U.S. Gulf:
Fleet and towing restrictions remained in effect in the New Orleans area for the week due to persistent high water levels.
The river gauge at New Orleans was reported at 12.44 feet and falling slowly on April 4. Forecasts showed the gauge receding below the 12-foot mark on April 10, likely marking an end to regional restrictions.
Daytime travel was reported unavailable Monday through Thursday at Calcasieu Lock, through May 19. Closures at the site were expected to run from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Located at Mile 401 in the West Canal, Brazos Lock was reported shutting to traffic Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., through at least mid-April. Corps data revealed delays up to 16 hours for the week.
An ongoing repair project at the Bayou Sorrel Bridge prompted daily marine travel shutdowns between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and again from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Work at the site was projected to continue into late May.
Guidewall construction operations at Bayou Sorrel Lock, expected to persist through late May, were noted limiting site access from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Wait times were generally reported in the 20-44 hour range, rising from 20-32 hours in the prior week.
Bayou Chene navigation was limited to the hours of 7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. daily due to ongoing floodgate construction, according to a Coast Guard posting. Tows were capped at 600 feet of length, while an assist boat was required for tows measuring wider than 54 feet. Intermittent daylight-hour shutdowns were also anticipated due to dive operations, with 6-12 hour delays expected.
Shoaling noted at Miles 113-116 in the Atchafalaya River necessitated ongoing draft restrictions through the Morgan City, La., area, a Coast Guard bulletin indicated. Maximum drafts were noted at 10 feet, while tow lengths were capped at 600 feet. Vessel widths were permitted up to 70 feet, while strings running longer than 400 feet were encouraged to use an assist vessel. Captains could sidestep the restrictions by detouring through the Port Allen Route.
Length and width restrictions continued on travel through Algiers Lock, capping unassisted lockages at four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per pass. Tows passing the site with an assist tug were permitted to lock larger configurations, however. Waits were reported in a wide 11-26 hour range, with 22 vessels in the locking queue on April 4.
The ongoing Belle Chasse Bridge construction project, scheduled to run into late 2022, was heard to result in intermittent transit stoppages lasting up to 12 hours at a time.
Wait times at Port Allen Lock were reported up to six hours for the week. Industrial Lock delays swelled to the 24-48 hour range, while boats passing Calcasieu lock were delayed up to eight hours.
Mississippi River:
Persistent high-water conditions left towing restrictions in place for another week on the lower Mississippi River, sources said. Reduced barge counts were reportedly in effect, while larger southbound tows were limited to daylight-only travel through some urban areas, determined on a case-by-case basis.
Levels at the Vicksburg, Miss., river gauge were observed at an action-stage 38.63 feet and falling slowly on April 6. Forecasts called for river levels to fall out of action stage on April 14.
The Baton Rouge, La., gauge was noted at an action-stage 33.4 feet on April 6, after cresting shy of the 35-foot minor-flood stage at 34.8 feet on March 31. Projections showed Baton Rouge exiting restricted territory on April 16. A flood warning in effect for the area was slated to expire on April 15.
Illinois River:
Heavy rains and elevated river levels were noted impacting freight operations on the Illinois Waterway during the week. Marseilles Lock delays jumped to the 5-11 hour range as a result, while slowdowns were heard spreading downriver on April 6, prompting navigation delays and travel slowdowns.
The river gauge at Ottawa, Ill., showed water levels bouncing in and out of action stage during the week. Depths were noted at 460.58 feet on April 6, just shy of the 461-foot action-stage threshold, but were expected to crest at 461.5 feet on April 7.
The Peoria gauge was quoted at a minor-flood 18.36 feet and rising on April 6. Following a 19.0-foot crest expected on April 9-10, the gauge was projected to remain above the minor-flood limit through at least April 13.
Repairs and maintenance scheduled for Brandon Road Lock from May 9 through Sept. 8 will effect wide-ranging impacts to navigation. Overnight-only travel will be in place between May 9 and Aug. 14, followed by a complete lock shutdown on Aug. 15 through Sept. 4. Nighttime navigation will return on Sept. 5-8, with the lock scheduled to resume normal operation on Sept. 9. A 70-foot width limit will be in effect on all navigation through the site while work is in progress.
Wickets remained in the lowered position at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock, allowing boats to pass both locations without locking. Lockport Lock delays were noted up to six hours for the week. Starved Rock waits were reported in the 4-9 hour range.
Ohio River:
Primary lock chamber repairs in progress at Emsworth Lock since Feb. 22 limited vessels to the auxiliary chamber, with tows capped at one barge per lockage. As a result, delays were recorded in a wide 3-6 day range for the week, below the 4-6 days reported previously. The project is scheduled to conclude on April 16.
The Dashields Lock main chamber was expected to exit a repair and maintenance shutdown on April 8, ending a bout of redirection through the site’s auxiliary chamber. Waits were noted at 40-65 hours on April 6, falling from 2-4 days reported previously.
Daylight-only travel limitations are in effect at Cannelton Lock on Wednesdays and Thursdays through May 26. An additional Cannelton Lock shutdown proposed for July 5 through Nov. 11 would require detours through the secondary chamber.
Belleville Lock is slated to undergo a main chamber shutdown from May 2 through June 22 for repairs and maintenance. Traffic is expected to pass through the secondary chamber while the project is underway.
A proposed main chamber shutdown at Hannibal Lock would impact transit through the lock from July 5 through Oct. 8, according to a Corps notice.
The Tennessee River’s Wilson Lock remains in the midst of a main chamber shutdown, forcing lengthy detours through the site’s auxiliary chamber. Wait times, expected to persist through the project’s scheduled April 28 end date, were observed in the 4-5 day range for the week, with some predicting an increase to seven days or more as the project moves closer to completion.
Kentucky Lock waits were quoted at 4-9 hours for the week. Kentucky Lock is engaged in a long-term construction project slated to run through 2024.
Cheatham Lock miter gate machinery repairs booked for May 16 through Aug. 5 are expected to see substantial delays. Work at the site will run on an 11-days-on, three-days-off schedule, effectively establishing a single three-day opening window per two-week period.
Arkansas River:
Norrell Lock maintenance and repairs will block daylight-hour travel through the lock on June 1-11; June 22-July 21; Aug. 1-10; Aug. 21-Sept. 21; Sept. 3-Oct. 9; Oct. 20-Nov. 18; Nov. 29-Dec. 23; and Jan. 3-31, 2023. Navigation will be unavailable daily between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. while work is in progress.