A heavy machinery crane operator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Medium Capacity Fleet lifts an 800-pound pintle ball as part of a miter gate repair project at New Cumberland Locks and Dam on the Ohio River in Stratton, Ohio, April 15, 2025.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District operates the New Cumberland Locks and Dam year-round to benefit inland navigation. Each year, over 180 million tons of bulk commodities travel the Ohio River through its system of navigation locks.
These commodities include coal, petroleum products, chemicals, aggregates (like sand and gravel), grain, and other industrial materials. The river is a vital transportation route in the U.S. inland waterway system, supporting industries ranging from agriculture to energy.
The fleet, which belongs to USACE Huntington District, arrived on site to begin work at the end of February and is expected to complete the repairs by the end of May. Each gate leaf is 35 feet tall, 61 feet wide, and weighs 235,000 pounds.
The fleet used a diamond wire saw to cut large chunks of concrete to help free the gates from the wall’s anchorage. While conducting repairs, the fleet also took advantage of the opportunity to do maintenance upgrades, such as replacing the rubberized seals and some underwater components. The fleet deployed its dive team to remove and replace old pintle balls, which gives gates a pivot point to open and close. The work requires accuracy and detailed coordination. To place the gates back into the chamber, a crane operator has to set the pintle bushing directly on top of the pintle ball, requiring extreme precision.
The Pittsburgh District’s engineering office collaborated with the maintenance division on the repair project. Engineers also provided inspection and repair procedures on the embedded anchorages associated with the miter gates.
In late 2022, the fleet installed new gates in the auxiliary chamber. Without these critical repairs and replacements, aging gates and anchorage systems fatigue could cause unexpected closures.
The Medium Capacity Fleet supports the maintenance and repair of the inland navigation system, particularly the locks and dams on major U.S. waterways like the Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio, Mississippi, and Tennessee rivers.
(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District photo by Michel Sauret)
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2025 13:39 |
| Photo ID: | 8979585 |
| VIRIN: | 250415-A-TI382-1148 |
| Resolution: | 3000x2000 |
| Size: | 1.48 MB |
| Location: | STRATTON, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 2 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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