Demopolis lock officially reopens

Boats of all sizes are once again able to pass through Demopolis going downstream toward the Gulf of Mexico or northward toward Tuscaloosa or the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway after the Army Corps of Engineers completed repairs May 16.

The lock received major damage on January 16 when a concrete failure occurred within the lock. The 70-year-old lock was out of service for four months to the day when it reopened two weeks ago.

Anthony Perkins, operations project manager for the Black Warrior River with the Army Corps of Engineers, said they are just proud to be back open.

“Our initial estimate was that the repairs would be completed by May 30, then we thought it would be (tomorrow) May 22,” Perkins said at a media event May 21. “It did end up curing a little faster than we thought and reaching full strength faster than previous lifts.”

This photo shows where the new 2,500-cubic-yard concrete barrier was poured across the upper side of the lock. | Brent Maze, The Demopolis Times

Lee Turnipseed shows Christopher Carranza where the lock was repaired earlier this year. | Brent Maze, The Demopolis Times

Anthony Perkins, operations project manager, talks about the repairs made to the lock. | Brent Maze, The Demopolis Times

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