Ohio River Locks & Dams

The Ohio River once had a network of 53 wicket-style dams and locks, which were progressively replaced by larger, more modern structures.

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The Ohio River was once home to a network of 53 wicket-style locks, constructed from 1875 to 1929, spanning from the Mississippi River to the Allegheny River. ¹ These structures ensured a consistent channel depth of at least nine feet. ⁴ During high water levels, the wickets could be collapsed to lie flat against the riverbed, enabling boats to pass over them directly. This provided a quicker route as vessels did not need to navigate through the lock chambers.

River	Location	Opened	Rebuilt	Closed	Demolished
Ohio	No. 22 (Ravenswood)	1918		1969
Ohio	No. 24 (Racine)	1916		1937
Ohio	No. 31 (Kirkville)	1917		1964
Ohio	No. 32 (Vanceburg)	1922		1964
Ohio	No. 34 (Chilo)	1925		1964

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Ohio River Lock No. 22

Ohio River Lock No. 22, located at mile 220.9, was completed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1918. ¹⁰ The completed structure included a lock measuring 600 feet long by 110 feet wide. ¹⁴

The Racine Lock and Dam, located at mile 237.5, was constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers at a cost of $64.9 million. ⁶ Work on the project began in May 1964, followed by the construction of the locks in April 1965. The locks were placed into operation on December 16, 1967. Construction of the dam itself began in August 1967, and the pool was raised to its full height on August 24, 1971.

The completed structure, replacing Dams Nos. 21, 22, and 23, measured 1,173 feet in length and included eight tainter gates and two locks: a primary lock for commercial barge traffic measuring 1,200 feet long by 110 feet wide and an auxiliary lock measuring 600 feet long by 110 feet wide. ⁶ American Electric Power later added a hydroelectric power plant in 1983, producing 24 megawatts of electricity.

Lock No. 22 was decommissioned in 1969, and the lock and chamber were demolished. ¹¹ The powerhouse and lockmaster’s house were left intact, and the property was transferred to the city of Ravenswood for use as a public park. The house was used as a city rental property from 1970 to 1999.

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Ohio River Lock No. 24

Ohio River Lock No. 24, located at mile 242.5, was constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1916. ¹² The Sheridan & Kirk Contracting Company was the primary contractor for the project.

The Gallipolis Lock and Dam, located at mile 279, was constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers at the cost of $10.4 million. ^{7 9} Recommended by the Corps in 1932, approved by Congress in 1933, funded by the federal Public Works Administration, and authorized by the River and Harbor Act of August 1935, work on the project began shortly thereafter. ⁹ The locks were placed into operation on August 25, 1937. The completed structure measured 1,116 feet in length ⁷ and replaced Dams Nos. 24, 25, and 26. ⁸ It featured two locks: a primary lock for commercial barge traffic measuring 600 feet long by 110 feet wide, and an auxiliary lock measuring 360 feet long by 110 feet wide. ⁹

Lock No. 24 was decommissioned in August and removed in October. ¹³

The Supplemental Appropriation Act of 1985 and the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 authorized major improvements, including a $244.5 million lock replacement, a $46.7 million dam rehabilitation, and a $13.8 million fish hatchery mitigation. ^{7 8} These projects aimed to modernize the lock chambers to accommodate larger tows and barges. Construction began in November 1987 and was completed in January 1993. The renovated facility featured two locks: a primary lock for commercial barge traffic measuring 1,200 feet long by 110 feet wide, and an auxiliary lock measuring 600 feet long by 110 feet wide.

Further rehabilitation of the dam began in August 1992 and concluded in 2002. ⁷ This phase included the installation of eight new roller gates, along with the replacement of control units, the motor control center, and electric feeders. In January 1993, the Gallipolis Lock and Dam was renamed in honor of West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd.

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Ohio River Lock No. 31

Lock No. 31, built from 1915 to 1917, included a one-story Classical Revival-style powerhouse topped with a 60-foot smokestack. ¹ Accompanying the powerhouse were two 1½-story bungalows, a seven-bay garage, a blacksmith shop, and a steel water tank. In the 1930s, three additional two-story brick homes were constructed on the site.

The facility became redundant with the completion of the Captain Meldahl Lock and Dam downstream in December 1964. ^{1 2} Following the opening of the new dam, the old lock chamber and wicket dam at Lock and Dam No. 31 were demolished.

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Ohio River Lock No. 32

Lock No. 32, constructed between 1919 and 1922, was established using a box cofferdam and supported by wooden piles that were driven into the ground until they could not be driven any further. ³ Based in Pittsburgh, Dravo’s Engineering Works Division designed, created, and set up thirteen pneumatic steel caissons that were transported 372 miles to the dam’s site.

This lock and dam became redundant with the completion of the Captain Meldahl Lock and Dam downstream in December 1964. ^{2 3} Following the activation of the new dam, both the lock chamber and the wicket dam at Lock No. 32 were dismantled.

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Ohio River Lock No. 34

Lock No. 34 was constructed over a period from 1914 to 1925. ⁴ The federal government initiated the project by acquiring 14 acres of land, but the main construction activities, led by the National Construction Company, only commenced in 1924. The construction involved the installation of wooden cofferdams which enabled workers to establish the wooden wickets in a dry environment. The project was completed at a cost of $3.336 million and officially opened on October 6, 1925. ^{4 5}

The facility boasted a two-story powerhouse surrounded by nine residential houses, an eight-bay garage, a maintenance shed, a paint locker, and other auxiliary buildings. ^{4 5} The dam itself was equipped with 200 wickets, each of which required several hours of manual labor to raise or lower. The dam’s lock chamber was sizable, measuring 600 feet in length and 110 feet in width.

The powerhouse was equipped with two air tanks on its third floor, which were used to operate the roller gates of the lock chamber. ⁴ Additionally, there were equipment doors on the same floor, paired with a pulley system, to hoist machinery into the powerhouse. In times of flooding, this system was also employed by the residents to elevate their belongings to safety above the flood levels.

This lock and dam system was eventually deemed outdated with the completion of the Captain Meldahl Lock downstream in December 1964. ^{2 3} The newer and larger Meldahl facility maintained a regular river pool level of 37 feet, which led to the decommissioning and removal of the older lock and wickets shortly thereafter. ³

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Sources

1. United States. Dept. of the Interior. Ohio River Lock and Dam No. 31. Comp. Robert M. Polsgrove. Washington: National Park Service, May 1986. National Park Service. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. Article.
2. “Captain Meldahl Locks and Dam.” US Army Corps of Engineers. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. Article.
3. O’Bannon, Patrick W. “Caissons.” Working in the Dry: Cofferdams, In-River Construction, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Pittsburgh: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, 2009. 44-45. US Army Corps of Engineers. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. Book.
4. Interpretative signage.
5. Rains, Laura. “Unlocking memories: Chilo No. 34 Park visitors center, museum opens.” Ledger Independent [Maysville], 24 Aug. 2005.
6. “Racine Locks and Dam.” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
7. “Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam.” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
8. Johnson, Leland R. The Ohio River Division. 1992, pp. 158, 348-350.
9. “In-Between Projects.” Ohio River Navigation. 1979, pp. 33-35.
10. “Canalization Continued, and Completed.” Ohio River Navigation. 1979, p. 28.
11. Ramsey, Katrena. “Ravenswood Locks & Dam #22 Lockmaster’s House.” West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office, 5 Sept. 2022.
12. “River News.” Portsmouth Times, 30 Jun. 1916, p. 19.
13. “River Projects’ Work Lists Cut By Contractors.” Evening Review, 29 Oct. 1937, p. 6.
14. “Chart No. 62.” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1929.