KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - U.S. Representative John Duncan of Tennessee says with a thousand jobs and millions of dollars in payroll at stake in East Tennessee, the deteriorating Chickamauga Lock at Chattanooga should be expanded, not just replaced. <br>
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The lock, which was built in 1940, affects 180 miles of Tennessee River traffic north to Knoxville. Analysts estimate its cracking concrete could fail by 2010, forcing a congressional decision on replacing it. <br>
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Mayor Victor Ashe told about 100 civic, political and community leaders gathered for an update on the lock Wednesday that 1,000 jobs, $75 million in payroll and $35 million in transportation costs depend on the fate of the lock. <br>
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The lock is owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority but operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. <br>
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The current lock is 360 feet long. The Corps has recommended replacing it with a 400-foot lock costing $239 million -- about $26 million less than locks of comparable size downstream. <br>
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Duncan, a Knoxville Republican who is chairman of the House subcommittee on water resources, told the conference that he will recommend a 600-foot lock costing $321 million. <br>
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The main difference is volume. <br>
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The Corps' proposed lock would only allow one barge to move through at a time and leave barges waiting as long as eight hours. The larger lock would allow eight barges at a time to go through.
