Black Rock Lock operating schedule announced by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The lock allows boats to bypass the rapids and fast currents of the Niagara River at the outlet of Lake Erie. According to the Corps of Engineers, more than 2,300 vessels and 94,000 metric tons of commercial goods passed through the Black Rock Lock in fiscal year 2023.  

The Black Rock Lock has served the City of Buffalo and all of the Great Lakes for more than 100 years, said Lt. Col. Colby Krug, commander of the Corps’ Buffalo District.

“We’re really proud of the lock team, which operates year-round and maintains the Army Corps’ tradition of safe and effective service to the nation’s waterways,” Krug said.

Black Rock Lock operations for 2024 are:

• Jan. 1 to May 4, every day, first downbound – traffic heading north from Buffalo operating at the top of each hour – is at 8:30 a.m. and last at 3:30 p.m.

• May 5 to June 1, every day, first downbound is 8 a.m. and last is 9 p.m. First upbound – traffic heading south toward Buffalo operating on the bottom of each hour – is 8:30 a.m. and last is 3:30 p.m.

• June 2 to Sept. 7, weekdays, downbound, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; upbound, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

• Sept. 8 to Oct. 7, every day, downbound, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; upbound, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Oct. 20 to Dec. 31, weekdays, downbound, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; upbound, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.