The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), is installing a temporary guard wall at Wilson Lock in Florence, Ala., using three interlocking ocean barges. The system is intended to guide vessels into the lock’s main chamber and support uninterrupted commercial navigation for the next five to 10 years, USACE said in a statement.
Mobilization of the barges began May 12. Each barge measures 195’, with a combined length of 585’. Ancillary components such as lighting, handrails, and electrical systems were installed in June at a staging area near Pickwick Dam to prepare the system for deployment.
The Corps’ Nashville District will close the main lock at Wilson from July 14–28 to allow for installation of the interim wall. USACE noted the auxiliary lock will remain open to navigation during this period. TVA will oversee construction management and provide boat services for positioning the barges, while USACE will manage vessel traffic through the site.
“TVA will provide construction management oversight, and our Equipment Support Services Group will provide boat services during positioning and installation of the ocean barges,” TVA stated. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be managing lock traffic.”
The interim solution addresses the loss of the original floating guard wall, which detached and sank on Aug. 31, 2021, following impacts from Hurricane Ida. The USACE statement said inspections at the time showed no environmental or dam safety concerns.
Since the incident, TVA’s Equipment Support Services Group has provided ongoing boat support to help commercial vessels maintain navigation until the recent main lock closure in September 2024. TVA said it is continuing to work with federal partners to secure funding for a permanent replacement that replicates the original wall’s design with modernized updates.
