The U.S Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island, District was in town today to host two public meetings about the proposed design of a new lock at Lock and Dam 22.

The lock is located about ten miles south of Hannibal. We found out the details of this new proposed design and the environmental impact it may cause in the KHQA fact finder report. Currently the lock at Lock and Dam 22 is 600 feet long, and construction to the lock will double its size to 1,200 feet.

Over the last several years, barge traffic through Lock and Dam 22 has increased and there is a need for the larger lock.The increased size of the lock will allow barges to pass through more quickly.

Renderings of the proposed construction were on display at the meeting for the public to see.Project Engineer, Michael Tarpey said the increased lock size won't affect water levels. However, they are dealing with the minimal environmental issues concerning mussels that habitat the area.

"Relative to the size of the project they're extremely minor, said Tarpey. "They are steps we need to take, we are mitigating the impact. The mussels are in an area where we are literally going to pick them up and move them to a better suitable habitat, so there is not an impact to the mussel community."