USA: Marseilles Dam Project Moves Ahead

As part of ongoing repairs at the Marseilles Lock and Dam project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is placing HESCO barriers on the earthen dike located on the right descending bank of the Illinois River in Marseilles, Ill.

The earthen dike is part of the lock and dam project designed and constructed to maintain the navigation pool above Marseilles Lock and Dam.

“We have been developing courses of action regarding repairs to the earthen dike for several weeks,” said Andrew Barnes, Rock Island District project manager for the Marseilles Dam emergency project. “With the forecasted rainfalls we are making repairs in order to ensure the lock and dam project is able to operate as it was originally intended and the earthen dike is protected during the forecasted high water event.”

Barnes said the Rock Island District is also adding three feet of fill along portions of the earthen dike and constructing an upstream tie off. All of the work has a scheduled completion date of June 2.

“Making these repairs will also have the auxiliary benefit of providing some level of flood risk mitigation for the residents of Marseilles,” Barnes said.

The Rock Island District operates and maintains eight locks and dams on the Illinois River to include the Marseilles Lock and Dam. On April 18, the Marseilles dam was damaged when barges broke loose from a tow leaving two of the dam’s gates inoperable. Repairs to the lock and dam project have been ongoing to include work on the earthen dike.

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Press Release, May 30, 2013