The Dalles lock repair closes river shipments

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ navigation lock at The Dalles on the Columbia River will remain closed for approximately the next week while engineers repair the downstream gate.

The lock was shut down Sept. 29.

A team of engineers and welders is working around the clock to repair extensive cracks on the lower portion of the downstream gate, according to a news release from Col. Steven Miles.

More than 12 million tons of commodities pass through the system of dams and navigation locks on the Snake and Columbia river shipping route from Lewiston to Portland. Much of that total is grain shipped from port sites along the Whitman County segment of the Lower Snake.