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.