First Gate Test (VIDEO)

The first test for the rolling gate of the new Panama Canal locks took place on June 23, 2015 at the Atlantic side.

This progress marks yet another step forward toward the completion of the Canal Expansion Program.

The Panama Canal gates have different dimensions depending on their location in the lock chamber.

They are all 57.60 m long, 8-10 m wide, and the height depends on the location but between the shortest one is 22.30 meters and the lowest one is 33.04 m height depending on the chamber.

The gates weight on average 3,200 tons. However, since they have different sizes, weight can range from 2,100 tons to as much as 4,200 tons. The gates also have buoyancy tanks that allow them to weigh 15% of their actual weight inside the water-filled new locks.