About four years after a floating guide wall on the lock at Wilson Dam sank, the Tennessee Valley Authority on Wednesday took local news media aboard its Tugboat Freedom to see the repairs and visit the power generation facilities at the dam, which is 100 years old this year.
The guide wall sank Aug. 31, 2021, during storms related to the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
Damage to the lock resulted in lengthy delays for river traffic, which ordinarily amounts to some 11 million tons of goods annually.
Beginning in May, TVA created a temporary wall made from three ocean-going spud barges. Though temporary, the wall is expected to last up to 10 years.
TVA provided construction management oversight with its Equipment Support Services Group providing boat services during positioning and installation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will manage lock traffic.
