News Release
| Release Number: | 04-065 |
| Dated: | 4/6/2004 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
> Daily 12-hour closures planned for April 12 though June 5 > Portland, Ore. - The John Day navigation lock has reopened to commercial and recreational river traffic following a four-week closure, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Monday.
The lock was closed between March 6 and April 3 while contract workers made repairs to cracked concrete and installed tensioning anchors. The Corps has been working since late 2003 to make permanent repairs to the lock. Working inside the lock has required the Corps to periodically close the lock to all river traffic, causing temporary disruptions.
The locks will remain open now through April 12 to all river traffic. The lock is available 24 hours a day to all commercial vessels. For recreational boats, the winter lockage schedule provides for upstream lockages at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., with downstream lockages at 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Beginning at 8 a.m. April 12, the Corps will close the John Day lock daily for 12 hours while contractors initiate the final phase of repairs to the facility. The closures will occur Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The lock will be open all day on Sundays.
This 12 on, 12 off schedule will continue through June 5. During the 12-hour closures, recreational vessels will not be able to use the locks.
"We understand the challenges this creates for the commercial navigation industry and the recreational community," said Mark Dasso, project manager for the lock repair. "We ask for your patience and understanding. These repairs, once completed, will allow us to provide the river community a more reliable navigation system."