U.S. Gulf:
New Orleans water levels were observed to fall below the 12-foot high-water stage on May 27, allowing for easing restrictions in the NOLA area. Persistent action-stage levels noted from the river gauge at Baton Rouge, La., left restrictions in place above New Orleans, however.
Calcasieu Lock daylight-hour transit restrictions, recently extended through late August, were noted blocking Monday-Thursday travel daily between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Calcasieu Lock is located at Mile 238.5 in the West Canal.
Repairs underway through the end of May at Bayou Sorrel Bridge were noted triggering daytime travel stoppages from 7:00-11:00 a.m. and again from 1:00-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Unrestricted access was restored on Saturday and Sunday.
Port Allen Lock repairs were heard to begin on May 31, blocking Monday-Friday navigation daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Delays were expected up to 24 hours for the duration of the project, tentatively scheduled through June 7.
Guidewall construction underway at Bayou Sorrel Lock limited weekday lockages between 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with normal operation returning on Saturday and Sunday. The project is expected to run into early 2023.
Navigation through the Brazos Locks system was reported unavailable on weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with normal access restored on Saturday and Sunday. The project was expected to continue into late June.
Shoaling continued to be reported at Miles 113-116 of the Atchafalaya River, necessitating maximum 10-foot draft limits in the Morgan City, La., area, a Coast Guard bulletin indicated. Additionally, tow lengths were capped at 600 feet, while tows running longer than 400 feet were encouraged to travel with an assist vessel. Widths were limited to 70 feet. Vessels could bypass the restrictions by detouring through the Port Allen Route.
Ongoing towing length and width restrictions in place at Algiers Lock effectively limited unassisted lockages to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per turn. Tows traveling with an assist vessel were permitted to lock higher barge counts.
Belle Chasse Bridge construction, projected to continue through the end of the year, was noted triggering intermittent navigation stoppages during the week. Delays were expected up to 12 hours.
Mississippi River:
Ongoing high water levels impacted movements on the lower Mississippi River for another week. As a result, maximum barge counts were reduced by 10-15%, horsepower minimums were in effect, and southbound bridge navigation was limited to daytime hours only for larger vessels through a number of urban areas.
The river gauge at Baton Rouge was reported at 29.9 feet on June 1, just shy of the 30-foot action stage, although the gauge was expected to bounce in and out of action stage throughout the first two weeks of June. The Vicksburg, Miss., gauge was posted at an action-stage 35.11 feet, with forecasts predicting levels to fall out of action stage on June 13.
The elevated conditions were largely fed by high water levels on the Ohio River, the National Weather Service reported. The gauge at Cairo, Ill., was noted cresting at an action-stage 32.48 feet on June 1. Area waters were anticipated to move below the 32-foot action stage on June 3.
Channel reinforcement underway since May 10 at Mile 807 on the lower river reportedly blocked southbound movements daily between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The project was tentatively scheduled to wrap up on June 10.
Illinois River:
Repairs and maintenance in progress since May 9 at Brandon Road Lock were noted impacting navigation. Overnight-only movements were reportedly in force between May 9 and Aug. 14, after which a total-lock shutdown will block travel entirely from Aug. 15 to Sept. 4.
Overnight lockages at Brandon Road Lock are expected to resume on Sept. 5-8, followed by a return to 24-hour lockages on Sept. 9. A maximum 70-foot width limit was noted in place on all lockages while the project is underway.
Sources reported lowered wickets at both Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock for the week, allowing tows to pass both locations without locking.
Ohio River:
Belleville Lock main chamber repair and maintenance was noted in progress from May 1 through June 29. Vessels were reported passing through the secondary chamber while work is underway, with significant delays expected.
The primary chamber at Greenup Lock is undergoing repairs between May 1 and June 29, limiting main chamber access and contributing to delays in locking.
A proposed Hannibal Lock primary chamber closure for repairs and maintenance would span July 5 to Oct. 8. Tows would be expected to pass the site via the auxiliary chamber should the proposal be adopted, with delays likely.
Cannelton Lock is scheduled to undergo primary chamber gate replacement starting on July 5. Transit through the site is expected to be routed through the auxiliary chamber for the length of the project, currently slated through Nov. 11. The site’s auxiliary chamber is shut from May 5 through July 1 for anchor arm replacement.
On the Tennessee River, the main chamber at Pickwick Landing Lock was reported shut for the week due to potential structural issues, prompting detours through the secondary chamber.
The Cumberland River’s Cheatham Lock is reportedly shut for planned miter gate machinery repairs through Aug. 5, triggering significant delays. Shutdowns at the site are slated to run for 11 days straight, during which no lockages will be permitted, followed by a three-day period of unrestricted lock access.
Arkansas River:
Elevated conditions were reported on the Arkansas River during the week, slowing vessel travel and complicating unloading operations. Forecasts suggested the conditions could extend through the first two weeks of June.
Norrell Lock repairs and maintenance were scheduled to block daytime navigation starting on June 1. Scheduled to continue through Jun 11, the shutdowns were due to be repeated on June 22-July 21; Aug. 1-10; Aug. 21-Sept. 21; Oct. 20-Nov. 18; Nov. 29-Dec. 23; and Jan. 3-31, 2023. Locking will be unavailable daily between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. during scheduled work days. A complete shutdown is scheduled for Sept. 30 to Oct. 9 at the site.
Joe Hardin Lock will see closures in September and October, with daytime travel unavailable between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 12-19, and again on Sept. 28-29. The site will shut completely to navigation over the Sept. 20-Oct. 9 period.