U.S. Gulf:
Rising river levels at New Orleans were expected to push the gauge above the 12-foot mark on April 26, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service. Towing restrictions take effect when NOLA levels reach 12 feet. The gauge at New Orleans was observed at 11.14 feet on April 19.
Calcasieu Lock daytime travel restrictions initiated on March 22 were noted blocking daytime travel on Monday through Thursday, between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Work at the site was expected to run through May 19.
Daytime Brazos Lock travel interruptions continued to produce locking delays up to 20 hours on April 19. Shutdowns had been running Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Bayou Sorrel Bridge repairs limited weekday daytime navigation through the lock, and are set to continue to the end of May. Monday-through-Friday shutdowns were expected from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and again from 1:00 p.m. through 5:00 p.m., while 24-hour navigation resumed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Bayou Sorrel Lock is slated to experience weekday delays due to an ongoing guidewall replacement project scheduled to run into February 2023. Waiting was observed in a wide 5-25 hour range during the week, rising from 5-11 hours in the prior report.
Vessel navigation through Bayou Chene continued to be unavailable during overnight hours due to floodgate construction, according to a Coast Guard posting. Navigation was possible during daytime hours up to 600 feet of length, while widths were capped at 54 feet. Delays were expected in the 6-12 hour range.
Shoaling continued to be reported at Miles 113-116 of the Atchafalaya River, triggering 10-foot draft limits through the area. Tows were also limited to a maximum 600 feet of length, while lengths above 400 feet were encouraged to travel with industry assistance. Width limits were set at 70 feet. Tows could bypass the restrictions by running through the Port Allen Route.
Tows traveling without an assist vessel continued to face length and width restrictions at Algiers Lock, effectively limiting passages to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per lockage. Larger passes were required to use an assist tug. While most delays were counted in the 4-7 hour range for the week, intermittent 19-22 hour waits were also reported.
Belle Chasse Bridge construction continued to trigger intermittent travel delays lasting up to 12 hours at a time. Construction at the site is scheduled to conclude late in 2022.
Port Allen Lock delays were seen up to seven hours for the week. Corps data revealed Industrial Lock waits in a wide 8-27 hour range, while Colorado Lock waits were noted up to seven hours.
Mississippi River:
High water levels on the lower Mississippi River extended travel restrictions below St. Louis, sources said. Barge counts were reduced due to the conditions, while larger tows traveling in the southbound direction were said to limit bridge passes to daylight hours in some urban areas, determined on a case-by-case basis.
The river gauge at Vicksburg was on the rise for the week, showing at an action-stage 37.96 feet on April 20. Levels were projected to peak at 40.1 feet on April 24-25, just shy of the 43-foot minor-flood stage, but were expected to remain above action stage through at least May 3.
The Baton Rouge, La., gauge was clocked at 31.33 feet and rising on April 20. Levels were predicted to crest at 34.4 feet on April 27, below the 35-foot minor-flood stage.
Channel reinforcement work at Mile 807 on the lower river will begin on May 10. The project will run for approximately 30 days, narrowed from previous estimates up to three months. Southbound traffic is expected to be blocked daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. while work is underway.
Illinois River:
Wet weather continued to complicate navigation on the Illinois River during the week, although substantial improvements were reported.
River levels were observed holding below the 46.1-foot action stage at Ottawa, while the river gauge at Peoria fell below the area’s 17-foot action stage on April 18, landing at 16.22 feet and falling steadily on April 20.
The LaGrange river gauge remained above the 21-foot action stage, however, showing a 21.68 feet reading and falling on April 20. Forecasts predicted area depths to drop out of action stage on April 22.
A significant repair and maintenance project scheduled at Brandon Road Lock is expected to limit navigation from May 9 through Sept. 8, according to a Corps posting. Travel will be limited to overnight hours and subject to 70-foot width restrictions from May 9 to Aug. 14, followed by a complete shutdown of the lock between Aug. 15 and Sept. 4.
Overnight lockages with width restrictions will resume on Sept. 5-8, after which normal operation is scheduled to return on Sept. 9. Sources have predicted substantial delays through the entirety of the Brandon Road Lock operation.
Marseilles Lock delays were noted up to 12 hours during the week. Wickets remained down at both Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock due to high water, allowing tows to pass without locking.
Ohio River:
Repairs and maintenance scheduled to run from May 1 through June 29 at Belleville Lock will close the main chamber to navigation, forcing detours through the secondary chamber, with delays expected. The Corps announced an accompanying shutdown at Greenup Lock for the same May 1-June 29 period, with similar delays predicted.
Navigation remained unavailable at Cannelton Lock during the daytime on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with the restrictions slated to continue through May 26 due to a repair project that began on Jan. 26. An additional maintenance project proposed for July 5 through Nov. 11 would also limit main chamber availability.
An Emsworth Lock main chamber shutdown that kicked off on Feb. 22 was reported to conclude on April 14, two days ahead of schedule. Delays at the site had previously been reported running up to six days, but were fully dissipated by April 20.
Proposed main chamber maintenance at Hannibal Lock would likely run from July 5 through Oct. 8, limiting navigation to the secondary chamber. Cannelton Lock delays were noted up to seven hours during the week
Main chamber work underway at the Tennessee River’s Wilson Lock, located at Mile 259.4, is scheduled to conclude on April 28. Tows have been routed through the site’s smaller secondary chamber while work is underway, resulting in 3-6 day delays for the week.
Kentucky Lock delays were reported in a wide 5-18 hour range, falling from 9-24 hours during the previous week.
Miter gate machinery repairs scheduled for the Cumberland River’s Cheatham Lock are expected to complicate navigation between May 16 and Aug. 5. The site is expected to undergo a repeating series of 11-day shutdowns, followed by three days of open navigation, with significant delays predicted.
Arkansas River:
A maintenance project scheduled for Norrell Lock will close the site to travel daily between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. during a series of 10-day shutdowns, scheduled to continue into January 2023. The closures were tentatively set for 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.