Published: July 18, 2008 08:00 pm      

Crooked River Lock closed for repairs

ALANSON -- The Crooked River Lock on the Inland Waterway is closed for emergency repairs during the middle of busy summer boating season.

The lock in Alanson needs repairs on the gate lifting mechanism, state officials said. The gearbox housing was fractured when a drive gear shattered leaving the lock inoperable.

The damage was discovered Thursday by state Department of Natural Resources officials. The DNR made repairs to the lock gears last year and purchased replacement gears in anticipation of future failures, but the broken gearbox is no longer manufactured. Officials will try to find a used gearbox or repair the existing one.

The lock will likely be down for a week to 10 days, said Gary Ellenwood, DNR district supervisor. Updates on the status of the repairs are available by calling (906) 293-5131.