The Markland Locks and Dam is a concrete
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
bridge and
locks
Lock(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
*Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance
*Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lock ...
that span the
Ohio River. It is 1395 feet (425.2 m) long, and connects
Gallatin County, Kentucky
Gallatin County, is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. Its county seat is Warsaw. The county was founded in 1798 and named for Albert Gallatin, the Secretary of the Treasury under President Thomas Jefferson. ...
, and
Switzerland County, Indiana
Switzerland County is a county in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 9,737. The county seat is Vevay, one of two incorporated towns in the county.
History
In 1787, the fl ...
.
The locks and dam were reviewed by the Board of
Engineers
Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the ...
for River and Harbours to replace the Ohio River locks and dams Number 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39. Then the project was approved by the
Secretary of the Army on March 11, 1953. Construction on the locks began in March 1956 and they were placed in operation in May 1959. The dam construction began in April 1959 and was finished in June 1964.
Federal Power Commission granted a license for
Cinergy
Cinergy Corp. ( ) was an energy company based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, from 1994 to 2006. Its name is a play on the words "synergy", "energy", and "Cincinnati".
History
Cinergy was created on October 24, 1994, from the merger of the C ...
to operate a hydroelectric power plant at the dam. Cinergy was later bought by
Duke Energy. The plant has a capacity of 81,000
kVA.
On September 27, 2009, the 1,200-foot lock failed and the gates "mismitered" due to a
solenoid malfunction. The lock was repaired and reopened on March 1, 2010. The 1,200-foot lock chamber remained closed for 155 days, but the 600-foot lock continued to lock traffic albeit with delays.
See also
*
List of crossings of the Ohio River
This is a complete list of current bridges and other crossings of the Ohio River from the mouth at the Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois to the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Illinois–Kentuc ...
*
List of locks and dams of the Ohio River
This is a list of locks and dams of the Ohio River, which begins at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at The Point in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and ends at the confluence of the Ohio River and the Mississippi River, in Cairo ...
References
External links
A Variety of Markland Dam Pictures are at Northern Kentucky Views
{{Duke Energy Indiana
Dams in Indiana
Dams in Kentucky
Hydroelectric power plants in Indiana
Hydroelectric power plants in Kentucky
Buildings and structures in Gallatin County, Kentucky
Dams on the Ohio River
Buildings and structures in Switzerland County, Indiana
Energy infrastructure completed in 1964
Bridges completed in 1964
Transportation buildings and structures in Switzerland County, Indiana
Road bridges in Indiana
Road bridges in Kentucky
Duke Energy dams
Locks of Indiana
Locks of Kentucky
1964 establishments in Indiana
1964 establishments in Kentucky