Quad Cities #15 Lock and Dam

 There is a wonderful visitor center at Lock and Dam #15. Even though this is a public viewing area for the lock and swing bridge it is on the active Rock Island Arsenal Military base. 

This requires that you first visit the base security facility and be approved for access and issued a pass. This takes a half hour or so, but once complete allows you to drive across the base to the visitors center.

                 

This model shows how dredging keeps the channel at a depth suitable for navigation

This shows the swing bridge in position to allow a tow boat to pass into lock #15

Interesting to note the barges are already through the lock. The barges are put in the lock first, the tow boat backs out, the barges are raised in the lock and then winched out (when going upstream) and the tow boat goes thru next and attaches to the barges once it has been raised and the locks gate opened. This allows tows longer than the lock to fit through.

Conversations with the tow boat crew are enjoyed while the barges and tow boat lock thru.