Olmsted at a glance

The Locks and Dam 52 and 53 Replacement Project (Olmsted Locks and Dam) is located 17 miles upstream from the Mississippi River near the town of Olmsted, Ill., at Ohio River mile marker 964.4.

This strategic reach of the Ohio River provides a connection between the Mississippi, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. More tonnage passes this point than any other place in America’s inland navigation system.

The project was authorized by the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1988 at an estimated cost of $775 million. It was reauthorized in 2013 at an estimated cost before inflation of $2.9 billion.

The new infrastructure will eliminate Ohio River Locks and Dams 52 and 53, both nearly 90 years old. Temporary 1,200-foot lock chambers were added in 1969 at L&D 52 and 1979 at L&D 53.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

By Professional Mariner Staff