US Gulf:
Calcasieu Lock maintenance, originally scheduled to last through March 3, was extended through April 6. Daytime travel was reportedly unavailable on weekdays, resulting in 10-27 hour delays for the week.
Sources expected Algiers Lock repairs to begin soon. The work is set to run for about seven weeks, with roughly 20 days of daytime shutdowns anticipated during that time. Delays at Algiers Lock were counted up to 37 hours on March 1.
Navigation was unavailable at Colorado Lock from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily due to ongoing maintenance, triggering wait times up to 52 hours. Work at the site is scheduled through March 10.
Travel was shut through the Belle Chasse Bridge between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 24 and 28 due to bridge replacement work. An additional daytime shutdown was planned for March 2, with more closures expected in late March and April. The structure is located at Mile 3.8 of the Algiers Canal.
Wait times at Port Allen Lock were counted up to 15 hours through the week. Intermittent 5-15 hour transits were noted at Bayou Sorrel Lock. At Industrial Lock, Corps data put travel times up to 51 hours, while boats passing Brazos Lock were delayed up to 16 hours. A drawbridge malfunction was reported blocking travel at the West Canal’s Mile 357.
Mississippi River:
Shipping operators reported keeping an eye on water levels in the lower Mississippi River, as possible small-scale flooding continued to be forecast by the NWS.
Depths at Vicksburg were predicted to inch above the area’s 35.0-foot Action Stage on March 2, topping out at 35.2 feet on March 4 before falling out of Action Stage one day later. Levels at Baton Rouge were projected to move above that site’s 30.0-foot Action Stage threshold on March 5, lingering there until March 8. No towing restrictions from the elevated river levels were reported on March 1.
The Mel Price Lock and Chain of Rocks Lock primary chambers are closed to vessel traffic through March 31 and March 17, respectively, for maintenance and repairs, although transit remains possible through the secondary chambers at both sites. Intermittent 21-hour waits were observed at Mel Price Lock, while Corps data showed delays approaching 40 hours at Chain of Rocks Lock.
Locks 24 and 25 opened for the spring navigation season on Feb. 26. Locks 21 and 22 were due to open on March 2, followed by Locks 12, 13, 15, and 19 on March 3. Locks 3 and 4 are scheduled to resume lockages on March 12, while the planned reopening of Chain of Rocks and Mel Price on March 17 and March 31, respectively, are expected to mark the complete reopening of the upper river to commercial navigation. Barges destined for ports on the upper river began releasing from NOLA in February.
Illinois River:
High water levels reported on the upper Illinois River were noted to impact navigation. In addition to forcing slower travel speeds, bridge clearance issues were expected.
Wickets were down at both Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock on March 1, allowing vessels to pass through the nonlocking navigational passes at both locations. Intermittent 5-10 hour delays were recorded at Marseilles Lock, while sporadic Starved Rock waits peaked above 19 hours.
The Illinois River is slated to close to commercial navigation between June and September for a large-scale lock repair and maintenance project. Brandon Road Lock, Dresden Island Lock, and Marseilles Lock are all scheduled to shut to navigation. Maintenance at Starved Rock Lock, previously planned to run concurrently with the larger shutdown, was deferred to an unspecified later date.
Ohio River:
The secondary chambers at Bellville Lock and Racine Lock reopened from planned repairs on Feb. 26. A subsequent main chamber shutdown at Racine Lock, begun on Feb. 26, was slated to run through March 12.
Intermittent primary chamber closures were scheduled through Aug. 20 at JT Meyers Lock due to floating mooring repairs. After the main chamber work ends, the lock’s secondary chamber is projected to go offline Aug. 21 through Sept. 10 for miter gate repairs. The primary chamber will then shut once more from Sept. 11 to Nov. 17.
Hannibal Lock was reported shut Feb. 20 through April 7 for planned maintenance, prompting delays in a wide 7-34 hour range through the week. Greenup Lock is set to undergo a primary chamber closure March 12 through April 12. The auxiliary chamber at Melville Lock will go offline April 17 through Aug. 4.
Boats were delayed up to nine hours through the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock during the week. Tows transiting Wilson Lock saw wait times up to 11 hours.