The Louisville, Ky., district of the Army Corps of Engineers allowed resumption of Ohio River traffic through the 1,200-ft Markland Lock chamber on March 1 after an expedited 155-day, $6-million emergency repair operation. Corps crews worked two 12-hour shifts each day through “wretched weather conditions to get this lock back in operation,” says Col. Keith Landry, district commander. A malfunctioning control-valve solenoid is blamed for allowing excessive water flow that wrenched one of the chamber’s 450-ton leaves from its mountings and damaging its partner during a locking operation on Sept. 27. Corps employees Sean Bennett (front) and Charles Smith endured nasty conditions during the repair operation.

Photo: Chaz Gauld / USACE