NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 25, 2025) – When the Wilson Lock’s main chamber went offline last year, the Tennessee River’s heartbeat depended entirely on its aging auxiliary system. To keep barge traffic moving, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crews worked around the clock to maintain the "double lift" lockage. Today, that marathon continues as Mechanical Engineer Peter McDonald and his team return to the auxiliary lock for a surgical overhaul. The mission: replacing critical hydraulic cylinders and the complex web of piping, pins, and A-frame assemblies that power the lock's massive filling and emptying valves.