U.S. Gulf:
Bayou Boeuf Lock travel continued to be restricted during the week, a Coast Guard posting indicated. Navigation was limited to overnight hours only on Monday through Friday, leaving the lock closed daily between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Full 24-hour access was available on Saturday and Sunday.
Travel through Bayou Chene was unavailable during overnight hours due to floodgate construction. Transit was off limits nightly between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Tows locking during daytime hours were capped at 600 feet of length, while loads measuring wider than 54 feet were required to use an assist vessel. Wait times were noted in the 6-12 hour range.
Shoaling continued to restrict movements through Miles 113-116 on the Atchafalaya River, located in the Morgan City area. A Coast Guard posting showed drafts limited to 10 feet, while total lengths were capped at 600 feet. Tows measuring above 400 feet were strongly advised to travel with an assist vessel, and widths were reduced to a maximum 70 feet. Vessels were advised to detour through the designated alternate Port Allen Route.
Restrictions on Algiers Lock tows limited unassisted lockages to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per turn. Larger tows were reportedly cleared to lock only when accompanied by an assist vessel.
Belle Chasse Bridge construction, projected to continue through late 2022, was expected to trigger intermittent delays of up to 12 hours at a time. The structure is located at Mile 3 in the West Canal.
Port Allen Lock delays were reported up to 13 hours for the week. Travel times were noted up to six hours through Industrial Lock.
Mississippi River:
Emergency channel restoration at the lower Mississippi River’s Mile 595 was expected to trigger a multiday navigational shutdown starting on Dec. 2.
Previously set to begin on Dec. 1, transit through the area was projected to be completely unavailable through at least Dec. 6, and possibly as late as Dec. 8. Following that initial transportation blackout, the Corps was likely to open the area to clear waiting vessels every 2-3 days for the duration of the project, tentatively slated through Dec. 21.
An operation to salvage a partially sunken barge at Mile 538 during the week was predicted to trigger intermittent daytime travel shutdowns at Miles 536-540. In addition, traffic was reportedly limited to staggered one-way operation while the operation is underway.
Low water levels reportedly limited maximum drafts in the St. Louis area during the week. Channel work at Miles 343-346, which previously restricting daylight southbound traffic to 20-25 barges, was expected to conclude on Dec. 1.
Passage was unavailable through the bridge at Mile 309.9 on the upper river between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., and again between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., on Nov. 29-Dec. 2 and Dec. 6-9.
Seasonal upper river lock closures commenced on Nov. 28 with Locks 5A, 8, and 10. Lock 4, Lock 5, and Lock 7 were scheduled to officially shut no later than Dec. 6, followed by Locks 15 and 24 on Jan. 1. Locks 1-13 were noted locking zero vessels for the week through Dec. 1.
Lock 24 was scheduled to return to service on Jan. 31, ahead of Lock 15 on March 3. Locks 5 and 7 are on the books to come online on March 11, followed by Locks 5A, 8, and 10 on March 17. Lock 4 was set to resume lockages on March 21, conditions permitting.
Lock 27 delays were reported up to seven hours during the week.
Illinois River:
A planned Brandon Road Lock repair and maintenance project, set to run from May 9 through Sept. 8, will prompt daytime shutdowns and 70-foot width restrictions between May 9 and Aug. 14.
Navigation at the site will be entirely unavailable from Aug. 15 through Sept. 4, followed by a return to overnight-only movements on Sept. 5-8. Traffic is slated to return to normal on Sept. 9.
Marseilles Lock waits were noted up to seven hours for the week. Tows passing Starved Rock Lock saw intermittent 5-7 hour delays. Wickets were noted in the raised position at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock, necessitating tows to lock through both locations. Delays were typically reported under five hours.
Ohio River:
The Corps has proposed a Cannelton Lock main chamber shutdown for maintenance and repairs in 2022. The suggested timeline would run from July 5 through Nov. 11, forcing traffic through the site’s smaller secondary chamber.
A closure of the Montgomery Lock primary chamber, initiated on Oct. 29, has been extended through Dec. 22. Vessels are in line to pass the site via the auxiliary chamber through the project’s duration. Delays were quoted in a wide 2-10 day range for the week.
Hannibal Lock repairs were noted in progress through Dec. 10, prompting detours through the 600-foot auxiliary chamber. The Corps has proposed an additional round of maintenance between July 5 and Oct. 8.
The Dashields Lock secondary chamber remained out of order for the week due to an underwater obstruction that inhibited miter gate operation. Transit was available through the main chamber, with few delays reported.
The Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock is closed to navigation through Dec. 10 for planned miter gate repairs. The project began on Nov. 1, and locking resumed on Nov. 25-28 to clear waiting vessels. Tows were advised to detour through Barkley Lock and the Barkley Canal while work is underway, adding 1-2 days of travel time in each direction.
The Wilson Lock primary chamber is expected to close from Feb. 23 through April 28, forcing tows to lock one barge at a time through the secondary chamber. The main chamber is currently slated for a single relief opening on April 1-3, although additional openings could be added. Intermittent delays at Wilson Lock were reported in a wide 5-23 hour range for the week.
A proposed maintenance closure at the Cumberland River’s Cheatham Lock would limit traffic through the site from May 16 through Aug. 4.
The Allegheny River’s Lock 6 was closed to navigation until further notice due to reported miter gate damage.