April 22, 2013 - Seven barges rest against Marseilles Dam, Marseilles, Ill., after motor vessel Dale A. Heller lost control of its tow on April 18 due to strong river currents from heavy rainfall. The Coast Guard reported no injuries, pollution or breaches in the dam or nearby levees. The Corps assessed the extensive structural damage to the gates and found the dam to be sound and there are no public safety concerns.
Sept. 23, 2014 - The Rock Island District has awarded a construction contract to perform permanent repairs to the Marseilles Dam in Marseilles, Ill. The $20 million contract was awarded to Massman Construction Company of Kansas City, Missouri.
The Rock Island District, Marseilles Dam Emergency Response Project Delvery Team (PDT) received the 2014 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers PDT of the Year Award for Merit for their response to the April 2013 incident on the Illinois River.

October 2014 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, awarded a construction contract to perform permanent repairs to the Marseilles Dam in Marseilles, Ill. 

The $20 million contract ($18.2 million/base, $1.8 million/options) was awarded Sept. 23 to Massman Construction Company of Kansas City, Missouri. Onsite work is scheduled to begin in 2015. The repair work will be carefully staged to reduce flooding risk to the city of Marseilles and local areas and is expected to be completed in early 2017.

The Marseilles Dam, which is part of the Rock Island District’s Marseilles Lock and Dam project on the Illinois Waterway, sustained substantial damage following a barge accident in April 2013. Five of the eight dam gates sustained significant damage which included bending of the steel skin plates and structural members.

The most critical damage was to the gate trunnions, which are hinges that anchor the gate to the dam. The trunnions between Gates 2 and 3 were severely damaged and the trunnion anchor beam was broken off rendering both gates inoperable. Gate 2 was also displaced downstream and was wedged within the dam gate piers.

The District performed temporary repairs after the incident to stabilize the structure and the navigation pool. Permanent repairs include replacement of the trunnion anchor beam and fabrication and installation of three new gates and repairs to two damaged gates.

The dam has eight gates that by design are raised or lowered based on the river flow. The permanent repairs will bring all eight gates back to their intended design function and restore the lock and dam project to its original condition prior to the incident in April 2013.

Permanent repairs to the earthen dike located upstream of the dam will occur following completion of the permanent dam repairs.