Filling of the Pacific Access Channel

The Pacific Access Channel has been constructed to allow ships to bypass Miraflores Lake in order to connect Gatun Lake with a single 3 step lock complex on the Pacific side. This will eliminate the need for two separate lock complexes as is the case with present day Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks. In other words ships will lock up/down in a three step lock complex on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides.

To give the picture below some perspective... The camera location is on the west side of Miraflores Lake approximately half way between Miraflores Locks and Pedro Miguel Locks. The camera is looking north at Galliard Cut, part of Pedro Miguel Locks can be seen on the right side of the picture. Centennial Bridge is in the background with Gold Hill (the Continental Divide) just beyond the Bridge. The water flowing in can be seen in the upper center of the picture.

Down below there is also a short video from the Canal's YouTube channel. Pictures are from the Canal's Expansion web cam from Sept. 14.

Edit to add... The waters of Gatun Lake (Gaillard Cut) will not reach the new Cocoli Locks just yet. There is a temporary barrier in the channel that must be removed first. To put water in the new Cocoli Locks (the ones with the leak problems) for the testing phase, they are pumping water in a portion of the Pacific Access Channel from Miraflores Lake

Close up...

To show you the temporary barrier in the Pacific Access Channel would be easier than a long winded description. The picture is from the same camera location as the above, the camera view is just to the south and east with Miraflores Locks and Lake in the background. The temporary barrier is on the upper right side of the pic.

The creek is a rising! View from Canal's webcam on the east side, overlooking Pedro Miguel Locks.

Thank you for these updates.

Keith