Lock and Dam 4 were built from 1836-1842 and support a seventeen mile long pool of water. The original dam was a timber crib structure, consisting of an outside frame of timbers filled with dirt and rock, and the original lock was stone masonry. The structures are located sixty five miles above the mouth of the Ohio River. The lock is still in operational order, but is in need of routine mechanical maintenance.
History
- 1836-1842 Original construction of lock and dam
- 1882 Dam is rebuilt by the Corps of Engineers
- 1909 Concrete cap is added to the top of the timber crib dam
- 1941-1942 Repairs are made to cracks and holes in the concrete cap
- 1973 A new concrete crest was constructed, repairs were also made to cracks and holes on the downstream slope of the dam
- Late 1990’s Upper guide wall was reconstructed
- 1998-1999 New concrete cap was placed over the entire length of the dam