Bonneville locks damaged by debris

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the locks at Bonneville Dam are damaged.

The locks recently reopened after a series of multimillion-dollar refits at Columbia and Snake River dams.

According to the corps, the upstream gate has been damaged, and will be closed until midnight Friday.

Once reopened, commercial and recreational traffic will have to be moved using alternative methods; the lockage will take three to six times longer than normal.

The gate was damaged during a routine operation to flush debris out of the upstream channel and through the lock. The top of the gate was exposed to high water pressure and buckled when drain valves pulling water into the lock failed to fully close.

The Corps is investigating the cause and extent of the damage to the gate. The nature and duration of needed repairs is not yet known.

The Corps expects to issue an update Monday.