Allegheny Lock and Dam 6 to Reopen for Labor Day Weekend

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
3 September 2011
By Paul McMullen

The lock at the Allegheny River Lock and Dam 6 will reopen for Labor Day weekend, an Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh district spokesman said.

Boaters, tow vessels and riverside businesses will have access to the dam near Clinton, which closed Aug. 25, and all other locks during normal operation hours, said Jeff Hawk, Army Corps of Engineers spokesman.

Lock 2, the C.W. Bill Young Lock, and Lock 4 will continue to operate around the clock. Lock 5 will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Locks 6, 7, 8 and 9 will operate from 12:30 p.m. to 8:10 p.m.

Hawk said reopening the lock will allow boaters to move freely up and down the river. However, he said they should contact lock operators to check traffic conditions and make sure locks haven't broken down.

"This weekend, many boaters will rely on our lock system, but each location only has one individual lock," he said. "If it breaks down, we are out of business, so boaters need to remain in contact with the lock operators to see if closures affect them."

Paul McMullen can be reached at pmcmullen@tribweb.com or 412-380-5623.