U.S. Gulf/River: Significant ice flows were reported on the Illinois River last week. Shippers moved to reduce tow sizes as a result, and the use of ice couplings was required at locks. Some shipping operators reported transit length increases of 4-5 days resulting from the frosty conditions.
Locking resumed at the Illinois River’s Marseilles Lock on Jan. 14, though operations remained hampered by ice coverage and reduced operating width, estimated at 89 feet. An ice gorge located between Meredosia, Ill., and LaGrange Lock halted operations at that location, and additional frozen masses were reported at Miles 25 and 35. O’Brien lock is scheduled to shut down for the navigation season on Jan. 21.
Lock 27 on the upper Mississippi River was tabbed to go offline Jan. 17-18 for protection cell maintenance, and delays of 4-6 hours were experienced prior to the closure. Additionally, the lock will be closed to daytime transit Jan. 29 through Feb. 15 while a second round of work is conducted. Locks 21 and 22 faced 70-foot width restrictions for the week due to heavy ice conditions.
Sources kept an eye on the Cape Girardeau, Mo., river gauge, which stood at 12.4 feet on Jan. 15. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will resume its perennial rock removal project at Thebes, Ill., when Cape Girardeau flows drop to the 10-foot mark. Officials plan to keep navigational impacts to a minimum throughout the duration of the project.
Ice flows were reported near Montgomery Lock on the Ohio River, and wait times of about an hour were described at R.C. Byrd and Lock 52. Daytime transit restrictions will be instituted at the Belleville auxiliary chamber from Feb. 9-27 for lock repairs, but boats will have access to the main chamber for the duration.
Significant ice flows hampered operations on the Allegheny River last week. Shipping operators anticipated construction at the Hulton Bridge replacement project will force a complete river closure from Jan. 15-17.
Normal operating conditions were observed on the Monongahela River for the week. The Braddock Lock and Dam river chamber, still suffering from unspecified equipment failure, was expected to remain offline indefinitely.
Shippers expect “major delays” beginning Feb. 25 at Winfield Lock on the Kanawha River as lock repairs are scheduled to push the main chamber offline. The work is projected to run through April 30.
On the lower Mississippi River, transit through Mile 634 will be closed daily between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for channel revetment efforts, which are expected to continue through April 1. Numerous delays were also reported at Gulf-area locks, including Industrial Lock (28-32 hours), Port Allen Lock (14-16 hours), Algiers Lock (6-8 hours), and Bayou Sorrel Lock (1-2 hours).