Hours of Operation to Change for Locks on Allegheny River

Morgantown Dominion Post
15 October 2012
Submitted to The Dominion Post

PITTSBURGH — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, announced it is changing the hours and days of operation at its locks on the Allegheny River system.

The changes will restore 24/7 operations at the first three locks on the Allegheny River, and reduce service to commercial appointment lockages only and no recreational service at Locks 6 and 7.

The changes are slated to take effect before the end of the year.

The Corps will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 24, at the Ford City High School, 1100 Fourth Ave, Ford City, Pa., to provide more information about these changes.

The changes are being implemented as a result of the Corps’ nationwide effort to reduce costs by standardizing lock service levels based on the actual usage.

Lock usage will be reviewed annually and adjustments in the levels of service will be made if needed.

The changes in service affect all but Allegheny River Lock 5 at Freeport, which will remain at two shifts a day, seven days a week from 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m. through Dec. 2. From Dec. 3-May 5, Lock 5 will operate 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, and close on federal holidays. The two-shift schedule will resume May 6.

Lock 2 at Highland Park in Pittsburgh; C.W. Bill Young at New Kensington; and Lock 4 at Natrona will change from two shifts per day to 24/7 operations.

Locks 6 in Clinton near Freeport and Lock 7 at Kittanning will be available to commercial traffic by appointment only and will not provide recreational lockages.

Last year, service at Allegheny River Locks 8 and 9 were reduced to commercial appointment lockages only and to no recreational lockage service due to a severe budget reduction from $8.4 to $4.2 million.