July 25, 2008

The Department of Natural Resources today announced that the Crooked River (Alanson) Lock has been repaired and will re-open at noon on Friday, July 25.

The lock closed on July 17 for emergency repairs on the lock gate lifting mechanism. One of the large drive gears, measuring three feet tall by two feet wide, that power the gate lifting mechanism shattered, fracturing the gearbox housing. Although the DNR made repairs to the lock gears last year, and purchased replacement gears in anticipation of future failures, a cracked gear box had never occurred in the 40-year old equipment. The gear box is no longer manufactured, presenting the DNR and the Army Corps of Engineers with a challenge to find a solution to repair the lock.

With the efforts of Petoskey State Park staff, the Army Corps of Engineers and Cheboygan Field Office staff, a replacement gear box weighing 575 pounds was found and installed on July 24. Army Corps of Engineer's staff completed final alignment of all the gears Friday morning, and the lock is once again in full operation.