1932 John P. Murtha/Charleroi (#4) Locks and Dam on Monongahela River near Belle Vernon, PA

(Satellite)

USACE
"Construction of Lock and Dam 4 at this present site was begun in 1931 and completed in 1932. After some 35 years of use, a major rehabilitation of the project was completed in 1967. This work involved reconstruction of the dam, which converted it from a fixed crest to a gated dam and raised the pool level 6 feet. Coupled with the construction of the Maxwell Locks and Dam project, the pool raise eliminated the need for old Lock and Dam 5 at Brownsville....Charleroi Locks and Dam is part of the Lower Mon Project which has modernized Braddock, is in the process of modernizing Locks and Dam 4, Charleroi, Pa., and will remove Locks and Dam 3, Elizabeth, Pa."

Street View, Dec 2021

Fort Loudoun Lock posted three photos with the comment: "Charleroi Locks & Dam aka Lock 4 is one of 9 total navigation structures on the Monogahela River between Pittsburgh, PA & Fairmont, WV. The current lock is seen on the left and the new lock that is still under construction is on the right in the first pic. Another big project belonging to the Pittsburgh District Corps of Engineers! Good bunch of folks....☺️"

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This 1924 photo shows the dam when it was a fixed crest dam.

HistoricPittsburg, cropped

 

USACE, Pittsburgh District posted

A new lock chamber will open on the Monongahela River soon with a new name. Let’s journey back to 1932 with these remarkable snapshots to the original construction. This facility will soon become 'the Locks and Dam formerly known as Charleroi'.

Construction of Lock and Dam 4 begun in 1931 and was completed in 1932.

Fun fact: Locks and Dams 2, 3 and 4 on the Monongahela River in Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland counties in southwestern Pennsylvania are the three oldest currently operating-navigation facilities on the Monongahela River.

These locks experience the highest volume of commercial traffic on the entire Monongahela River Navigation System and the pools created by these facilities provide industrial and municipal water, and are popular with recreational boaters.

Looking to stay updated on the Lower Mon Project?

For more information, please visit:

https://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/.../Key.../Lower-Mon-Project/.

mcnarybergeron, cropped
"Construction of portions of new river wall using 'in-the-wet' construction techniques for drilled shafts and mass concrete placement."  2005-10

All four miter gates were replaced.

StewardMachine

Brayman
"The modernization effort at this site will ultimately result in the construction of two new 84-feet wide by 720-feet long chambers to replace the existing 56-feet wide lock currently in operation."

dlz
This Charleroi lock replacement is part of a $1b lower-Mon improvement project.

This source says the new lock will be 84' x 1100'. Why do they expect the tows to be so long and narrow? (Update: other sources say the lock is 720' long. That still implies tows that are longer and skinnier than the ones I see around Illinois.)

pjdick
"A new 84 foot wide x 1,100 foot long river chamber"

I couldn't see this sequence of conveyor belts in the above photo. Does it carry concrete?

pjdick, fourth cover photo

I think this building of the approach walls is part of the "in the wet" work.

cjmahan, 1 of 6 photos

The project was started in 2004. It has taken so long because the USACE had to break the project into a lot of small projects because it could contract for only one years work each year. It is expected to complete in 2024, and it will change the trip between Charleroi and Braddock from a 5-hour trip to a 30-minute trip for a tow with nine barges. This source also says the lock will be 85' x 720'. [MarineLog]

 

WaterwaysJournal
The district recently finished building the new lock chamber walls and has emptied it of approximately 20 million gallons of water to allow contractors to begin adding the mechanical inner works of the chamber. (Photo by Michel Sauret/Pittsburgh Engineer District)
As of Oct 2021, the cost is estimated to be $1.2b. The majority of the tonnage through this lock is coal.

BraymanPrecast
Seven 200-ton precast segments were built on a site along the river near the dam.

Here is a "before" view.

Google Earth, Sep 2004

1 of 16 construction photos, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District photo by Michel Sauret
Charleroi Dewatering
Multiple contractor fleets have been working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District on the construction project at Charleroi Locks and Dam on the lower Monongahela River in Pennsylvania, shown here Sept. 30, 2021. The Pittsburgh District recently finished building the new lock chamber walls and has emptied it of approximately 20 million gallons of water, a process called dewatering, to allow contractors to begin adding the mechanical inner works of the chamber. 

1 of 17 construction photos, USAC Pittsburgh post, 📸 by Michel Sauret

The newly constructed chamber is scheduled to fill with water before the summer, and it is planned to go into full operation in 2024. 

Construction at Charleroi began in 2004. Once finished, the Charleroi project will cost approximately $1 billion, completed over a span of 20 years.

Once complete, the Pittsburgh District will begin removing the river dam at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, to create one continuous navigable pool between Charleroi and Braddock, Pennsylvania.

The platitude density in this video is too high for my tastes. But there was some information at 2:05.

5:55 video @ 0:17

0:59 video about the 20 year construction has no platitudes or talking faces, just facts. The 720' x 84' lock can handle a 9-barge tow in 25 minutes instead of two hours. The project cost $1b.

USACE, Pittsburgh District posted four photos with the comment:

Construction of the newest navigation lock is nearly complete at the #MonongahelaRiver Locks and Dam 4.

The #PittsburghDistrict is now in the testing phase of the new chamber before opening it for operation later this year.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently conducting fully integrated system tests on the new navigation chamber, which measures 84 feet wide by 720 feet long. The Pittsburgh District continues to adjust the system’s programming to prepare the lock to open for navigation later this year. The facility will be renamed the “John P. Murtha Locks and Dam” thanks to the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. 

The facility is part of the Lower Monongahela River Project which includes locks and dams at Charleroi, Elizabeth and Braddock, Pennsylvania. The three locks experience the highest volume of commercial traffic on the entire Monongahela River navigation system.

📸 by Michel Sauret

Shawn Pinkerton: You got to love our government spend billions on a lock while actively trying to kill the main commodity going through it...

Spend billions more on locks at the upper ends of both rivers( where there is little to no traffic) and save the ones that are actually used for last..

I'd bet in my lifetime the mon and Allegheny will both be closed down.

Shane Rolin: Named after JPM. Political hackery at its finest.

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District posted seven photos with the comment:

🛠️ Did You Know? The Monongahela River Locks and Dam 4, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1931, replaced an older dam from the 1800s. After nearly a century of service, this crucial infrastructure continues to ensure smooth river flow for boats and barges.

Constructing the dam in 1931 was no small feat. Engineers had to install a cofferdam—a temporary structure that held back the river’s water—allowing them to work in dry conditions. The Monongahela River Locks and Dam 4 saw further upgrades in the 1960s, which we’ll explore later this week.

Now, this historic dam is entering a new chapter. It will be renamed in honor of Congressman John P. Murtha, recognizing his lifetime of service. A ceremony on August 28 will mark the culmination of a 20-year effort to modernize and expand the lock chamber and advanced locking operations, enhancing commercial navigation.

🔗 Learn more about the Lower Monongahela River Construction Project: https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/.../lower-monongahela.../

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USACE, Pittsburgh posted four photos with the comment:

🔧 Check This Out! In 1963, the Monongahela River Locks and Dam 4 got a major upgrade! The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers turned the facility into a gated dam, which made it easier to control the water levels to keep boats moving smoothly on the river. This upgrade was a big deal for the Monongahela River, making sure it stayed a vital route for all kinds of cargo.

The transformation raised the water level upriver by six feet! This improvement ensured that even during dry seasons, boats could still travel safely. The facility, locally known as the “Charleroi Locks and Dam,” became a key part of the region’s transportation network, supporting industries and communities along the river.

Now, as we approach the ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 28, we reflect on the many upgrades and transformations this navigation facility has undergone. The facility proudly bears the name of John P. Murtha, in honor of a man who worked tirelessly for the betterment of our region and our nation.  

🔗 Learn more about the Lower Monongahela River Construction Project: https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/.../lower-monongahela.../

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10:32 USACE video on the history of this lock and dam