Engineer District awarded a $1.5 million contract to OCCI Inc., doing business as Missouri Fabricators, of Fulton, Mo., to fabricate four replacement tainter valves at Upper Mississippi Lock and Dam 2 near Hastings, Minn.

The supply contract includes fabrication and delivery of the tainter valve structure, trunnion casting, bushing and pins and the lifting steel lug plates, as well as replacing the rubber seals and wire rope components. The valve structure was designed to conform to the existing dimensions and lifting machinery with small modifications made for better strength, maintainability and longevity. The current valves at Lock and Dam 2 have been in operation since the 1940s.

Fabrication and delivery of the new tainter valves at Lock and Dam 2 is expected in August 2026. The St. Paul District’s maintenance and repair section will install the replacement valves after delivery without impact to navigation.