US Gulf:
Bayou Boeuf Lock repairs are scheduled to kick off in late May and run for approximately 30 days, sources said, blocking weekday travel from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Two full shutdowns are expected during the project, completely stopping navigation for 83 hours at a time.
Repairs underway at Brazos Lock are anticipated to continue into October, limiting weekday navigation from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with delays running up to five days during the week. While just two tows were officially shown in line for locking at midweek, sources reported nearly 40 vessels unofficially queued for transit on May 28.
Guidewall repairs at Bayou Sorrel Lock in progress through Oct. 30 limited movements from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., triggering delays up to 51 hours, above the maximum 38 hours reported last week. Repairs and maintenance reportedly shut Calcasieu Lock to weekday travel from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. but were slated to conclude on May 31. Intermittent delays at Calcasieu were clocked up to 13 hours during the week.
Repairs to the San Jacinto River Bridge in Houston, Texas, began on April 22 and were expected to continue for 3-4 months. Traffic was limited to singlewide configurations through the western side of the channel and was completely unavailable through the channel’s eastern side.
Port Allen Lock waits were noted up to 11 hours during the week. Boats transiting Industrial Lock waited up to 35 hours to pass, while Algiers Lock movements were quoted up to 15 hours. Harvey Lock transits topped out around the nine-hour mark during the week.
Mississippi River:
Towing restrictions continued on the Lower Mississippi River due to high water levels. Barge-count reductions based on vessel horsepower remained in place, with southbound tows obligated to maintain a minimum of 240 horsepower per standard loaded barge, up to a maximum of 36 barges, or 550 horsepower per oversize barge.
Northbound tows were required to hold a minimum 3 mph of speed through the bridges at Memphis, Tenn., and Vicksburg, Miss, sources said. If unable to maintain speed, the use of an assist tug was required.
The river gauge at Vicksburg was noted at an action-stage 37.0 feet at midweek, with forecasts predicting a fall below the 35-foot action stage on June 13. The Baton Rouge, La., gauge stood at an action-stage at 32.6 feet on May 30. Levels were forecast to remain above the region’s 30-foot action through the full two-week forecast.
Loading drafts were limited to 11.5 feet on northbound travel through the St. Louis area, sources said. Southbound drafts were permitted up to 12.5 feet. Lock 8 was scheduled to shut for miter gate repair between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on May 30, while a second closure was expected in 1-2 weeks to complete the project.
Dredging reported at Mile 107 was scheduled to wrap up on May 26. The Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge, at Mile 482.9 of the upper river, will close to marine traffic on the morning of June 8 for the Quad Cities Heart Walk.
Illinois River:
Loading drafts on the Illinois River remained limited to 10 feet in both the northbound and southbound directions below Mile 160. Drafts were reduced to 9.5 feet for Miles 160-231, and nine feet above Mile 231. Sources reported otherwise normal operating conditions during the week.
Intermittent 4-6 hour delays were noted at Lockport Lock, and tows waited up to six hours to pass Marseilles Lock, according to Corps data. Wickets remained down at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock, allowing tows to pass both sites without locking.
Ohio River:
Draft limits on the Ohio River were noted in the 10-11.5 foot range, depending on location and direction of travel. Tows were capped at 15 barges.
Planned work at Cannelton Lock and Markland Lock was underway through June 7, with minimal delays reported. Markland Lock will experience a more intensive shutdown for miter gate repairs on June 10-28.
Machinery repairs are on the books for June 1-July 11 at Racine Lock, and slowdowns are expected at Hannibal Lock between June 15 and Nov. 7 for dewatering and miter gate repairs. Sources predicted a handful of 12-hour closures at Racine in the weeks leading up to the project.
The main chamber at John T. Myers Lock will close to navigation from Aug. 21 through Nov. 9. A similar outage in October 2023 resulted in four-day delays. Belleville Lock will see alternating 30-day main and auxiliary chamber shutdowns during the second half of the year.
Waits were reported up to 14 hours at the Kentucky Lock on the Tennessee River. Delays fell in a wide 4-19 hour range at Wilson Lock during the week.
Arkansas River:
Navigation through the Van Buren Bridge, at Mile 300.8 of the Arkansas River, will be unavailable on Aug. 16-Sept. 8 due to repairs, sources said. Vessels are expected to be allowed to pass the site following the ninth day of work.