News Release
| Release Number: | 99-025 |
| Dated: | 3/25/1999 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.--The reopening of Willamette Falls Locks near Oregon City, Ore., will be delayed by nearly one week, according to officials at the locks. The locks were to reopen on Saturday, March 27.
Officials now are aiming at Friday, April 2, as the reopening date, though that date depends on repair parts arriving on schedule.
The locks were taken out of operation on March 18 when lock operators noticed the gates were not aligning correctly. A quick inspection showed that some of the bolts used to hold the gates in place had sheared off. Maintenance and repair crews removed the two 19-ton gates which are used to hold water in lock chamber No. 3 this week, only to find additional items needing replacement or repair.
"When we pulled the gates we found some things we hadn't anticipated," said Dave Shank, assistant operations manager for Bonneville Lock and Dam and the Willamette Falls Locks. "There was more wear and tear than we have expected for these gates under these conditions. We feel taking care of these items now will help prevent future unplanned outages.
"We are working long hours to get the locks back in service as soon as possible," he said.
When the locks reopen, boaters will be able to use them from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Beginning May 2, the locks will switch to its summertime schedule of 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Corps of Engineers changes the operating hours of the locks every spring and fall to meet the needs of recreational and commercial boaters.