Our firm was selected to restore the historic Flight of Five Locks in Lockport, which played a crucial role in the development of this canal-side community. The double set of five locks was initially constructed in 1825 and was considered one of the most significant engineering triumphs of its era. In 1975, it was included in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Lockport Industrial National Register District.
The Flight of Five has received little maintenance in the past century, resulting in sediment and debris buildup, the replacement of gates with concrete headwalls, shifted lock walls and cracked stone masonry blocks. It was up to our team not only to modernize the mechanization of the locks but to restore them with historical accuracy.
To comply with the dam safety regulations of NYSEC, we conducted a comprehensive Dam Breach Hydraulic Analysis. Our team carried out site investigations, condition inspections, and field measurements at waste weirs and overflow structures. We also analyzed the historic flows and hydraulic conditions to produce an input hydrograph. After determining the boundary conditions and discharge capacities, we completed a Sunny Day Dam Failure study.
During the design and construction phases, we coordinated with government agencies and conducted community outreach. Detailed inspections and material testing were conducted to determine the extent of repairs required. A pilot project was carried out in 2009 to showcase construction techniques and material compatibility.
With construction complete, our Flight of Five Locks design has become a historic landmark and a key attraction for visitors to the Niagara Region. Our full restoration now allows visitors to experience how the locks appeared and operated back in 1862.