Crews will conduct maintenance and
safety inspections during the small chamber closure. Foot traffic will not be
affected and the large lock will continue around-the-clock operations for
vessels. Lock wall staff will get commercial traffic through as quickly as
possible.
All pleasure boats will use the large
lock and boaters should be prepared with appropriate equipment and crew. Large
lock requirements include long lines and fenders on board. Current locking
through information is available at http://bit.ly/BoaterInfo. Mariners may experience delays, depending
on passage demand.
Most machinery and equipment, including
the gates and valves, are original to the 99-year-old facility. The annual
closure gives dam safety experts and maintenance staff the chance to dry out
the chambers for thorough inspections and to make necessary repairs. The
routine maintenance is important to project safety and continued operation as
the locks approach their 100-year anniversary.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns
and operates the Chittenden Locks. The busiest in the nation, nearly 50,000
vessels lock through each year.
For updates and
more information, follow the Chittenden Locks on Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/chittendenlocks and www.twitter.com/chittendenlocks.
Release no. 16-007