Demolition project begins on dam near Elizabeth

Several more explosions are planned before the dam is fully cleared away by the end of the year.

After high winds delayed the planned demolition for several hours, a 50-foot section of the dam in Elizabeth along the Monongahela River came crumbling down Wednesday.

The explosion didn’t take place until about 7 p.m., as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made sure everything could be done safely.

Once weather conditions allowed the underwater blast to happen, it went exactly as planned.

It was the first of 14 controlled demolitions by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will take place on a weekly basis, as the Elizabeth dam is expected to be completely removed by the end of the year.

The removal of Monongahela River Locks and Dam 3 is the culmination of USACE’s Lower Monongahela River Project, which began in 1992.

Once the dam is fully demolished, there will be a 30mile stretch of uninterrupted river between Charleroi and Braddock, which the USACE said will be beneficial to recreational boaters and commercial river traffic. The USACE estimates the locks and dam removal will result in $200 million in yearly benefits for the region.

“That’s easier boating for (recreational activities), that’s a faster trip for the navigation industry, that’s better access for industries that are based along the river, so there’s a lot of benefits,” said Col. Nicholas Melin, the USACE Pittsburgh district commander.

Kirk McWilliams, area engineer for mega projects, has been with the USACE for 40 years. He referred to the removal of the locks and dam as bittersweet.

“I feel for the guys that work at the lock,” McWilliams said. “They’re being displaced because their place of employment is going away, so they’re being relocated to other locks and dams. I’m sensitive to that.

“I’m excited for the moment just because all of the planning that’s gone into today and all the safety measures that have been taken to ensure the public is safe.”

Melin, who joined the USACE Pittsburgh district nearly a year ago, highlighted the significance of the dam’s demolition to the residents of the Mon Valley.

“We actually have a number of folks who live in Elizabeth or Mon City,” Melin said. “A lot of our lock operators, a lot of our personnel who keep the river navigable are residents of these areas, so them being able to work on a project to improve their local areas is tremendously important.”

The Elizabeth lock chambers will be closed to river traffic for the next three to 12 days, depending on river conditions.

Elizabeth Borough Mayor Barry Boucher spent time along the riverwalk near Elizabeth Riverfront Park Wednesday as he waited for the first controlled demolition of the dam. He expects the removal of the locks and dam will cause more people to visit the borough.

“The amount of recreational traffic, fishing and all that coming through our town is going to be tenfold,” Boucher said. “And we’ve got a town right here with a lot of nice shops and restaurants, and it’s a beautiful little town.”

The dam is expected to be completely removed by the end of the year.

The USACE will start removing the lock’s walls in 2025 and estimates the work will continue through 2027.