OTTAWA, Illinois -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District announces that the outdoor viewing area at the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center in Ottawa, Illinois, is open for viewing the ongoing construction work at Starved Rock Lock and Dam.
The construction work is part of the 2020 Illinois Waterway Consolidated Lock Closures taking place at five locks on the Illinois Waterway. The Illinois Waterway Consolidated Lock Closure is the largest lock closure project in the history of the Rock Island District. Starting July 1, locks at LaGrange, Peoria, Starved Rock, Marseilles and Dresden Island closed to facilitate needed repairs and maintenance. The closures, which are being conducted simultaneously to limit impacts to navigation, are scheduled to last through late October.
Visitors should use the new Visitor Center entrance road and are reminded to be cautious as the area is an active construction site. Viewing areas are available daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Handicap accessibility is available on the ground level. Leashed pets, on leashes six feet or less, are welcome. Public areas may be closed at times due to safety concerns. Temporary barricades will be used to protect the public during times of closure.
While the outdoor areas are open, the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center along with public restrooms and drinking fountains are still closed at this time due to precautions in place regarding COVID-19.
To view more information on the 2020 Illinois Waterway Consolidated Lock Closures and a complete schedule, visit: https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Navigation-Status/.
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Release no. 20-111