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Corps of Engineers Delays LoMo Opening by Dean Brickey East Oregonian, March 15, 2011

KAHLOTUS, Wash. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has extended the reopening date of Lower Monumental Dam on the Snake River five days. Officials in the Corps' Walla Walla District said Monday final adjustments to the new downstream navigation lock gate will take a little longer to complete.

The Lower Monumental lock reopening has been rescheduled to occur at 5 p.m. Monday to allow Corps and contractor teams additional time to complete alignment of the bottom and top gate seals, ensuring a water-tight fit during locking operations.

The navigation locks originally were scheduled to reopen today.

"These final adjustments involve precision work which must be done in a prescribed sequence, so the new gate's seals will align properly with the existing lock structure," said Corps Project Manager Steve Hartman. "Detailed and time-consuming adjustments prior to placing infrastructure back in service are some of the inherent challenges of construction management."

The entire Columbia-Snake River system remains on schedule to return to service for river traffic between Portland and Lewiston, Idaho, when The Dalles navigation lock reopens March 23.

McNary Dam is scheduled to reopen at 5 p.m. Thursday. John Day and Bonneville dams will reopen March 19 and The Dalles Dam March 24.

Related Sites:
Extended Navigation Lock Outage US Army Corps of Engineers

Related Pages:
Opening of Lower Monumental Dam Lock Pushed Back by Staff, Walla Walla Union Bulletin, 3/14/11