U.S. Gulf:
Industrial Lock was closed from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30
p.m. on May 11 for dolphin construction. Backups resulting from the shutdown
were likely to push into May 12 or 13, sources said.
Repairs to the Port Allen Lock guidewall triggered intermittent, four-hour, daytime travel stoppages during the week. Unassisted westbound vessels were capped at one barge per turn through the site, while tows with two or more cargoes were required to use an assist boat. Unassisted tows traveling eastward were capped at 650 feet. Wait times were quoted up to 30 hours for the week, improving from 39 hours reported previously. The repairs are scheduled to continue through May 17.
Water levels pressed above the 30-foot action stage at
Baton Rouge, La., once again during the week, registering a 31.1-foot reading
on May 11. The rising levels dashed hopes of a quick return to unrestricted
operation in the Gulf, solidifying barge reductions of 5-10 units below the
typical 25-barge tows on Gulf travel above New Orleans.
Levels at Baton Rouge were projected to crest at
33.4 feet on May 18-19 and remain above action stage through at least May 25. A
Flood Warning issued on May 11 for the Mississippi River at Red River Landing
was scheduled to expire on May 26.
Harvey Lock was closed to navigation due to repairs
to the nearby 4th Street Bridge, prompting detours through Algiers
Lock until the project’s May 21 end. Unassisted Algiers Lock travel continued
to be restricted to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers, although
lengthier tows were permissible when accompanied by an assist vessel.
The restrictions and added traffic pushed Algiers
Lock delays up to 25.5 hours, sources said, with 21 tows counted in line to lock
on May 11. Combined with the additional travel time resulting from the closure
at Harvey Lock, travel times between the lower Mississippi and the West Canal
were increased by up to one week, sources said.
Bayou Chene remained closed to overnight travel due
to construction activities and diver operations. The route was reported shut
nightly between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Bayou Sorrel Lock is scheduled return to normal
operation on May 15, ending traffic
shutdowns from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Most waits were noted in the 6-12
hour range during the week, although sources reported a handful of delays at 24
hours or more.
Industrial
Lock waits were posted up to seven hours on May 11. Brazos Lock floodgate
repairs were expected to prompt a 24-36 hour shutdown on May 13-14. Storm
delays were reported on Gulf travel on May 10-12, and sources noted weather
delays in the East and West Canals stretching into May 13.
Mississippi River:
Sources on May 12 reported a massive backup at Mile
736-737 after a routine safety inspection of the I-40 Bridge found a large
crack in a load-bearing structure. Engineers were reported onsite on May 12-13,
and shipping sources expected at least a multiday river shutdown while repair
plans were formulated.
Extreme
shoaling reported at Smith’s Bay, located at Mile 530 on the upper Mississippi
River, prompted strong caution advisories despite remaining open to navigation.
Sources expected the Corps to initiate dredging operations by May 12.
Repairs to the Burlington Railroad Bridge, near Mile 410 on the upper river, were expected to begin at midweek. Transit through the bridge will remain possible during the planned 3-4 week operation, although contractors were expected to require advance notice of at least one hour prior to arrival. Work is expected to run between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily.
A return to high water conditions south of Cairo,
Ill., renewed towing restrictions on the lower river, sources said. Overnight
travel restrictions were reinstated through Vicksburg-area bridges, although
requests for passage were reportedly considered on a case-by-case basis. Barge
counts were reduced by at least five cargoes through to the Gulf.
The Vicksburg river gauge returned a 36.2-foot
reading on May 12, above the 35-foot action stage. Depths were expected to peak
at 36.9 feet on May 15-16, before falling out of action stage on May 21-22.
A
six-day dredging operation at the lower river’s Mile 900 triggered intermittent
delays for the week. Sources said wait times averaged 6-12 hours.
Revetment
work at Mile 770 on the lower river was reported blocking movements daily
between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., prompting travel delays in the 6-12 hour
range. Vessels were allowed to pass the site during daytime hours on a case-by
case-basis. The project is scheduled to conclude on May 31.
July daylight-hour shutdowns remain on the docket
for Lock 2, sources said, with intermittent 4-12 hour closures expected for
miter gate installation. At Lock 25, daytime shutdowns for guidewall repairs
are expected in both July and August.
Delays were noted up to 63 hours at Lock 13, while
boats passing Lock 22 reported 3-8 hour waits on May 12. Sources described
five-hour crossings at Lock 24, and eight-hour delays were common on travel
through Lock 25. Mel Price wait times were quoted at 3-6 hours during the week.
Illinois River:
Hydraulic cylinder repairs triggered delays at
Peoria Lock on May 8-9. Wickets were down at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock for
the week, prompting lockless navigation through both sites.
Ohio River:
Rising
water levels forced a primary chamber shutdown at Greenup Lock, sources said.
All travel was reportedly taking place through the secondary chamber as a
result, pushing delays into the 3-8 hour range.
Meldahl
Lock primary chamber machinery repairs are now scheduled to run from May 17
through June 29 after initially being slated to start on May 11. Vessels will
be expected to pass through the auxiliary chamber while work is underway, and
delays are expected. Intermittent full-lock shutdowns are also likely, sources
said.
The
secondary chamber at Markland Lock is anticipated to remain closed to
navigation through Oct. 29 due to cracks in the miter gate. Locking has
remained available through the primary chamber, sources said. The auxiliary
chamber at New Cumberland Lock was reportedly shut through June 10 for repairs
and maintenance.
The Cannelton Lock primary chamber is scheduled to
shut from June 21 through Nov. 19, forcing tows to pass through the secondary
chamber. Sources warned of considerable delays.
On
the Tennessee River, the Wilson Lock main chamber was due to conclude repairs
on May 14. The project began on May 4 and was responsible for routing traffic
solely through the secondary chamber, triggering delays up to four days during
the week, sources said.
Chickamauga
Lock will be completely shut on May 3-24 for electrical repairs, blocking
navigation through the site. Wait times at Kentucky Lock were quoted at 3-9
hours for the week.
Bio-acoustic fish fence (BAFF) repairs kicked off on May 10 at the Cumberland River’s Cheatham Lock. The project will completely block transit on May 10-13; May 17-27; June 1-10; June 14-24; June 28-July 1; and July 12-22.
Arkansas River:
David D. Terry Lock navigation will be completely
unavailable from Aug. 27 through Sept. 9 due to a dewatering and repair
project. Additional intermittent stoppages are expected ahead of the full shutdown
on Aug. 16-26.
