Army Corps announces upper Allegheny River lock openings for boaters
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Locks on the upper Allegheny River will be open during specific dates and times this summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District announced Friday.
The corps will provide locking services to recreational boaters through a partnership with the Allegheny River Development Corp.
Allegheny River locks six through nine will be open beginning on Memorial Day weekend, May 26, and continuing through Sept. 30.
Interested boaters can find a complete schedule online at alleghenyriverdevelopment.org/lock-operations-schedule.
The ARDC proposes a lock operation schedule for recreational traffic and contributes funds to pay for lock operators. Without funding from the group, the locks would only be open for commercial navigation by appointment because of low or no levels of barge traffic, according to the corps.
Locking service is dependent on operational and safety conditions at the facilities, the corps said. Unexpected repairs could require locks to be shut down.
In 2011, the corps reduced service at facilities with low commercial use to ensure funds were used at critical, high-use locks.