Allegheny River Lock & Dam 2
Website:
https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/about/districts/pittsburgh-district/
Telephone Number:
Location:
7451 Lockway West, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Description:
The Highland Park Lock and Dam, also known as the Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 2, situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a combination of a lock and fixed-crest dam constructed in 1932. Spanning the Allegheny River between the Highland Park neighborhood in Pittsburgh and the suburb of Aspinwall, this infrastructure was meticulously built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of an extensive system designed to enhance navigation along the Allegheny River. Notably, it holds the distinction of being the most frequently utilized lock under the management of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Positioned approximately 6.7 miles upstream from the Point in Downtown Pittsburgh, Lock and Dam No. 2 plays a crucial role in regulating water levels along the river. Upstream, Allegheny Pool No. 2 maintains an average water elevation of 721 feet above sea level, extending about 7.8 miles to Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 3. Moving downstream, the Pittsburgh Pool, with an average water elevation of 710 feet above sea level, extends the navigable watercourse. Consequently, Lock No. 2 facilitates a vertical movement of approximately 11 feet for boats transitioning between these pools.
The Pittsburgh Pool covers a vast expanse of over 24 miles of navigable water at an elevation of about 710 feet. It reaches 6.2 miles up the Ohio River from the Emsworth Locks and Dam, 11.2 miles up the Monongahela River to the Braddock Locks & Dam, and 6.7 miles up the Allegheny River.
Adding to the historical significance of the area, the Highland Park Bridge spans the river just above the dam and earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
