U.S. Gulf:
Sources noted a maintenance shutdown of the I-10 railroad bridge over Lake Charles, La., on Aug. 11-13, with navigation scheduled to be unavailable daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The closures were set to repeat on Aug. 16-18.
A dredge operation announced during the week will block access to the Mississippi River Ship Channel during daytime hours on Aug. 17, impacting large, ocean-going ships.
Construction activities that began on Aug. 2 at the Bell Chasse Bridge, located at Mile 3 in the West Canal, are projected to trigger intermittent navigation stoppages in the Algiers Lock area through late 2022. Delays up to 12 hours could be possible.
Adding to potential delays, Algiers Lock travel restrictions remained in place for the indefinite future. Length and width restrictions on unassisted lockages effectively capped Algiers movements at four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers, although larger crossings were possible while using industry assistance.
Travel through Bayou Chene was restricted to daytime hours only due to ongoing construction and diver activities, leaving the waterway closed to transport nightly between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The shutdowns were noted driving 6-12 hour overnight delays, while the use of an assist vessel was required on daytime movements.
Port Allen Lock delays were reported up to seven hours for the week, while boats were able to pass Bayou Sorrel Lock in eight hours or less. Intermittent Industrial Lock navigation outages were posted up to 25 hours for the week. Corps data revealed sporadic 5-9 hour delays through the Brazos Lock eastern lock chamber, while waits were clocked up to 11 hours through the Brazos Lock western gate.
The National Hurricane Center reported the formation of Tropical Depression Fred in the Eastern Caribbean during the week. Fred was tracked between Cuba and the Bahamas on Aug. 12. Forecasts called for the storm to strengthen later in the week, prior to a likely turn toward the west coast of Florida.
Mississippi River:
Fast flows at the lower Mississippi River’s Victoria Bend, located at Mile 595, prompted reduced tow sizes for loads moving in the upriver direction. Tows were reportedly cut by 5-10 barges from the area’s typical 25-barge capacity.
The upper river’s Merchants Memorial Rail Bridge will see a pair of 24-hour navigation shutdowns in September, part of an ongoing $222 million replacement project running through 2022. Navigation through the site is tentatively scheduled to be unavailable on Sept. 10 and Sept. 13, dependent on river conditions.
A planned Lock 27 main chamber closure has been indefinitely postponed. The project, previously scheduled for Aug. 2-19, will be necessary to complete repairs to the site’s upper bullnose. Lower bullnose repairs were successfully completed in July.
Intermittent six-hour delays were noted at Lock 18, while 3-6 hour waits were heard at Mel Price Lock during the week. Passages through Lock 27 were clocked up to 15 hours.
Illinois River:
Delays of 2-5 hours were reported at Starved Rock Lock during the week. Tows passing Peoria Lock experienced sporadic wait times up to 4.5 hours. Low water levels left wickets raised at Peoria and LaGrange Lock, necessitating locking through both sites.
Ohio River:
The auxiliary chamber at J.T. Myers Lock was fully closed to navigation on Aug. 9-13 for mechanical repairs, sources said. Traffic was noted passing through the primary chamber, with minimal delays reported.
The Montgomery Lock main chamber is shut through Aug. 27 for planned repairs and maintenance, triggering detours through the auxiliary chamber. A second main chamber shutdown is planned for Oct. 18 through Dec. 17. Wait times to transit Montgomery Lock were posted at 2-4 days for the week, increasing from 46 hours in the prior report.
Main chamber maintenance continued at Cannelton Lock during the week. The project began on June 21 and is scheduled to run through Nov. 19, prompting tows to pass through the secondary lock chamber. The site’s secondary chamber is also slated to shut for repairs and maintenance on Nov. 1-19.
Structural damage to the Markland Lock auxiliary chamber miter gate was projected to keep the chamber offline through an estimated Oct. 29. Boats were noted passing with minimal delay through the site’s primary lock chamber.
Transit through the Braddock Lock main chamber will be unavailable from Sept. 13 through Oct. 15, forcing boats to detour through the secondary chamber. Delays are expected.
The main chamber at Willow Lock will shut to navigation on Oct. 1-31, forcing lockages through the auxiliary chamber. Ahead of the primary chamber closure, the Corps announced a shutdown of the auxiliary chamber from Aug. 16 through Sept. 30. Willow Lock delays were posted up to six hours for the week.
Tows will be unable to utilize the Hannibal Lock primary chamber from Sept. 13 through Oct. 29 due to maintenance and repairs. Navigation will remain available via the 600-foot secondary chamber.
R.C. Byrd Lock wait times were reported up to 13 hours for the week. Delays through the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock were pegged in a wide 10-38 hour range for the current period, falling from 50 hours posted previously.
On the Cumberland River, daytime navigation stoppages were planned at Mile 130 due to bridge construction, blocking movements daily between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 13 and Aug. 16-20. Intermittent Barkley Lock delays were quoted up to 25 hours on Aug. 10-11.
Main chamber access will be unavailable at the Monongahela River’s Lock between Sept. 13 and Oct. 15 due to planned repairs and maintenance. Vessels are slated to pass through the secondary chamber while work is underway.
Arkansas River:
A full closure at David D. Terry Lock is scheduled between Aug. 27 and Sept. 9 for dewatering and repairs, closing the river at the site. Preparation for the dewatering operation will prompt intermittent transit stoppages on Aug. 16-26.
Intermittent navigation shutdowns at Joe Hardin Lock are scheduled daily between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 19-21. Sporadic delays are scheduled for Emmett Sanders Lock during identical daytime hours on Oct. 26-28.