The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District has resumed normal operations at Canaveral Lock after completion of a multi-year repair project.
The repairs, completed in May, resulted in construction of new composite guide walls around the structure, located between the western turning basin of Port Canaveral and the Banana River. The Corps reduced operating hours to allow contractors space so they could safely build the walls. Completion of the work allows the Corps to resume locking vessels on demand between 6 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. seven days a week.
“We recognize these repairs have posed an inconvenience to boaters,” said Jim Jeffords, Jacksonville District Operations Division Chief. “The previous guide walls were over 40 years old and completing those repairs now improves the safety of boaters using the facility. Our thanks goes out to the boating community for their patience and understanding.”
The visitors’ area will remain closed while the contractor removes equipment from the area, but is expected to re-open sometime next week. The cost of the repair project was $6.2 million.
The Corps originally completed construction on Canaveral Lock in 1965 to assist with safe passage from the river to the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of six navigation locks operated by the Jacksonville District.
For more information on Canaveral Lock and links to other Jacksonville District navigation locks and projects, please visit the following website: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Navigation/NavigationLocks/CanaveralLock.aspx.
-30-
Release no. 16-044