A towboat pushes six barges of coal into the auxiliary chamber at New Cumberland Locks and Dam on the Ohio River in Stratton, Ohio, April 15, 2025. Currently the larger main chamber at New Cumberland is closed due to repairs, causing larger tows to break up their load to fit into the smaller auxiliary chamber, which slows down navigation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Medium Capacity Fleet is performing the repair work to get the main chamber back up and running. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District operates the New Cumberland Locks and Dam year-round to benefit inland navigation. Each year, over 180 million tons of bulk commodities travel the Ohio River through its system of navigation locks. These commodities include coal, petroleum products, chemicals, aggregates (like sand and gravel), grain, and other industrial materials. The river is a vital transportation route in the U.S. inland waterway system, supporting industries ranging from agriculture to energy. The fleet, which belongs to USACE Huntington District, arrived on site to begin work at the end of February and is expected to complete the repairs by the end of May. Each gate leaf is 35 feet tall, 61 feet wide, and weighs 235,000 pounds. The Pittsburgh District’s engineering office collaborated with the maintenance division on the repair project. Engineers also provided