Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District recently celebrated the graduation of its 2026 Leadership Development Program Level 2 class. Over the course of a demanding seven-month curriculum, 20 graduates developed critical skills in emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and interpersonal communication. This rigorous training prepares our next generation of leaders to successfully guide the district's critical infrastructure and regional water resource missions. Read more about the class and their commitment to leadership development on our website.

For the first time since 2015, the massive concrete-and-steel bones of Barkley Lock are exposed to the open air as maintenance crews work inside a drained chamber to reinforce a critical navigation link on the Cumberland River. Since Aug. 10, the Corps has drained millions of gallons of water from the lock, opening a 52-day window for the Nashville District to inspect, repair, and reinforce critical infrastructure before commercial traffic resumes Oct. 1.

Click this link to learn more about our dewatering process at Barkley Lock! https://www.army.mil/article/295373/barkley_lock_dewatering_reinforces_major_navigation_artery

This Independence Day, make water safety part of your celebration.

Whether you're boating, swimming, fishing, or spending time at one of our lakes and rivers, a few simple precautions can help prevent tragedy.

Before you head out:
✅ Wear a properly fitted life jacket.
✅ Keep a close eye on children near the water.
✅ Never boat under the influence of alcohol.
✅ Know the water conditions before you go.

The best memories are the ones everyone makes home safely.

Cayce Grall, project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, provides an update from the Chickamauga Lock Replacement project.

As of Friday, June 19, all eight massive concrete beams for the upstream approach wall contract (CJ Mahan) have been successfully placed.
These are incredibly large structures, each beam measures 120 feet long, weighs roughly 420 tons, and has been carefully preserved since they were originally fabricated back in 2010.

Moving and placing them required an immense amount of coordination and precision. Following extensive preparatory meetings, morning safety briefings, and rigorous load tests, two heavy-lift derrick crane barges worked in tandem to maneuver the beams into place. Once the beams were lowered into the river, specialized dive teams went underwater to check them and make sure they were perfectly lined up and sitting exactly where they needed to be.

This milestone is a testament to the hard work, communication, and dedication of our contractors, USACE personnel, safety teams, crane operators, and divers. Safety and precision were at the forefront of this entire operation.

The upstream approach wall is critical for guiding vessels safely into the new lock chamber. While there are four final beams left to install in a future phase under the downstream approach wall and decommission contract, we are proud to celebrate the successful placement of these eight massive beams.

‼️A milestone in motion at the Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project as crews successfully set the first of 12 massive upstream approach wall beams.

Each beam measures 120 feet long, 10 feet high, and 10 feet wide, weighing approximately 420 tons. This installation marks continued progress on the upstream approach wall contract with CJ Mahan Construction Co. CJ Mahan is subcontracting McKinney Salvage LLC, which is using a derrick barge equipped with a heavy-lift crane to position the beams, as part of the broader effort to modernize navigation infrastructure on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga.

Additional beam placements will continue in phases as construction advances.