The Upper Mississippi River navigation season has officially come to a close for the year, with the last barge departing Lock and Dam 2 on December 1st. The Army Corps of Engineers in the St. Paul, Minnesota District marked the end of the 2024 navigation season, with the last tow leaving St. Paul heading south towards Lock and Dam 2 near Hastings, Minnesota. As the season wraps up, maintenance projects are scheduled at various locks and dams along the river, including miter gate anchorage bar replacement, guide wall repairs, and gate maintenance. The St. Paul District is responsible for maintaining a nine-foot navigation channel and overseeing 13 locks and dams from Minneapolis to Guttenberg, Iowa.
The closing of the navigation season signals the transition into winter maintenance activities for the St. Paul District staff, who will be hard at work ensuring that the locks and dams are in top condition for the next navigation season. The end of the year also marks a period of reflection on the successes and challenges of the past season, as well as planning for improvements and upgrades in the future. As the Upper Mississippi River navigation season comes to a close, the St. Paul District looks forward to continuing their vital role in facilitating transportation and commerce along the river in the upcoming year.
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Photo credit www.newsdakota.com
