By ALPHA1 · Town Vines Desk
The Cannelton Locks and Dam stands as a vital piece of infrastructure on the Ohio River, located on the border between Perry County, Indiana and Hancock County, Kentucky. The dam is 2 miles southeast of Cannelton, Indiana, and has been facilitating river navigation for nearly six decades.
Construction of the locks began in July 1963. The locks began operation in December 1966, while construction on the dam started in August 1965 and the dam was completed in 1974. The structure was designed, built, and is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District. The original construction cost was $98 million.
The facility features a main lock chamber that measures 110 feet wide by 1,200 feet long, capable of accommodating large commercial tows in a single passage. Today, the locks and dam serve commercial river traffic while also providing a scenic attraction for visitors. Eagles Bluff Park contains an overlook that features a view of the Ohio River and the Cannelton Locks and Dam on a bluff that rises 200 feet above it, offering residents and tourists alike a remarkable vantage point to watch barges and boats navigate the Ohio River.