Upper Ohio Navigation Project

More than $857 million dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—will help fund the repair of three locks on the Ohio River that will prevent a failure that would lead to a stop in river traffic. One of the locks is already leaking. The Upper Ohio Rivers supports 76,500 jobs and the locks are key to the region’s economy.

Historical context

These three locks on the Ohio River are at least 85 years old, and each has the oldest and smallest chambers in the Ohio River system:

• “The three locks are the oldest and smallest lock chambers on the Ohio River, and each is more than 85 years old.” – Waterways Journal, February 4, 2022
• “Construction at Montgomery Locks and Dam (Ohio River Mile 31.7) began in 1932 and was completed in 1936, according to Andrew Byrne, a public affairs specialist for the Pittsburgh Engineer District.” – Waterways Journal, February 4, 2022
• The locks are now showing “significant deterioration.” – Beaver County Times, January 19, 2022

Project summary

Funding will support the expansion and replacement of chambers at three key locks along the Ohio River:

• The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides nearly $860 million for upgrades and repairs to Ohio River locks and dams and will support 3,800 full-time jobs annually. “The Army Corps has invested $934.7 million in funds across FY22 and FY23 in the Upper Ohio Navigation System, including $857 million to fully fund the construction work at Montgomery Lock as part of a $2.1 billion project to upgrade the Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery locks and dams, each constructed in 1936. These facilities have the oldest and smallest lock chambers in the entire Ohio River navigation system. The project replaces each auxiliary lock chamber (56’ wide by 360’ long) with a new lock chamber (110’ by 600’) at each facility. This new lock chamber would serve as the new main lock chamber. Regionally, the larger project is expected to support more than 21,000 full time jobs. Transportation through Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery is expected to support 3,800 full-time jobs annually.” – The White House, February 2023; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, last accessed June 2023
• “‘The project calls for the existing 56- by 360-foot auxiliary chamber to be replaced with a new main chamber that will measure 600 by 110 feet. Work is being done at the existing main chamber currently to help keep it in operation throughout the construction of the new chamber and thus minimize navigational impacts then,’ said Steve Fritz, Corps program manager for mega projects.” – Waterways Journal, February 4, 2022

Outcomes, improvements, and practical impact

There is currently a 50 percent chance of the system failing by 2028, which would halt river traffic:

• “The ‘unprecedented’ funding will be used to complete work on Industry’s Montgomery Locks, built in the 1930s and now exhibiting significant deterioration. A catastrophic failure at the site would halt river traffic and likely hamper work at Shell’s ethane cracker plant nearby. The system has a 50% chance of failure by 2028 and an average of 300 commercial lockages each month.” – Beaver County Times, January 19, 2022

The lock is already leaking, and if it collapses, the Port of Pittsburgh will close:

• “Mary Ann Bucci, Port of Pittsburgh Commission executive director, said there’s already a crack that leaks water between the two walls of Montgomery’s chambers. ‘If that wall collapses, both chambers would be non-functional and you close the Port of Pittsburgh,’ she said, adding this would completely shut down regional commerce and may affect municipal drinking water.” – Beaver County Times, January 19, 2022

Emsworth lock and dam averages 470 commercial lockages each month:

• “Emsworth averages about 470 commercial lockages every month, plus another 350-400 lockages of pleasure craft during the busy summer months. … Dashields averages about 450 commercial lockages every month, plus another 200 to 300 lockages of pleasure craft during the summer months. … Montgomery averages about 300 commercial lockages every month, plus another 150 lockages of pleasure craft during the busy summer months.” – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, last accessed June 2023

Climate impact

The locks ensure the availability of a source of municipal and industrial water:

• “An incidental benefit derived from the pool formed by the [Emsworth and Montgomery dams] is the availability of a source of municipal and industrial water. … [The Dashields dam] is basically a concrete wall across the river which keeps the channel deep enough for navigation and for residential and industrial water supply users.” – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, last accessed June 2023

The funding for the lock repair and upgrades will help relieve transportation congestion on land:

• “In addition to creating and supporting jobs, the funding will help to relieve landside congestion and provide more cost-effective transportation capacities, allowing goods to move through Pittsburgh and the surrounding area more efficiently.” – U.S. Bob Casey (D-PA), January 19, 2022

If the Montgomery dam collapsed, it would mean massive job losses and thousands of higher-polluting trucks on the roads:

• “‘River traffic is something few people think about unless it is shut down,’ [Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA)] said, adding that if Montgomery were to collapse ‘we could lose thousands of jobs and add thousands of trucks to our roads, meaning more pollution and traffic. This funding is essential and the result of years of advocacy and old-fashioned, hard legislative work.’” – Beaver County Times, January 19, 2022

Economic impact

Transportation through these locks supports 3,800 jobs annually:

• “Now that Montgomery is fully funded, Bucci said Emsworth is the next priority with Dashields not far behind. Regionally, transportation through Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery is expected to support 3,800 full-time jobs annually.” – Beaver County Times, January 19, 2022

More broadly, the waterways connected to the Upper Ohio River support 76,500 jobs:

• “Decades of underinvestment put our waterways infrastructure, and the 76,500 jobs in those waterways … we know those jobs are now at risk if we don’t make these investments. The good news is just a couple of days ago, the Army Corps of Engineers—this administration, the Biden-Harris administration— announced $857.7 million to complete the construction of the Montgomery Lock and Dam.” – S. Sen. Bob Casey, January 28, 2022
• The construction project itself will create thousands of jobs: “‘Completing construction on the Montgomery Lock and Dam will create thousands of good jobs for our members & help our economy continue to grow,’ said Darrin Kelly, president of the Allegheny Labor Council.” – S. Sen. Bob Casey, January 9, 2022

The locks help keep water levels high enough for large cargo ships to navigate the river:

• “This funding will support the replacement of locks that keep water levels high enough for large cargo ships to pass through the upper Ohio River in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. The project will create and sustain jobs in Southwestern Pennsylvania and enhance the region’s ability to move goods.” – S. Sen. Bob Casey, January 9, 2022

The locks support transport of up to 20 million tons of commodities per year:

• “The Upper Ohio River locks are estimated to facilitate the transport of 15 to 20 million tons of commodities annually in the next 50 years. ‘(This funding) means we can put that out to bid all at one time and keep the project moving forward,’ Bucci said. ‘Unlike the Lower Mon Project, which went piece by piece, year by year with whatever dollars we got. We end up in year 28 of a 10-year project. That will not happen at the Montgomery Locks and Dam.’” – Beaver County Times, January 19, 2022

Official supporting statements

• President Joe Biden: “We’ve announced a major investment of … $858 million to modernize the Montgomery Lock in — northwest of Pittsburgh here — (applause) — so the water levels are — stay high enough for barges to pass through the upper Ohio River. We move about half a trillion dollars’ worth of goods through those locks like these across the country every single year. When we’re not — when they’re not working, it creates chokepoints. The barges break [back] up and goods don’t get to where they need to go. Bob Casey has been on my back about this for so long. (Laughter.) And as we get this Montgomery Lock project done, I think we should call it the ‘Casey Lock.’” – The White House, January 28, 2022
• Bob Casey: “If this system were to break down, the economy of a large segment of America would be adversely impacted because of the failure to move commodities through the waterway system.” – Beaver County Times, January 19, 2022
• Bob Casey: “The Port of Pittsburgh and the region’s locks and dams play a vital role in moving commerce, creating and sustaining jobs, and supporting economic growth throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. This $857 million investment will help our region do just that. … I have long supported efforts to modernize the Montgomery Lock and Dam, which will ensure that shippers can reliably deliver and take cargo from Pittsburgh to the rest of the world. Thanks to the Infrastructure Law, President Biden and Democrats are delivering jobs and resources to Southwestern Pennsylvania.” – U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, January 19, 2022
• Former Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA): “‘River traffic is something few people think about unless it is shut down,’ he said, adding that if Montgomery were to collapse ‘we could lose thousands of jobs and add thousands of trucks to our roads, meaning more pollution and traffic. This funding is essential and the result of years of advocacy and old-fashioned, hard legislative work.’” – Beaver County Times, January 19, 2022
• Darrin Kelly, Allegheny County Labor Council president: “It’s not just investment in Montgomery … but a reinventing of the portal to Pittsburgh. Not just what’s coming out, it’s what coming back in …This will allow larger ships to come through.” – Beaver County Times, January 19, 2022
• Adam Czekanski, commander of the Pittsburgh District: “The inland navigation system is a crucial contributor to national and regional economic success. Receiving this supplemental funding will ensure this crucial inland navigation facility continues to provide the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly means of moving bulk commodities for decades to come. We appreciate the continued strong congressional support for this project.” – Waterways Journal, February 4, 2022

Selected clips

• “Infrastructure Law Fully Funds New Montgomery Lock” – Waterways Journal, February 4, 2022
• “Montgomery Locks project to be completed with $857 million federal boost” – Beaver County Times, January 19, 2022