Lock and Dam 3 were built from 1836-1842 and support a twenty three 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 forty two miles above the mouth of the Ohio River. Lock 3 was shut down in 2007 because of mechanical and structural problems.
History
- 1836-1842 Original construction of lock and dam
- 1882 Dam is rebuilt by the Corps of Engineers
- Early 1890’s Concrete cap is added to the top of the timber crib dam (one drawing shows about two thirds of the timber crib dam is capped with concrete by 1911, with the rest still protected by wooden planks)
- Approximately 1908 Concrete wall is constructed next to the abutment, opposite of the lock, running upstream approximately 70 feet
- 1941 Surface repairs to cracks and holes in the concrete cap are made
- 1977 New concrete is added to the crest of the dam, Surface repairs are made to cracks in the existing concrete cap on the dam, sheet pilling is added to the front of the dam
- 2005 Abutment, opposite of the lock, is repaired with rock armoring