The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wilmington District will carry out emergency repairs at Cape Fear River Lock and Dam No. 1 in North Carolina. Inspectors found that river currents had eroded a channel through the riverbed beneath the structure.
The district said on October 30 that the channel runs from a point above the upper lock gates, under the full lock chamber, and out below the lower gates.
"If left unaddressed, continued erosion could undermine the riverbed supporting the structure, potentially causing settling or structural damage," the district said.
A specialised internal maintenance and repair unit is assisting USACE in devising a plan to stabilise the affected area and prevent further erosion.
The repairs are expected to be completed within 30 days of work getting underway. The district will then assess whether further work is needed to permanently stabilise the structure.
River levels are expected to remain within normal operating ranges during the work. Residents and visitors near the project area have been asked to observe posted signage and comply with access restrictions.
The lock is not currently passing vessels. Separately, the Marietta, Ohio-based Regional Rivers Repair Fleet is rehabilitating the Cape Fear River locks and dams under the fiscal year 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Lock and Dam No. 1 is located at Kings Bluff, about 39 miles (63 kilometres) upriver from Wilmington. The lock was built in 1915 and modified in 1934. It has a 40-by-200-foot (12.2-by-61-metre) chamber and an 11-foot lift.
