The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District has announced changes in operations at Canaveral Lock to accommodate repairs over the next six months.
Effective December 10, the lock will operate on the following schedule during weekdays:
· 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. Lock open, one lockage in each direction
· 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lock closed for repair work
· 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Lock open, lockages as needed
The lock will continue its normal operating schedule on weekends, from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The change in operating hours will be in effect until the work is complete, currently estimated to be the summer of 2013. Additionally, vessels that require more than 45 feet of horizontal clearance will need to coordinate passage through the lock at least seven days in advance by contacting the Canaveral Lock at (321) 783-5421.
“The changes are necessary to facilitate repairs to the guide wall on the south chamber,” said Steve Dunham, chief of the South Florida Operations Office, which has oversight of operations at the facility. “It is in poor condition due to age, and the repairs are necessary to keep the lock functioning safely.”
The lock is located between Port Canaveral’s west turning basin and the Banana River. It was constructed in 1965 to assist with safe passage from the port to the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of six locks operated by the Jacksonville District.
A Notice to Navigation is being issued on this subject. For more information on navigation notices concerning Canaveral Lock or the Okeechobee Waterway, please visit the following website:
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Navigation/NoticestoNavigation.aspx
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Release no. 12-091