U.S. Gulf:
Bayou Sorrel Lock is scheduled to shut to daytime movements from April 21 through May 15, blocking traffic daily from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sources predicted 24-48 hour delays.
Sources reported a number of projects slowing navigation in the Port Allen Route for the week. In addition to upcoming Bayou Sorrel Lock repairs, ongoing stoppages at the Gross Tete Bridge limited navigation to just four hours a day through May 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Towing restrictions in place at Port Allen Lock, the result of guidewall damage suffered during a January barge collision, also slowed movements on the Port Allen Route. West-moving tows with two barges or more were required to utilize an assist vessel on all lockages, while locking was available without assistance for westbound vessels with one barge or less in tow. All eastbound traffic measuring longer than 650 feet was required to use an assist vessel. Wait times for the week were noted in a wide 8-21 hour range.
Harvey Lock was reported closed to navigation through May 21 due to ongoing repairs to the nearby 4th Street Bridge, prompting detours through Algiers Lock. The added traffic, along with high water levels reported in the area, combined to push Algiers delays as high as 48 hours for the week, with 32 tows reportedly queued to lock on April 13.
Restrictions persisted at Algiers Lock, sources said, limiting unassisted tows with widths above 60 feet to lengths of 600 feet. Vessels with tows narrower than 60 feet were permitted up to 700 feet long, essentially restricting unassisted lockages to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per turn. Longer tows were possible with the use of an assist vessel, sources said. Most Algiers Lock delays were reported in the 24-50 hour range for the week.
Due to high water in the Gulf and lower Mississippi River, tow lengths were reduced by 5-10 barges on travel above New Orleans. Tows are typically permitted up to 25 barges through the region.
River levels were reported at a moderate-flood 38.35 feet at Baton Rouge, La., on April 13. An NWS Flood Warning dated April 12 for the Mississippi River at Donaldsonville, La., Baton Rouge, and Red River Landing, Miss., was slated to expire on April 27. Storm systems moving through the Gulf and canals were projected to impact movements on April 13-19.
Maintenance and repair operations concluded at Colorado Lock on April 9, normalizing movements through the area. Industrial Lock delays were noted up to 48 hours for the week, rising from 8-17 hours reported previously. Sources quoted Brazos Lock passages up to 26.5 hours on April 11-12.
Mississippi River:
High water levels were exacerbated by weekend rains, sources said, triggering towing restrictions at numerous locations on the Mississippi River during the week.
On the upper river, sources described maximum tow lengths capped at nine barges between St. Paul and Prairie du Chien, while boats running from Prairie du Chien to St. Louis were limited to 12 barges per tow.
Depths clocked at an action-stage 28.91 feet at St. Louis prompted ongoing restrictions to Cairo, Ill., reducing barge counts by five units. Additionally, daylight-hour restrictions were reported in place on travel through bridges at St. Louis and Thebes, Ill.
Below Cairo, tows were reduced by 5-10 barges from the typical 25-barge limit. Water levels at Vicksburg, Miss., were posted at a minor-flood 44.65 feet and falling slowly on April 14, with forecasts predicting a move below the 35-foot action stage on April 26-27. Tows were limited to daytime-only movements through bridges at Memphis, Tenn., Vicksburg, and Baton Rouge. The NWS posted a Flood Warning for Vicksburg and Natchez, Miss., on April 13.
Overnight travel through the railroad bridge at the upper river’s Mile 699 was reportedly unavailable for the week due to a shortage of lock operators.
Lock 2 will see a number of daytime 4-12 hour closures in July for miter gate installation. Daylight-hour shutdowns were expected at Lock 25 in July and August for guidewall repairs. Delays for the week were noted at five hours at Lock 18, while boats passing Lock 22 reported eight-hour waits on April 14.
Illinois River:
Heavy weekend rains reversed a short-lived resumption of lockages through Peoria Lock during the week, sources said. Wickets remained down at LaGrange Lock.
Ohio River:
Meldahl Lock primary chamber machinery repairs previously scheduled to run from April 12 through June 11 were delayed, sources said. Updated dates for the project were expected to be announced soon. Vessels will pass through the secondary chamber while work is underway, with waits expected.
The main chamber at Cannelton Lock is slated to close from June 21 through Nov. 19. Tows will pass the site through the secondary chamber, effecting considerable delays.
The Markland Lock auxiliary chamber is projected to remain shut through Oct. 29 due to cracks in the miter gate. Locking has remained available through the primary chamber since the start of the shutdown in early 2020. The secondary chamber at New Cumberland Lock is closed through June 10 for repairs and maintenance.
Sources reported lowered wickets at Olmsted Lock due to high water, allowing movements through the nonlocking navigational pass.
On the Tennessee River, the Corps announced a planned main chamber shutdown at Wilson Lock for repairs, slated for May 4-13. Transit will remain available through the secondary chamber. Wait times at Kentucky Lock were quoted up to 19 hours during the week.
Bio-acoustic fish fence (BAFF) repair at the Cumberland River’s Cheatham Lock were rescheduled for May 10 through July 15. As with the prior schedule, the Corps is expected to plan three temporary openings during the closure to pass waiting traffic.
Arkansas River:
Restrictions continued to be reported on the Arkansas River due to elevated water levels, slashing maximum tow lengths from 12 barges to nine. The reductions were likely to persist into late April, sources said.
David D. Terry Lock navigation is scheduled to be completely unavailable from Aug. 27 through Sept. 9 for dewatering and repairs. Ahead of the shutdown, intermittent delays are expected on Aug. 16-26.