ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled major repairs at six aging Mississippi River locks during the winter down-season. The work begins after the locks close November 28. Jim Rand, lock and dams chief, said repairs to the tow-haul rail system are especially critical so lengthy tows that are broken up to fit in the locks can move more barges through efficiently. The repairs will be at
> Lock and Dam 4 at Alma, Wisconsin.
> Lock and 5A, below Fountain City.
> Lock and Dam at Trempealeau.
> Lock and Dam 7 below Dresbach.
> Lock and Dam 8 above Genoa, Wisconsin.
> Lock and Dam 10 at Guttenberg, Iowa.
The target to complete te repairs: March 28 for the 2022 shipping season. Rand noted that miter gates. can be inspected better when the locks are not in continuing use. Much of the dam-lock infrastructure is 80-plus years old, he said. The project will improve safety for Corps lock operators and industry deckhands, Rand said.