Large Lock Center Gate Replacement at Chittenden Locks begins October 2023

USACE/Seattle District
Published Sept. 15, 2023
Aerial photo of Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, showing the small and large locks in Seattle, Washington.

Aerial photo of Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District. The Chittenden Locks will launch an extended gate-closure schedule to facilitate demolition, concrete construction, and installation and the commissioning of the new miter gates. The first round of gate closures is scheduled to begin Oct. 16, 2023. (Courtesy photo)

Aerial view of Lake Washington Ship Canal

Aerial view of Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Photo Courtesy of Civil Air Patrol)

Army Corps officials are reminding the public of the first round of large lock center miter gate closures, starting mid-October 2023:

Closure #1    Demolition                                            10/16/2023           11/14/2023

Full Chamber Navigation                                           11/15/2023           11/29/2023

Closure #2    Concrete Installation                           11/30/2023           12/29/2023

Full Chamber Navigation                                           12/30/2023            1/13/2024

Closure #3    Additional season 1                               1/14/2024            2/12/2024

Full Chamber Navigation                                             2/13/2024          10/14/2024

Closure #4 Installing Gates                                        10/15/2024         11/13/2024

Full Chamber Navigation                                           11/14/2024           11/28/2024

Closure #5*                                                                  11/29/2024           12/28/2024 * (placeholder to accommodate any schedule changes)

The extended closures will facilitate demolition, concrete construction, and installation and commissioning of the new miter gates.

For each closure cycle, the large lock will close for no more than 30 days and open for 15 days for vessel traffic. The small lock will remain open during these periods and can pass vessels up to 28 feet wide and 123 feet long.

The Army Corps owns and operates the Chittenden Locks, the busiest in the nation. Nearly 50,000 vessels lock through each year.

Most machinery and equipment, including the large lock center miter gate, are original to the Locks. Improving this 106-year-old navigation infrastructure will help the Army Corps supply consistent and dependable navigation over the years to come.  

Check our official Locks Closure page for outage information and schedule changes.

For more information about the Chittenden Locks, follow us www.facebook.com/chittendenlocks and www.twitter.com/chittendenlocks.

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Contact
Nicole L. Celestine
206-554-1894
nicole.l.celestine@usace.army.mil

Release no. 23-029