Great Bridge Lock to close temporarily July 1 to conduct final repairs

Norfolk District Public Affairs
Published June 30, 2015
Norfolk District derrick boat Elizabeth lifts a 9,000 pound refurbished lock valve into place on the Great Bridge Lock in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Norfolk District derrick boat Elizabeth lifts a 9,000 pound refurbished lock valve into place on the Great Bridge Lock in Chesapeake, Virginia.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- The Great Bridge Lock on the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal will temporarily close to vessel traffic from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 1.

The closure will facilitate diving and crane operations to remove the temporary cofferdam and return the lock to full operation.

In November 2013, an underwater valve on the Great Bridge Lock failed. Corps officials devised a plan to construct a cofferdam to dewater the valve area and perform a complete inspection of the damages. The cofferdam also allowed the Corps to operate the lock on a normal schedule.

The Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, Route 1 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, will be closed to through vessel traffic during this operational time period.

Vessels wanting to transit the AIWW during this temporary closure may use the Dismal Swamp Canal, Route 2. The controlling depth of the canal is six feet. The DSC locking hours is 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., seven days a week.

Norfolk District maintains the Great Bridge Lock, which was constructed in 1932.

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is a major inland protected route for commercial traffic, especially barges supplying fuel to the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Va.

Vessel operators may call 757-201-7642 for information on the Dismal Swamp Canal’s latest project conditions or the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal closure. Lock and bridge operators will monitor Channel 13.

Recreational vessels can continue to use the Deep Creek and South Mills Locks on the Dismal Swamp Canal, which are operational for boats that draft less than six feet.