News Release
| Release Number: | 01-017 |
| Dated: | 2/21/2001 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-- Navigation locks at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day dams on the Columbia River will be closed from 6 a.m., Saturday, March 3, until midnight, Saturday, March 17.
Each year the Corps' eight navigation locks on the Columbia and Snake rivers have one coordinated closure for inspection, maintenance and any necessary repairs. This annual closure is coordinated with shippers and cruise lines.
Once every five years, locks must be dewatered for that inspection. This year The Dalles and John Day locks will be completely dewatered. Bonneville will be inspected and any necessary maintenance performed, but there are no plans to dewater the lock this year.
At Bonneville Dam workers will use the same time period to replace bearings in the swing bridge across the lock. That work will be begin on March 4, and should be completed by March 7.
The bridge provides access from the Oregon shore across the navigation lock to the Bradford Island Visitor Center and popular fishing areas on Bradford and Robins islands. Access to those areas will be limited to passenger cars and large pickups; large trucks and buses will not be able to cross the swing bridge. Flaggers will be on hand to direct traffic; there will be one lane access only and drivers may encounter delays.
The Visitor Center will be open as usual from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fishing areas on Bradford and Robins islands will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.