Kentucky River Dam #3

Location: Gest, Kentucky
Owner: Kentucky River Authority
General Contractor: Brayman Construction Corp.
Value: $13.8 Million
Date Complete: May 2011

Originally built from 1836-1842 to support a 23mi long pool of water, Lock #3 was constructed of a timber crib structure. This structure consisted of an outside frame of timbers filled with dirt and rock while the original lock was stone masonry. Lock #3 was shut down in 2007 because of mechanical and structural problems.

Brayman Construction was contracted to perform modifications to the existing overflow spillway. Project details include the installation of eight (8)- 50ft diameter sheet pile cells; seven (7) closure cells; five (5)- 54in caissons; five (5) soldier piles and various modifications to the lock chamber wall and landside abutment.

Excavation of the river bed is being performed using a combination of dredging, air lifting and diver assisted activities. Over 1,300lf of sheet piling has been installed to date and 11,000cy of tremie concrete was positioned in a total of ten (10) placements. Dewatering of sheet pile cells was performed for installation of rebar and mass concrete. All activities were controlled by an erosion control plan to minimize soil erosion and runoff into the Kentucky River.