Melvin Price Locks and Dam, River navigation system in Alton, Illinois, United States.
The Melvin Price Locks and Dam is a lock and dam system on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri. The facility features two locks and nine tainter gates that regulate water flow and enable navigation for river traffic.
The system was constructed between 1979 and 1994 and replaced the outdated Lock and Dam 26, representing a major advance in river navigation infrastructure. Its construction was part of a broader modernization program for the Mississippi River.
The National Great Rivers Museum located at the site displays exhibits about Mississippi River communities, navigation systems, and environmental conservation. Visitors can learn how the river has shaped the region and what role it plays today.
Visiting is possible during daytime hours, and the museum serves as a good starting point for understanding the facility and its operations. The grounds are generally accessible from surrounding paths, though parking can be limited during peak times.
The facility controls a large river section that influences hundreds of miles upstream and downstream. This scale of water management is surprising to many visitors when they learn the extent of the controlled area.
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