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.