FOUNTAIN CITY, Wis. – The only passage on the Mississippi River at Fountain City, Lock and Dam 5A, will be closed all day Thursday for new lock gates to be installed. Civil engineer for the Corps Mike Holzer said operations should be back to usual by 7 p.m. Crews are replacing the 100-ton gates that are in their 90th year of opening and closing to lift vessels eight feet. The lock is 110 feet wide and 600 feet long to accommodate barges and towboats, as well as pleasure. craft.
Crane in waiting. The lock gates, angled to assure they close water-tight, will be lifted out and replacements dropped in. The old gates are dinged and dented from almost a century of use.