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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division serves as USACE’s tip of the spear in one of the most dynamic construction environments in the world, STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS, BUILDING CAPACITY, and ENHANCING SECURITY for our nation, allies, and partners. 

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Archive: 2024
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  • October

    Construction workers from contractor Thalle Construction complete the first monolith “top-out” on the Kentucky Lock Addition Project located in Grand Rivers, KY, Oct. 12, 2024. A monolith is a single structure of concrete that is in the shape of a column. There are a total of 50 monoliths that are to be constructed made from five-foot layers of concrete. Each five-foot layer is called a lift. Early Saturday morning, the final concrete lift was completed for a monolith located on the downstream side of the lock being constructed.

    Kentucky Lock Addition Project reaches first monolith top-out milestone

    On Oct. 12, 2024, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District, in partnership with contractor Thalle Construction, marked a major milestone in the Kentucky Lock Addition Project with the first monolith top-out of the project’s Downstream Lock Monolith contract. This accomplishment reflects significant progress in constructing the new lock, which aims to enhance navigation efficiency on the Tennessee River.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Operation Blue Roof Program contractors install first blue roof at a record-setting pace, one-week post-storm and one day after the issuance of the notice to proceed, in the wake of the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. (USACE photo by Peggy Bebb)

    USACE ‘Blue Roof’ installs begin in Sarasota at record pace

    SARASOTA, Fla. (Oct. 17, 2024) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Operation Blue Roof Program contractors install first blue roof at a record-setting pace, one-week post-storm and one day after the issuance of the notice to proceed, in the wake of the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
  • Leading the way is routine for the Memphis District’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Section led by Chief Lindsay Barrios, GISP. For years, they have been leading the way in GIS technological advances for the district. The GIS Team continues to push forward with technology to create new ways to gather, analyze, and visualize data.  GIS is a technology that connects data to a map, allowing users to understand patterns and relationships in geographic context. GIS innovation is changing the way people interact with their environment and making it possible to make more informed decisions.

    Innovation | GIS Team unveils advanced product offerings

    Leading the way is routine for the Memphis District’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Section led by Chief Lindsay Barrios, GISP. For years, they have been leading the way in GIS technological advances for the district. 
  • On October 9, the Memphis District hosted a pivotal meeting with Congressional, municipal, and industry partners to discuss the proposed extension of Arkansas’s Osceola Harbor by 3,000 feet. This initiative is crucial for supporting the growth of the steel industry in the region like Big River Steel, U.S. Steel, and Hybar, LLC. This partners’ gathering was joined by U.S. Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01), and Mississippi Valley Division Programs Directorate Director James Bodron, SES. From the Memphis District were Commander and District Engineer Col. Brian Sawser, Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project Management Donny Davidson, Project Management Branch Chief Danny Ward, Command Strategic Advisor Meagan Schroeder, Osceola Harbor Extension Project Manager Andrea Carpenter-Crowther, and Operations Project Manager Vickie Watson. Local partners included City of Osceola Mayor Joe Harris, and representatives from the steel and grain industries.

    Partnership | Osceola Harbor Expansion

    The Memphis District hosted a meeting with Congressional, municipal, and industry partners to discuss the proposed extension of Arkansas’s Osceola Harbor, Oct. 9, 2025.
  • Ty Melton, a lock mechanic with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District, dons diving headgear with the help of Matt Williamson, a fellow mechanic at Wilson Lock in Florence, Ala., Oct. 9, 2024. Dive-certified mechanics like Melton and Williamson are crucial to getting a firsthand look at any underwater maintenance concerns, such as the cracks in the land and river sides of the gates at Wilson that have caused the closure of the main chamber.

    Divers and remote technology assist with maintenance at Wilson Lock

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is taking steps to address critical maintenance concerns at Wilson Lock on the Tennessee River, where divers and remotely-operated technology are working together to inspect the main chamber gates. On Oct. 9, 2024, a dive support team, assisted by specialists from the USACE Engineer Research and Development Center, conducted a detailed inspection following the discovery of cracks on both the land and river side gates, which prompted the closure of the main chamber.