Melvin Price Locks & Dam Project Tour & Lunch Presentation
Print Flyer:
This is a one of a kind opportunity to explore a lock and dam that facilitates a tremendous amount of transportation of good for all of us. Recently the facility had some alterations. The USACE chose Alberici as its General Contractor. This Tour and Presentation will explore the facility as well as the needs of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam and the challenges of maintenance and alterations. The SLC3 recently awarded this latest project with a CII Best Practice Award for Materials Management and an Honorable Mention for Front-End Planning. Both are very difficult to achieve and worthy of further explanation of its best practices. Join us on October 19th! Space is limited!
Program Summary:
The Melvin Price Locks & Dam in Alton, Illinois, is the largest of 29 lock facilities maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Upper Mississippi River System. This project corrected a flaw in the original design of the lock’s overlook buildings and set the stage for the vertical lift gates to be replaced during a future project. Planning for the project started in September 2021, and the contract period ran through June 2023. The inflexible closure period took place between January and March 2023. The project was completed ahead of its March deadline.
Project Description
The Melvin Price Locks & Dam in Alton, Illinois, is the largest of 29 lock facilities maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Upper Mississippi River System. More than 65 million tons of goods pass through Mel Price each year. This project corrected a flaw in the original design of the lock’s overlook buildings and set the stage for the vertical lift gates to be replaced during a future project.
The flaw stemmed from the orientation of the concrete overlook buildings, which are located on the upstream end of the main lock, on either side of the lock chamber. These reinforced concrete buildings house primary lock-control operations and include offices, break rooms, and a visitors’ area.
Prior to completion of this project, the overlook buildings extended 4.5 feet over the vertical lift gates. To create clearance for the gates to be replaced, the overlook buildings were demolished and rebuilt to correct dimensions, which required the lock to be closed to river traffic for 90 days.
Crews occupied the lock chamber as a floating job site. Unlike most lock control houses, which are located along the riverbank, Melvin Price’s are located directly above the lock chamber. Contractors worked from five barges — two barge-mounted cranes and three barge-mounted platforms — in and around the lock chamber.
During the closure, a smaller, auxiliary lock retained functionality for emergencies. Planning for the project started in September 2021, and the contract period ran through June 2023. The inflexible closure period took place between January and March 2023. The project was completed ahead of its March deadline, and the new overlook structures included interior renovations, new HVAC and low-voltage electrical systems, and upgraded electrical infrastructure to augment power distribution.
Hourly Schedule
Tour Agenda
- 11 - 11:30 am
- Check In and Networking
- 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
- Facilities Tours
- 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Lunch/Presentation
-
Speakers:
Brandon Meinert
Date
- Oct 19 2023
Time
- 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Cost
- $45.00
Location
- 2 Lock and Dam Way Road, Alton, IL 63002
Speakers
-
Andrew Schimpf PE (USACE)
-
Brandon Meinert (USACE)
-
Doug Engle (Alberici)
-
Kevin Deiters PE (USACE)
