The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks small chamber will close to marine traffic from 1 p.m., March 11 through 7 p.m., March 22. Crews will be conducting annual maintenance and safety inspections during the closure.
The large lock will continue to operate around-the-clock as usual and the closure will not affect foot traffic. Lock staff are aiming to get commercial traffic through as quickly as possible.
All pleasure boats will be using the large lock during the maintenance period and need to be prepared with appropriate equipment and crew. Large lock requirements include long lines and fenders to be on board. Click here to check out the current locking information if you are planning on traveling through the locks during the closure. Mariners may expect delays, depending on passage demand.
Most of the machinery and equipment are originals of the facility which began operation in 1917. This scheduled annual maintenance will allow dam safety experts and staff to dry out the small chamber for thorough safety inspections and repairs.
The Chittenden Locks are owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and are the busiest locks in the nation, locking through nearly 50, 000 vessels each year.
To find out more information and receive updates about the Chittenden Locks check out the Facebook page here or click here to visit Chittenden Locks’ twitter page.
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