Some locks on Allegheny River operating under reduced hours, staff

Allegheny River locks in Harmar and Aspinwall will operate under reduced hours and less staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

The move is an effort to minimize exposure to covid-19 for workers and the public, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials said.

Changes affect Lock 2 (Highland Park), which sits near Aspinwall, Sharpsburg and Etna, and Lock 3 in Harmar.

River traffic service will be limited to 8 a.m.-8 p.m., down from 24 hours daily.

“Protecting the health and safety of the public and our employees is our highest priority,” Lt. Col. Jonathan Klink, district commander, said.

All other locks on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers will maintain normal hours.

John Dilla, chief of the Corps lock and dam branch, said he hasn’t seen any significant change in local river traffic.

The cuts in operation won’t impede response to unforeseen events overnight, he added.

“There is no change in the ability to react to emergency situations if necessary,” Dilla said.

Lock 2 is a fixed-crest dam that crosses the Allegheny River between Highland Park and Aspinwall. In late 2019, it underwent $6.6 million in renovations to fix the deteriorating land wall.

Lock 3, also known at the Bill Young Lock and Dam, operates between Harmar and Plum.