Olmsted Locks and Dam

Near the confluence of the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers is where more commerce traverses than any other location on the entire U.S. inland waterways. With Olmsted, economic net benefits to the nation are more than $640 million annually, and the structures will pay for themselves in approximately four years. The Olmsted project consists of two 110’ x 1,200’ locks adjacent to the Illinois bank, and a dam comprised of five tainter gates, 1,400’ of boat-operated wickets and a fixed weir. The Olmsted Locks and Dam will eliminate aging structures Ohio River Locks and Dams 52 and 53. There will be a fourfold increase in efficiency as Olmsted provides for a single project with twin 1,200' locks. Reliability will also be significantly increased as the existing locks are decades beyond their designed service life.

Olmsted's operational achievement represents generations of innovation excellence, more than 45 million labor hours, and stands as an example of the benefits provided to the Nation and the Department of Defense from the work done by USACE on our Nation's critical inland waterways.

Fact Sheet

Locality Map

Photo Gallery

Project Review Plan

Olmsted brochure revised w mainstem FY15.pdf

Brochure (comprehensive)

Video: History of Locks and Dams 52 & 53

Video: From precast yard to river bed

 

Locks and Dams

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Ohio River

Markland Locks and Dam
2760 US 42 West
Warsaw, KY 41095
(859) 567-7661

McAlpine Locks and Dam
805 North 27th Street
Louisville, KY 40212
(502) 776-6866

Cannelton Locks and Dam
5281 E. State Road 66
Cannelton, IN 47520
(812) 547-2962

Newburgh Locks and Dam
6877 State Road 66
Newburgh, IN 47630
(812) 853-8470

John T. Myers Locks and Dam
16501 Raben Road
Mt. Vernon, IN 47620
(812) 838-5836

Smithland Locks and Dam
1401 Smithland Dam Road
Brookport, IL 62910
(618) 564-2315

Olmsted Locks and Dam
567 New Dam Road
Olmsted, IL 62970
(618) 748-6400

 

Green River

Green River 1
5048 Dam and Lock Road
Reed, KY 42451
(270) 826-7360

Green River 2
695 W. 1st Street
Calhoun, KY 42327
(270) 273-3152

Lock Information

River Lock  110’ x 1200’
Land Lock  110’ x 1200’
   

Dam Information

Type Wicket and fixed
weir with tainter gate
Length 2,574'
Upper pool 302'
Lower pool uncontrolled
Number of gates 5
Navigable pass gates 140
Height of gates 37'
Width of navigable pass 1,400'