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Contractors pour concrete for the middle wall of a new lock chamber at the Charleroi Locks and Dam on the Monongahela River in Western Pennsylvania. The concrete is poured below water level inside a coffer dam. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Contractors prepare rebar that will reinforce the middle wall of a new lock chamber at the Charleroi Locks and Dam on the Monongahela River in Western Pennsylvania. They work about 30 feet below water level inside a coffer dam. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
The chamber wall at the Charleroi lock is partially protected by steel bumpers, however, between each bumper, erosion has worn away the concrete, exposing rounded river stone. This kind of concrete construction was discontinued decades ago because research showed its inherent weakness. The Army Corps of Engineers now employs stronger, state of the art concrete mixes utilizing angular stone and sand, rather than the rounded varieties. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Rebar will reinforce the middle wall of a new lock chamber at the Charleroi Locks and Dam on the Monongahela River in Western Pennsylvania. This construction is part of the Lower Mon project which will ultimately make traffic on the river much more efficient. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Will Clibbens, a diver tender, feeds hoses that contain warm water (for warmth), air (for breathing), and preasurized air (for tools) to a diver who is working to prepare a section of the new middle wall of the Charleroi Lock for the next phase of construction. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
View of the Braddock dam, which maintains the depth of the upstream pool. This new gated dam was completed in 2004 and replaced a nearly 100-year-old fixed crest dam. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
A coal barge enters the land chamber of the Braddock Locks and Dam on the Monongahela River. A US Steel plant abutts the US Army Corps of Engineers site. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Darren Hamm paints the bottom of a US Army Corps of Engineers work skiff at the Braddock Locks and Dam. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Coal is loaded onto barges at the Cumberland Mine near the Grays Landing Lock and Dam on the Monongahela River in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Mason Phillips, a deckhand in his third week on the job, maneuvers along the edge of a coal barge as a the tow is pushed into the Grays Landing Lock and Dam on the Monongahela River in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Lock gates hold back the up stream pool at the Grays Landing Lock and Dam on the Monongahela River in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
View of a 9 barge coal tow exiting the Grays Landing Lock and Dam on the Monongahela River in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Coal is loaded onto barges at the Cumberland Mine facility near Grays Landing Lock and Dam. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Deckhands of the John L. Rozance attach a 9 barge coal tow for a delivery up-river at the Fort Martin coal-fired power plant. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Mason Phillips, a deckhands of the John L. Rozance attaches a 9 barge coal tow to the boat for a delivery up-river at the Fort Martin coal-fired power plant. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Daniel Sickman, a deckhand of the John L. Rozance, ties off the front of a 9 barge coal tow in the lock at the Grays Landing Locks and Dam. Once it passes through the lock, the tow will continue up-river to make a delivery to the Fort Martin coal-fired power plant in West Virginia. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
Deckhands (L-R: Frank Degroen, Mason Phillips, and Daniel Sickman) rest for a moment in the bridge of the John L. Rozance as it makes its way up-river to deliver a 9-barge coal tow to the Fort Martin Power Plant in West Virginia. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS
A 9-barge coal tow approaches the Point Marion Lock and Dam, and the Fort Martin Power Plant in West Virginia. Credit: Jonno Rattman for the Wall Street Journal Slug: PAWATERWAYS