The US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District announced that TAB Construction will begin work on East Branch Dam Road on May 22. The road will be milled beginning at the dam and ending at State Route 1001. The road will remain milled until the fall when it will be resurfaced. The road is being widened as part of the site development contract so that equipment can be moved in to begin repairs on the dam. The work should not affect traffic during Memorial Day Weekend but there will be some traffic restrictions in the future.
BACKGROUND: In 2008, the Pittsburgh District initiated a dam safety investigation into seepage-related concerns at East Branch Clarion River Lake near Johnsonburg in Western Pennsylvania. To reduce the risk to the public, Pittsburgh District implemented several interim risk reduction measures, including increased monitoring; 24/7 staffing; updated emergency action plans; and reduced water levels in the reservoir to relieve pressure on the dam. These and other short-term actions allow us to operate the dam and to meet our public safety objective until long term repairs are complete. A Dam Safety Modification Study was completed and approved in October 2010 and recommends a cutoff wall be constructed within the dam. Approval to initiate construction was received in August 2011. The first construction contract for site development was awarded in September 2011.
Pittsburgh District’s 26,000 square miles include portions of western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Ohio, western Maryland and southwestern New York. Our jurisdiction includes more than 328 miles of navigable waterways, 23 navigation locks and dams, 16 multi-purpose flood control reservoirs, 42 local flood protection projects and other projects to protect and enhance the Nation’s water resources, infrastructure and environment.
If you have any questions, please call (814) 965-2065.
For media inquiries, contact the Public Affairs Office at 412-395-7500 or email: celrp-pa@usace.army.mil.
Release no. 12-139