New Chickamauga Lock Miter Gate Parts Arriving Daily

Fourteen new miter gate components are being delivered for the Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project each day from December 5 to 23, marking a milestone in the project.

The Nashville Engineer District announced the gate component deliveries December 6, in partnership with lead contractor Shimmick Construction. The components of the miter gates are being welded together and will be installed on each end of the new 110-foot by 600-foot navigation lock, enabling it to accommodate nine jumbo barges (each measuring 35-feet by 195-feet), compared to the single jumbo barge capacity of the existing lock.

The active navigation lock will remain open to navigation, although intermittent lock outages of up to four hours are possible during this period.

“These miter gates represent another step closer to the completion of the Chickamauga Lock replacement,” said Joe Cotton, project manager for the Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project. “Their installation is a critical milestone that underscores the progress being made to enhance efficiency and reliability on the Tennessee River. This project is not just about improving navigation. It’s about securing the future of a vital waterway for commerce and recreation and ensuring the long-term stability of the Chickamauga Dam.”

“The successful delivery of this milestone is a direct result of our greatest strength—our people,” said Lt. Col. Robert Green, commander of the Nashville Engineer District. “The dedication, expertise and teamwork of everyone involved in the Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project are the foundation of our success and the driving force behind this achievement.”

The old chamber at Chickamauga Lock is experiencing a chemical reaction that causes concrete growth. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) built Chickamauga Lock and Dam, which opened to navigation in 1940. TVA owns the lock. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for operations and maintenance.

Approximately 1.5 million tons of cargo passes through Chickamauga annually. The new lock is on track for completion toward the end of 2027.

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Featured photo caption: Shimmick Construction Company workers transfer a miter gate component at Chickamauga Lock near Chattanooga, Tennessee on December 6. A total of 14 miter gate components are being delivered to the site each day from December 5 to 23. The Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project, managed by the Nashville Engineer District, includes designing a new 110-foot by 600-foot navigation lock to replace the current lock, which is necessary due to alkali-aggregate reaction, a chemical process that causes concrete to expand and crack, threatening the structural integrity of the lock. (Photo by Elijah Wittum/Nashville Engineer District)