The waterway is composed of ten locks:

• Jamie Whitten Lock and Dam (named for Jamie L. Whitten ); formerly named Bay Springs Lock and Dam - impounds Bay Springs Lake
• G. V. Montgomery Lock (named for Sonny Montgomery ); formerly named Lock E
• John Rankin Lock (named for John E. Rankin ); formerly named Lock D
• Fulton Lock ( Fulton, Mississippi ); formerly named Lock C
• Glover Wilkins Lock (located in Smithville, Mississippi ; named for Glover Wilkins ); formerly named Lock B
• Amory Lock ( Amory, Mississippi ); formerly named Lock A
• Aberdeen Lock and Dam ( Aberdeen, Mississippi ) - impounds Aberdeen Lake
• John C. Stennis Lock and Dam (named for John C. Stennis ); formerly named Columbus Lock and Dam - impounds Columbus Lake
• Tom Bevill Lock and Dam (named for Tom Bevill ); formerly named Aliceville Lock and Dam - impounds Aliceville Lake
• Howell Heflin Lock and Dam (named for Howell Heflin ); formerly named Gainesville Lock and Dam - impounds Gainesville Lake

The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Alabama and Mississippi was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1972–1984, connecting the Tennessee and Tombigbee rivers. The waterway flows from northeast Mississippi , running south from the Tennessee River and crossing into Alabama at Aliceville Lake , then south-southeast toward Demopolis , Alabama . The constuction of this waterway increased commerce by shortening the distance of waterborne shipping from many states to the Gulf of Mexico .

TOMBIGBEE   RIVER

Length: 400 miles (644 kilometers)

The Tombigbee River in Mississippi and Alabama is formed by joining of the East Fork of Tombigbee River (rises in Prentiss County, northeast Mississippi, flows south past Fulton approximately 70 miles) and Oldtown Creek in north Monroe County in northeast Mississippi; flows south through Aberdeen Lake and Columbus Lake reservoirs, past Columbus, Mississippi. through Aliceville Lake reservoir on Mississippi-Alabama border, past Gainesville and Demopolis , Alabama . Here it receives the Black Warrior River from northeast above Demopolis Dam, and continues south through Cofferville Dam, past Jackson, joining the Alabama River approximately 30 miles North of Mobile to form the Mobile River. The Tombigbee is an important artery for manufactured goods. Dams and locks improve navigation on the river. The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway was completed in 1985 to add an additional link between the Mississippi River System and the Gulf coast for barge traffic. The Waterway replaces the river's original channel in its mid-course, parallels channel to the east in its upper course, above Aberdeen Lake .

 

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