The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is evaluating remote operation of locks within the U.S. inland waterways system…

In fact, the first install project is being readied at Lock & Dam 4 on the Monongahela River. L&D 4 is also known as Charleroi Locks and Dam because it’s at Charleroi, Pa, at river mile 41.5, between Pittsburgh and Fairmont, W.Va…

Vincent De Carlo, P.E., is deputy chief, operations division for USACE’s Pittsburgh District. Mark Jones is the district’s chief of engineering and construction. They explained that, when complete, Charleroi will be able to lock tows remotely controlled from a control tower. Remote lock operations would allow one set of operators in a central location to operate multiple facilities, providing an additional level of service, particularly where a lock isn’t being used to capacity. The Charleroi work should be finished by the 2024 timeframe.
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