Modernizing critical navigation and flood risk management infrastructure along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), McMillen Inc.(opens in new tab) has been awarded a $19,642,700 firm-fixed-price contract. The civil works award funds the Webbers Falls Tainter Gate Replacement and Repair project, reaching a total cumulative face value of $28,417,900.
Contract Details: At A Glance
| Contractor: | McMillen Inc.(opens in new tab) |
| Award Date: | August 14, 2026 |
| Contract Value: | $19,642,700 ($28,417,900 Cumulative Face Value) |
| Project: | Webbers Falls Tainter Gate Replacement and Repair |
| Location: | Gore, Oklahoma (Webbers Falls Lock and Dam) |
| Contract Number: | W912BV-26-C-A021 |
| Awarding District: | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District |
District Context & Mission Impact
This major inland waterways infrastructure project is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District. The Tulsa District manages multi-purpose dams, reservoir projects, and navigation systems across Oklahoma, southern Kansas, and northern Texas. Webbers Falls Lock and Dam (Lock 16) is a vital lock and dam structure along the MKARNS, controlling river flows and enabling commercial barge transit for agricultural and industrial commodities traveling between the Mississippi River and Oklahoma ports. Tainter spillway gates control reservoir water levels and manage high-water discharge during flood events. Replacing and structural rehabilitation of aging tainter gates, trunnion bearings, and hoisting mechanisms is essential to prevent mechanical failure, maintain pool levels, and ensure long-term flood protection and navigation safety across the Arkansas River Basin.
Contractor Spotlight & Industry Context
Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, McMillen Inc. is a specialized engineering, environmental, and heavy civil construction firm with extensive experience in dam safety, hydro facilities, heavy steel fabrication, and water resources infrastructure. Bids were solicited via the internet with two competitive proposals received. Executing major spillway tainter gate replacements requires complex marine logistics, high-capacity rigging, heavy steel erection, precision mechanical alignment, and dewatering coffer structures while maintaining dam operational safety. Public-private partnerships like this demonstrate the critical investments needed to modernize aging federal water control structures and sustain inland waterway navigation.
