Elizabeth Lock And Dam Fails On Sunday

On Sunday the main hydraulic system at the Elizabeth Lock and Dam on the Monongahela river failed resulting in a 6 hour closing of the lock and dam. An estimated 50 gallons of fluid spilled into the river as a result of the failure. Army corps of engineers of Pittsburgh spokesman Jeff Hawk said the Elizabeth Lock and Dam is very old and needs to be replaced. He says there is currently no funding in place outside of recovery act money to replace the outdated system of locks and dams in the Pittsburgh region. Currently Hawk estimates the Elizabeth Lock and Dam will not be replaced until 2030.