A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Kentucky Lock is located in western Kentucky at Mile 22.4 of the Tennessee River. A feasibility report completed in 1992 recommended a new 110' x 1200' lock adjacent and landward of the existing 110' x 600' lock. The project was authorized for construction in WRDA 96. FY 98 funding of $4M was used to continue WES model studies, the Lock DM, Transmission Tower DM, subsurface exploration, and initiate the Railroad DM. Construction on the project was initiated with the construction of an access road on the powerhouse island that was completed in August 1998. Due to fiscal reprogramming efforts within the Corps, the FY 99 funding plan of $12.6M is:

• $3.3M – Lock DM
• $2.7M – Railroad DM
• $1.9M – Highway DM
• $0.7M – Cofferdam DM
• $0.16M – Materials DM
• $2.2M – Transmission Tower Relocation
• $0.6M – Lock and Navigation Models at WES
• $0.2M – Environmental Studies
• $0.4M – Construction Contracts
• $0.44M – Management/Miscellaneous.

Subsurface exploration costs are included in the costs for the DM’s above.

GENERAL

Homepage – The basic architecture of KY Lock’s Homepage, www.orn.usace.army.mil/pao/kylock/, has been redesigned. Data will continue to be added to the site over the next few months. If you have any suggestions for its improvement, please contact Dave Treadway at 615-736-7161 or Don Getty.

Updated Project Cost Estimate – Here are the results of the working estimate that was just completed:

• 1995 Estimate (all Federal) $395M
• 1995 Estimate in 1999 dollars (inflation adjustment) $440M
• 1999 Working level estimate (all Federal) $437M
• 1999 Working level estimate (KyTC share) $22.5M

Considering all of the design changes since 1995 (especially the addition of the downstream Hwy 62 bridge), it is encouraging that the project’s Federal cost has essentially not risen over the last four years.

FY 00 Funding Outlook – Here is what is known about KY Lock’s funding levels for FY 00:

• President’s Budget Submission $7.75M
• Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee $9.75M
• House Appropriations Sub-Committee No number developed
• Stated capability of Project $15M
• The stated capability of the project is the funding level required to keep the project’s completion date as early as possible.

Highway Environmental Assessment – The draft biological assessment is currently under review by TVA and the Corps and is scheduled to be transmitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service in early July. This schedule should allow for the preparation and completion of an Environmental Assessment prior to the advertisement for the construction of the West Bank RR/Hwy embankment early next winter.

Coordination meeting with the KY Division of Water and KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife – A productive coordination meeting was held between the Corps and these two agencies on 29 June in Frankfort, KY. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the preparation of the Hwy EA and water quality certification for upcoming construction activities. A secondary purpose was to update the agencies on the current status of the project. Significant issues discussed included the proposed construction methods for the bridge piers, development of mitigation plans for all mussels impacted by both the Hwy and RR bridge piers, and mitigation plans for impacted wetlands. Water quality certification is in effect for near term construction activities, including the downstream boat ramp (and all activities included in the original EIS). However, certification of the bridge pier work and other work below ordinary highwater is not in effect until completion of the Hwy EA and the EIS supplement that is planned for next FY. The EIS supplement cannot be developed until testing is complete on the navigation model which will not be until this winter. A trip to WES (Vicksburg) to view existing conditions in the navigation model is expected in the mid to late August timeframe.

Cultural Resources Assessment – A task order is being developed for Duvall and Associates to complete the remaining cultural and historical surveys and compliance tasks. This will include coordination efforts with the Kentucky State Historic Preservation Officer and other appropriate agencies and groups. A scope has been finalized and negotiations are expected in early July for this order.

The Corps’ Drill Crew returned to the site on 29 June after being off-site for several weeks. They have initiated drilling for the east bank highway alignment. Most of the remaining land-based drilling identified for the project is related to the Hwy 62 relocation.

Near term drilling and testing schedule:Near term drilling and testing schedule:

Early July – A drill crew from the Vicksburg District is expected to begin drilling along the Hwy alignment. All geotechnical testing of drilling samples taken along the Hwy alignment will be performed by FMSM.

August – Initiate overwater drilling by Harza for: 1) Hwy bridge piers, 2) D/S cofferdam, 3) U/S approach walls’ drilled shafts, 4) possibly downstream bent locations for truss assembly and 5) RR bridge piers 4 and 14 and commensurate Hwy bridge piers (probably via land bridge).

Construction of the model was essentially completed in June. However, chronic problems with the main water supply pump have prevented the start of testing efforts. These chronic problems were fixed the week of 28 June and calibration testing is expected to commence on 6 July. After calibration and base conditions flows have been finalized, a meeting with navigation and environmental interests will be held at WES. It is now anticipated that this will occur in the mid to late August timeframe. When a date is selected, interested parties will be notified and the dates will be posted on the KY Lock Homepage. Construction photos of the navigation model can now be viewed from a link on KY Lock’s homepage. LRN personnel visited KY Lock the week of 21 June to calibrate one of the upstream cameras being used in the barge impact study.

LRN is nearing completion of finalizing the upstream topography. This will be sent to WES in early July for incorporation into the Lock Model. Testing of this new topography and the upstream floating guardwall are the last planned tests for this model.

In-house efforts continue to focus on the support of WES’s Lock and Navigation Model work, existing lock stability, new lock stability, miter gate design, culvert valve design, preliminary electrical/mechanical design, east bank permanent embankment, and the development and managing of task orders.

Electrical/Mechanical Design - The 100% Electrical/Mechanical Concept report has been received. A new task order to take the electrical/mechanical designs to a DM level has been negotiated and is nearing award to Harza. Electrical/Mechanical Design - The 100% Electrical/Mechanical Concept report has been received. A new task order to take the electrical/mechanical designs to a DM level has been negotiated and is nearing award to Harza. Electrical/Mechanical Design - The 100% Electrical/Mechanical Concept report has been received. A new task order to take the electrical/mechanical designs to a DM level has been negotiated and is nearing award to Harza. Electrical/Mechanical Design - The 100% Electrical/Mechanical Concept report has been received. A new task order to take the electrical/mechanical designs to a DM level has been negotiated and is nearing award to Harza.

Site Development – John Manor of LRN has completed conceptual designs and drawings of the new lock’s site development (available upon request). A task order is being developed with Gresham Smith and Partners to take this conceptual design to a DM level design. A scope has been finalized and negotiations are expected in early July. A meeting is still planned for sometime in July at the KY Fish and Wildlife Department’s visitor center in Frankfort, KY to explore the partnering possibilities for KY Lock’s possible visitor center. Avis Kennedy of LRNCO-T is continuing in her efforts to obtain guidance from higher Corps authority on whether and how the visitor center can be included as part of the project.

Lower Guidewall – Design efforts by Harza for this feature are slightly behind schedule due to delays in the RCC testing program, design changes, and refinements in the rock profile. Even with these delays, essential completion of this work effort is still expected by the end of the FY.

Upper Approach Walls - It is planned to issue a task order to advance the upstream guardwall to DM level to one of EP-D’s new IDT Contractors upon their selection (see below).

Floating Caisson– After a successful review of the 30% submittal on this DM level effort and a site visit to view the setting of the existing floating caisson at Guntersville Lock, design work by INCA has continued and is on schedule.

Miter Gate Design – Design efforts by the Louisville District Corps of Engineers (LRL) on this feature are proceeding well. Comments on their 30% submittal are currently being addressed. A finite element analysis has been initiated and is being reflected in design efforts. Also, a task order with INCA is being developed to provide design checks.

As-built Drawings – A task order is being developed with AIMSI Engineers to perform this work. The order has been negotiated and is nearing award. A site visit will be scheduled soon as part of this effort.

EB Permanent Embankment – The DM level design of this feature is currently about 70% complete and will be finalized later this summer.

Stoplogs – Efforts have been initiated to have the Mobile District develop a design package and provide drawings for the stoplogs that they have recently completed for their locks. Upon receipt of this package, it is planned to issue a task order to INCA to perform an independent technical review and to ensure that these stoplogs will be suitable for this project.

EP-D New IDT’s - The first of the four new IDT contracts was awarded to Harza Engineering the week of 1 June. The remaining three are still not far behind.

Disposal/Contractor Laydown Areas

Vulcan Materials Disposal Site – Activities necessary to acquire the real estate rights for this 46-acre site located about ¾ mile from the proposed lock on Hwy 453 have been initiated. These include:

Completion of an HTRW assessment.

A coordination meeting with Vulcan officials on 21 June. The boundaries of the proposed site were finalized. A decision has not yet been made on whether to acquire the property in fee or acquire a long-term easement.

A site survey will be initiated by a Corps contractor in July. A draft scope of work for this survey is under review.

A task order is being developed for one of the new lock A/E’s to develop necessary designs for this disposal site. This includes access roads, storm water and erosion control measures, volumetric determinations, staging arrangements, and final site characteristics.

Wayne Rains of TVA’s Realty Transactions Group will be responsible for the appraisal and acquisition process. It is planned to complete the appraisal this FY. Acquisition activities will be dependent on funding levels next FY.

Downstream cofferdam – Harza submitted their 30% report on schedule. A 30% review meeting is scheduled for 15 July in Nashville. It is expected that a decision will be made at this meeting on the selection of the preferred alternative or at least the development of gameplan to make this decision. The minimal disruption to the operation of the existing lock during construction of this cofferdam is a major design goal.

Upstream cofferdam – Efforts have been initiated on a scope of work for a task order to one of the new lock A/E’s on the structural design of this feature. It is hoped that this order can be issued in early August. Much of the geotechnical design of this cofferdam will be performed by LRN.

Independent Technical Review – Because of the complexity of the design, the interrelationship of the cofferdam features, its importance to dam safety, and the number of design groups involved, it was decided by the design team to form an independent technical review (ITR) team for the entire Cofferdam DM. Although all design work on this project undergoes an ITR, this proposed team would provide for a comprehensive review of various related elements. LRN’s Structural Section is in charge of putting together this team. It is hoped that it can be formed in the next month and begin participating by reviewing design decisions.

Value Engineering Study – The first value engineering (VE) study on this project will concentrate on the downstream cofferdam. Ted Davidson is putting together a team that will be examining Harza’s 30% report and possibly examine other alternative concepts. One alternative proposed by Gordon McClellan consists of a float-in wall section of the permanent lock wall that would eliminate the need for a portion of the downstream cofferdam. Ted is expecting to bring in one of the new lock A/E’s to help in this study.

Efforts on this work effort have been initiated by LRNEP-G. Samples have been obtained from two quarries and three sand pits. Additional sand pits and at least one more quarry will be sampled. Testing of the samples will be performed by the Waterways Experiment Station (WES).

Quarterly Design Meetings – The next quarterly design meeting is scheduled for 16-17 August at the Lake Barkley Resource Managers office. The Hwy-only meeting is scheduled for the afternoon of 16 August. The joint Hwy/RR meeting is scheduled for the morning of 17 August and the RR-only meeting that afternoon.

DM Design – Activities performed during the month by American Consulting Engineers (ACE) include:

Navigation Span Span increased from 500’ to 505’ due to location of EB pier in relation to the proposed guidewall

• Studying haunched vs. constant depth for 3-span plate girder alternate. Continuing study of truss alternatives.