The Tennessee Valley Authority and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be implementing an interim solution for the guard wall at Wilson Lock to allow normal operations to resume.
Three ocean barges and equipment on the way to Wilson Dam. TVA photo
This will improve lock duration times for commercial vessels, reduce safety risks for workers, and support more than 11 million tons of goods that pass through Wilson Lock each year.
On August 31, 2021, the Wilson Lock floating wall that guides boats into the primary lock lost buoyancy, detached, and sank to the bottom of the reservoir. This was a result of impacts from Hurricane Ida. Inspections showed there were no safety or environmental impacts to the dam.
Starting on May 12, TVA began the mobilization of an interlocking system of three ocean barges and equipment to provide an interim guard wall solution to support navigation traffic at Wilson Lock. Each barge is 195 feet long, making the overall length of the temporary guard wall 585-feet-long. This interim solution is designed to last between five to 10 years.
To ensure the barges were ready to be deployed immediately after the Corps finished its repairs and reopened Wilson’s Lock main chamber, the ancillary systems, including lighting, handrails, and electrical components, were installed at a docking area near Pickwick Dam in June.
Interim guard walls in transit. TVA photo
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is closing the main lock to navigation July 14-28, 2025, while TVA installs the interim guard wall. USACE will operate and keep the auxiliary lock open for navigation traffic during the installation. interim guard wall, which is designed to last between five to 10 years, will allow normal operations to resume – supporting more than 11 million tons of goods that pass through Wilson Lock each year.
While the interim solution is in use, TVA will continue to collaborate with various partners to seek funding for a permanent floating wall that mirrors the design of the original solution and includes modernized features.
TVA will provide construction management oversight, and our Equipment Support Services Group will provide boat services during positioning and installation of the ocean barges. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be managing lock traffic.
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