Location:
Lock and Dam 25 is located in Calhoun County, Illinois, and Lincoln County, Missouri, at approximately Mile 241.4 on the Upper Mississippi River above the mouth of the Ohio River near Winfield, Missouri.
Description:
The Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) area comprises the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS), as defined by Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (WRDA 1986), which includes the Upper Mississippi River from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Cairo, Illinois; the Illinois Waterway from Chicago to Grafton, Illinois; and navigable portions of the Minnesota, St. Croix, Black, and Kaskaskia Rivers. This multi-use resource supports an extensive navigation system (made up of 1200 miles of 9-foot channel and 37 lock and dam sites), a diverse ecosystem (2.7 million acres of habitat supporting hundreds of fish and wildlife species), floodplain agriculture, recreation, and tourism. Based on the recommendation of the UMR-IWW System Navigation Feasibility Study that examined system needs over the next 50 years, the NESP program was implemented to achieve the dual purposes of UMRS ecosystem restoration and navigation improvements. The Lock 25 – New 1200-foot Lock is the first of seven new 1200-foot Lock Projects being implemented under the NESP.
The majority of the Upper Mississippi River locks were designed and constructed in the 1930’s and the lock chambers are 600-ft long. Currently, the capacity of the Mississippi River navigation system is limited by the existing lock facilities on the Mississippi River. Tows must lock through using a two-step process, which takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, causing significant delays to navigation. The new lock will significantly reduce lockage delays and increase overall safety for operating and towing personnel. After construction of the new 1200-foot lock the 600-foot lock will become the auxiliary chamber and provide redundancy.
Proposed project features for the Lock 25 – New 1200-ft Lock include construction of new 1200-foot, pile founded, lock located in the auxiliary miter gate bay, and construction of an upstream, ported guard wall totaling 1200 feet, and a 650-foot downstream approach wall. The existing 600-foot lock remains in place and will become auxiliary lock chamber to be used primarily by recreation traffic. The project also includes associated channel work, relocations, and site-specific environmental mitigation.
Status:
The previously designed Phase 1 Contract for Lockwall Modifications was awarded in FY22 at a $8.4M and completed in FY24. The project is developing the contract acquisition strategy based on the current funding available from the FY22 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), while also assuming that the remaining project cost of $1.5B will be received between fiscal years 2027-2033. This is being closely coordinated with the navigation industry to ensure other priority projects are accounted for in the assumptions. The base contract is scheduled to be awarded in FY27 utilizing the balance of the FY22 BIL and will include the required scour repair and the new riverwall construction. If additional funding is provided in FY27 for the project as assumed, additional features will be constructed. Advancement of the design to a 65% level is ongoing, the design remains on schedule to be complete in June 2026.
Congressional Support:
The Lock 25 new 1200-foot lock received $732M through the FY22 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for project design and construction.
Key Takeaways:
- The project was funded for $732M in the FY22 BIL, and requires an additional $1,531,062,000 to fully fund construction. This is based on the cost certification received in June 2023, and will be updated as the design progresses, with the next update to occur in early calendar year 2025.
- Design is progressing on schedule, with 100% design to be complete in June 2026.
- The project has closely coordinated with HQUSACE and the Navigation Industry during development of the 2024 Inland Waterways Users Board Capital Investment Strategy. The project is in the “top 2” priorities for inland navigation construction and is expected to remain a priority until all funding is received to construct.
Additional Information:
Authority:
CG – Construction - Title VIII of Water Resources Development Act 2007, P.L. 110-114 and WRDA 2022, P.L. 117-263.
Summarized Project Costs:
Estimated Federal Cost
|
$732,000,000
|
Estimated Non-Federal Cost
|
$0
|
Estimated Total Project Cost
|
$732,000,000
|
Allocations Prior to FY 2024
|
$732,000,000
|
FY 2024 Allocation
|
$0
|
FY 2025 President’s Budget
|
$0
|
FY 2025 Total Capability
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$0
|
Major Work Item Current Year
FY2024:
- Project design, construction acquisition planning
- Award of hydraulic steel structure fabrication for dewatering of the future 1200’ lock
- Completion of the first construction contract
Major Work Item Next Fiscal Year
FY2025:
- Updated certified cost
- Finalization of the project acquisition strategy
- 65% design completion