A new lock chamber has been completed after an epic 20-year construction in Pennsylvania.

The newly modernized lock chamber at John P Murtha Locks and Dam, formerly known as Charleroi Locks and Dam, is ready to transform commercial navigation on the Monongahela River in Monessen, Pennsylvania.

Measuring 720 ft (219.5 m) long and 84 ft (25.6 m) wide, replacing the existing 56-foot-wide (17 m) lock, the facility can accommodate modern commerce, including the capability to lock up to nine standard barges at once.

The new lock chamber is said to hold over 20 million gallons of water, which is more than 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools. It also features a newly built control tower that is set to bolster regional and national shipping capacity.

Army Corps Colonel Nicholas Melin said in a local interview: 'This project is for you, it's for the people of this region, and it gives us a lot of pride to deliver it today.'

'This is now the Army Corps' newest and most modern lock chamber. It's a monumental engineering achievement,' he added.

The Army Corps estimates the project will return more than 200 million USD annually in business opportunities for the region and the nation.

Waterway Council, Incorporated said that Pennsylvania's waterways, ports, and related industries also support about 248,000 jobs, generating 19.3 billion USD in personal income and 4.3 billion USD in state and local tax revenue annually.