Disappearing Act: Submerging Bulky Dam Shells in the Ohio River
The Olmsted Locks and Dam�s wicket section will operate much the same as its predecessors, but it is much bigger.
RENDERING COURTESY OF USACE
From Fabrication To Placement: The tainter gate section of Olmsted Dam will have six sill shells on piles to carry six piers that hold five tainter gates. Another six stilling basin shells sit downstream of the sill shells and have energy-dissipating blocks to break up the flow of water, which increases as it passes over the sill shells.
Infographic used by permision from the Courier-Journal, Oct. 23, � 2011 Courier-Journal
Two enormous gantry cranes take turns moving 5,000-ton loads from the prefabrication yard to the dam foundation.
PHOTO COURTESY OF USACE / WILLIAM GILMOUR
On several occasions, different Olmsted engineers have described the project as their dream job. But as work continues, Duffy's pile of mangled straws grows: One wrong move could crack a shell, negating months of progress and costing millions of dollars.
The team has successfully set seven of 18 tainter-gate shells. If the "creek don't rise," shell work could continue until the end of the month.
