Huntsville Leader

Today, the House of Representatives approved the Water Resources Development Act of 2024. This legislation includes a provision advocated by Representative Strong to speed up repairs on Wilson Lock, located on the Tennessee River.

Wilson Lock is crucial for industries such as agriculture, defense, automotive, construction, and aeronautics. The lock and dam are owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with TVA for navigation purposes.

Representative Dale W. Strong emphasized the importance of Wilson Lock: “Wilson Lock is a vital piece of infrastructure for both North Alabama’s economy and U.S. national security - its timely repair is imperative to restore the flow of commerce and ensure the on-time delivery of the National Security Space Launch System.”

In 2021, a critical component known as the floating boom wall at Wilson Lock separated and sank. A temporary solution was put in place, allowing limited operations until September 2024.

Since September, all traffic has been rerouted through Wilson's smaller auxiliary lock due to the closure of the main lock chamber. This change has increased locking time significantly, causing delays that affect safety and commerce both within and between states.

Strong expressed his support for restoring normal operations at Wilson Lock: “I am proud to support the construction necessary to restore Wilson Lock to normal operations and alleviate the backlog of river transportation. It is critical the lock resume regular operations as soon as possible.”