News Release
| Release Number: | 99-027 |
| Dated: | 4/1/1999 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.--After 16 days of closure, the Willamette Falls Locks near Oregon City, Ore., will reopen on Sunday, April 4. While the exact time of the reopening is up in the air at this time, boaters are welcome to call the locks Sunday morning at (503) 656-3381. The locks are operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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, only to find additional items needing replacement or repair.
"Our crews have been putting in 12-hour days to get the locks reopened as quickly as possible," said Debby Chenoweth, operations manager for Bonneville Lock and Dam and the Willamette Falls Locks. "Everyone is tired, but they're dedicated to getting them reopened for our customers."
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 the 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.