LaGrange Lock and Dam Rehabilitation

Advanced Concrete Sawing provided specialized concrete cutting services as part of the rehabilitation of the LaGrange Lock and Dam on the Illinois River. Originally constructed in 1939, the facility is a critical component of the nation’s inland waterway system and serves as an important navigation link for commercial river traffic.

Working within a dewatered lock chamber and active dam facility, ACS performed a variety of complex cutting operations to support the modernization of the lock structure. The project required extensive planning and coordination due to the critical nature of the facility, challenging access conditions, and the need to maintain strict construction schedules during the rehabilitation effort.

ACS’s scope included cutting operations associated with cofferdam installations, miter gate rehabilitation, anchorage pit modifications, wall armor replacement, large monolithic concrete separation cuts and deep core holes for the anchoring of new machinery. Our crews also completed numerous structural penetrations into the lock’s mechanical galleries, providing access for repairs, upgrades, and installation of new infrastructure throughout the facility.

The combination of heavy civil construction, marine infrastructure, and precision concrete cutting made this one of the most technically demanding projects undertaken by ACS. Through close coordination with the project team, ACS delivered the specialized cutting services necessary to support the rehabilitation and long-term preservation of this vital navigation structure.

This project highlights ACS’s experience working within lock and dam facilities where precision, safety, and execution are critical to maintaining and modernizing essential infrastructure.