US Gulf:
An equipment malfunction prevented the West Canal’s Belle Chasse Bridge from opening on June 5-7, forcing tows to detour through Harvey Lock. Repairs were expected to conclude on June 7, while Harvey Lock delays were posted in the 9-15 hour range on June 6.
The start of Bayou Boeuf Lock repairs scheduled through approximately July 3 was pushed back to June 10 from late May. The effort is expected to block weekday travel from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additionally, the lock will shut completely from 7 a.m. on June 11 through 6 p.m. on June 14, and during similar hours on June 18-21.
Brazos Lock repairs underway through October blocked weekday travel from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., triggering waits in a wide 5-47 hour range during the week. Guidewall repairs at Bayou Sorrel Lock, at Mile 37 of the Port Allen Route, are expected to continue through Oct. 30, restricting weekday movements from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Corps data showed delays up to 29 hours on June 6.
Repairs in progress at the Houston-area’s San Jacinto River Bridge are anticipated to continue into July or August. Traffic is limited to singlewide tows through the western side of the channel, and the channel’s eastern side is completely closed to travel.
Port Allen Lock delays topped out around the seven-hour mark during the week, while tows waited 2-4 days to transit Industrial Lock. Intermittent 4-8 hour waits were reported at Algiers Lock, while tows were delayed up to 12 hours at Colorado Lock.
Mississippi River:
High water levels at Savage, Minn., forced a complete halt to navigation between Savage and the St. Paul, Minn., area during the week, sources said. The gauge at Savage put depths at a minor-flood 703.1 feet on June 6. Levels were projected to remain at flood stage through at least June 13.
Northbound loading drafts were capped at 11.5 feet through the St. Louis area, sources said, though southbound drafts were permitted up to 12.5 feet.
High water levels persisted on the lower river, prompting towing restrictions based on vessel horsepower. Southbound tows were required to maintain a minimum of 240 horsepower per standard loaded barge, up to a maximum of 36 barges, or 550 horsepower per oversize barge.
Tows traveling upriver were required to hold a minimum speed of 3 mph through the bridges at Memphis and Vicksburg, Miss, sources noted. If unable to maintain speed, tows were required to either reduce tow sizes or utilize an assist tug.
The gauge at Vicksburg was observed at an action-stage 37.8 feet at midweek, with forecasts calling for levels to recede below the 35-foot action stage on June 15. The Baton Rouge, La., gauge returned an action-stage 31.5-foot reading on June 6. Levels were projected to fall below the region’s 30-foot action stage on June 18.
The Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge, located at Mile 482.9 of the upper river, will close to navigation on the morning of June 8 for the Quad Cities Heart Walk. Lock 8 is slated to close for approximately eight hours for miter gate repair in mid-June.
Lock 7 saw intermittent 6-16 hour delays during the week. Wait times ran up to seven hours at Lock 24.
Illinois River:
Loading drafts on the Illinois River continued at a maximum 10 feet in both the northbound and southbound directions below Mile 160, while draft limits were noted at 10 feet through Miles 160-231, increasing from the week-ago 9.5 feet. Drafts fell to nine feet above Mile 231, however.
Sporadic 3-9 hour delays were reported at Starved Rock Lock. Wickets were noted in the lowered position at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock, allowing non-locking navigation through both locations.
Ohio River:
Maximum drafts were noted in the 10-11 foot range on the Ohio River, depending on location and direction of travel, down from 10-11.5 feet at last report. Tow lengths were permitted up to 15 barges.
Repairs and maintenance were underway at Cannelton Lock and Markland Lock through June 7, with minimal delays reported. Markland Lock travel will be limited on June 10-28 for miter gate repairs, with long delays expected.
Repair operations kicked off at the Hannibal Lock main chamber on June 3, sources said, forcing detours through the auxiliary chamber for 18 hours daily starting from 6 a.m. Sources warned of periodic auxiliary chamber closures for concrete work lasting up to 12 hours apiece. Wait times at Hannibal were noted up to 12 hours during the week.
Machinery work at Racine Lock is slated to run June 1 through July 11. Sources predicted a handful of 12-hour closures in the weeks leading up to the project.
The John T. Myers Lock primary chamber is scheduled to close to navigation from Aug. 21 through Nov. 9. A similar closure in October 2023 resulted in four-day delays. The main and auxiliary chambers at Belleville Lock will shut for 30 days each during the second half of the year, though the final schedule has not yet been determined.
On the Tennessee River, Kentucky Lock delays were posted up to 22 hours at midweek. Wait times at Wilson Lock were recorded in a wide 5-43 hour range.
Arkansas River:
Repairs to the Van Buren Bridge are set to begin on Aug. 16. The project will run for approximately 18 days, with vessels cleared to pass the site following the ninth day of work. The bridge is located at Mile 300.8 of the Arkansas River.