News Release

Maintaining The Flow

Date: December 4, 2017
Contact: Catherine Bragaw, 301-491-6265

Potomac, Md. -  A $6.7 million construction project will soon be underway to improve several locks, waste weirs, bridges and other water control structures within one of the most popular segments of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal). These improvements will help the park’s historic structures withstand impacts from Potomac River floods and make the features easier to maintain.

Construction is anticipated to begin on or about December 4, 2017 and extend until spring 2019 (weather dependent). Project work will focus on eight different areas between Little Falls and Swains Lock (Milepost 5-17). The exact timeframe for work will be determined soon. Please check out the C&O Canal website and social media for details.

To provide safe access to the work areas during the construction process, the canal will be drained in these areas at various times throughout the project. Draining operations began November 26, 2017. Precautions will be taken by the park to protect wildlife within the canal during these operations.

This project consists of work in the vicinity of the following areas of the C&O Canal: Swains Lock, Great Falls Tavern, Olmsted Island, Carderock, Rock Run Culvert, and Lock #7. During construction, visitors will be directed to follow easily navigable detours around the work areas.