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Listed in Army facility, Historical landmark, Locks and Dam, Ohio River Scenic Byway, Visited by Old Folks Adventures

• 567 New Dam Rd, Olmsted, IL 62970
  Olmsted, Illinois 62970
• +16187486403

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1. Overview
2. Reviews
3. Map & Directions
4. Contact/Other

Description

The Olmsted Locks and Dam is one of the most important engineering projects ever completed on America's inland waterways. Located on the lower Ohio River just upstream from its confluence with the Mississippi River, the facility replaced the aging Locks and Dams 52 and 53, which had become one of the nation's most significant shipping bottlenecks.

Authorized by Congress in 1988 and fully opened to navigation in 2018, the project features two modern lock chambers—a 110-foot by 1,200-foot lock and a 110-foot by 600-foot lock—designed to accommodate today's large commercial towboats and barges with far greater efficiency than the older facilities. The project also introduced an innovative "in-the-wet" construction method, allowing much of the dam to be built while the river remained open to navigation, reducing disruptions to one of the busiest commercial waterways in the United States.

Each year, tens of millions of tons of cargo pass through the Olmsted Locks and Dam. Barges carrying coal, grain, limestone, petroleum products, fertilizer, chemicals, and other commodities travel this section of the Ohio River, making it a critical transportation corridor for both domestic commerce and international exports. The reliability of the new locks has significantly reduced delays and improved the movement of goods throughout the Ohio and Mississippi River systems.

For visitors, the area offers an impressive opportunity to watch massive towboats and barge fleets navigate the locks while gaining an appreciation for the engineering that keeps America's inland waterways operating. Whether you're interested in river history, transportation, or civil engineering, the Olmsted Locks and Dam is a fascinating stop along the Ohio River Scenic Byway.

Historical References / Learn More

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Olmsted Locks and Dam Project
https://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Olmsted Project History and Construction
https://www.usace.army.mil/
Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) – Background on the Olmsted replacement project and inland navigation improvements.
https://www.nesp.org/
National Park Service – Ohio River history (background on the importance of the Ohio River as a transportation corridor).
https://www.nps.gov/

Listing Tags

Barges, Civil Engineering, Illinois, Inland Waterways, Kentucky, Locks and Dam, Mississippi River, Ohio River, ohio river scenic byway, Olmsted Illinois, Olmsted Locks and Dam, River Engineering, Towboats, Transportation History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

plusCode

5WMP+H8 Olmsted, Illinois

Street

567 New Dam Rd

Latitude

37.184133

Longitude

-89.064238

Highlights

Picnics

Offerings

Picnic Areas

Country

USA

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