U.S. Gulf:
Water levels were back above the 12-foot mark at the river gauge in New Orleans during the week, sparking renewed towing restrictions, travel slowdowns, and horsepower minimums through the NOLA area.
The gauge was recorded at 12.17 feet and rising on May 23, while forecasts predicted a 12.4-foot crest on May 23-25. Levels in the area could fall below 12 feet as early as May 27, National Weather Service (NWS) data indicated. Travel above NOLA was similarly restricted due to persistent high water at Baton Rouge.
Daylight navigation remained restricted through Calcasieu Lock. Previously set to conclude in mid-May, the limitations will reportedly extend into late August, holding travel to between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The closures have been underway since March 22.
Planned maintenance to the Bayou Sorrel Bridge was noted halting navigation from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and again between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Full 24-hour lock access resumed on Saturday and Sunday. The project was tentatively slated to continue through the end of May.
A seven-day repair project anticipated to kick off on May 31 at Port Allen Lock will block Monday-through-Friday movements from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Delays are projected up to 24 hours.
Guidewall replacement in progress at Bayou Sorrel Lock was expected to block Monday-Friday movements from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The shutdowns were likely to run into early 2023. Wait times were noted in the 3-11 hour range through the week.
Daylight Brazos Lock travel was reportedly unavailable on Monday through Friday. Set to run through approximately June 30, shutdown hours at the site were slotted to run from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Bayou Chene was noted resuming overnight travel, a Coast Guard posting indicated, ending a lengthy period of overnight shutdowns due to floodgate construction operation. During the project, navigation had been limited to daylight hours, with tow lengths capped at 600 feet. Tows measuring wider than 54 feet had been required to travel with an assist vessel.
Draft limits remained in place through Miles 113-116 of the Atchafalaya River, according to a Coast Guard posting, due to an ongoing shoaling event in the Morgan City, La., area. Maximum drafts were capped at 10 feet, while towing lengths and widths were restricted to a maximum 600 feet and 70 feet, respectively. Tows measuring longer than 400 feet were encouraged to travel with an assist vessel. Vessels were advised to bypass the restrictions via the Port Allen Route.
Length and width restrictions in effect at Algiers Lock effectively capped unassisted lockages to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per pass. Corps data estimated most delays in a wide 24-48 range through the week, expanding from 24-36 hours noted previously. Larger lockages were reportedly available when accompanied by an assist vessel.
A Belle Chasse Bridge construction operation tentatively scheduled through the end of 2022 was noted prompting delays up to 12 hours during the week. The bridge is located in the West Canal.
Port Allen Lock wait times were reported in the 16-30 hour range during the week. Vessels transiting Industrial Lock saw waits up to 50 hours, while Calcasieu Lock delays were observed up to 10.5 hours. Colorado Lock passages required up to six hours, and wait times at Brazos Lock were heard up to five hours.
Mississippi River:
High water river levels continued to be observed on the lower Mississippi River. The conditions were noted impacting travel speeds, necessitating restrictions on towing sizes and prompting horsepower minimums on towing vessels. Additionally, transit through a number of bridges was restricted to daytime hours only.
The river gauge at Baton Rouge was noted at an action-stage 32.67 feet and falling on May 25, following a May 22 crest at 32.9 feet. Despite the decline, area levels were expected to bounce in and out of action stage through at least June 6. A flood watch announced on May 24 was slated to remain in place through May 27.
The Vicksburg, Miss., gauge returned an action-stage 38.08-foot reading on May 25, and was projected to remain above the 35-foot action stage through at least June 8. The Cairo, Ill., gauge moved out of action stage on May 19, and was not expected to return in the next two weeks.
Rock-placement work underway since May 10 at Mile 807 on the lower river was heard to close the area to southbound travel daily, between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., with significant delays expected.
Ongoing salvage operations to retrieve a sunken barge at Mile 49 on the upper river were expected to continue through the end of the month. Due to the operation, maximum barge counts at the site were slashed, while the largest tows were reportedly limited to passing during daylight hours only.
Illinois River:
A planned maintenance and repair project scheduled at Brandon Road Lock will heavily impact navigation between May 9 and Sept. 8, a Corps posting indicated.
Transit through the lock will be limited to overnight hours only between May 9 and Aug. 14, with tow widths capped at 70 feet. The lock will undergo a total shutdown from Aug. 15 through Sept. 4, blocking all movements. Overnight navigation will return on Sept. 5-8, while normal travel hours are projected to resume on Sept. 9.
Wickets remained down at both Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock during the week, sources said, allowing tows to pass both locations without locking.
Ohio River:
Improving travel conditions were noted on the Ohio River, allowing for increased transit speeds, reduced daylight-only restrictions, and tighter pickup and delivery windows.
Belleville Lock entered into a planned main chamber shutdown on May 1, requiring detours through the auxiliary chamber through June 29. Early-week delays were reported in a wide 36-62 hour range.
A Greenup Lock primary chamber closure was noted running concurrently with Bellville Lock, shutting that unit to navigation from May 1 to June 29. Passage remained available through the secondary chamber, with wait times reported at 30-45 hours through May 23.
Cannelton was noted facing one last week of Wednesday-Thursday daytime shutdowns. The final closure was scheduled for May 26, with delays projected up to 12 hours. An additional project was expected to impact travel between July 5 and Nov. 11.
A possible Hannibal Lock main chamber shutdown for repairs and maintenance remained at the proposal stage, sources said. If given the green light, the project is expected to trigger detours through the secondary chamber between July 5 and Oct. 8.
On the Tennessee River, Kentucky Lock delays were observed in the 31-48 hour range through the early part of the week. Wait times were previously noted at 19 hours. Wilson Lock passages required 29-45 hours, Corps data indicated, shifting from 8-30 hours in the prior report.
Cheatham Lock miter gate machinery repairs were noted underway since May 16. The project is slated to continue through Aug. 5, during which the site will experience a repeating pattern of 11-day shutdowns, followed by three days of unrestricted navigation. Extensive delays are predicted.
Arkansas River:
High water levels were reported to impact Arkansas River travel during the week, slowing or stopping movements throughout most of the river. Forecasts predicted the high waters to persist into late May.
Planned repairs and maintenance at Norrell Lock are projected to block daytime transportation starting in June. Navigation will be unavailable from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily on June 1-11; June 22-July 21; Aug. 1-10; Aug. 21-Sept. 21; Oct. 20-Nov. 18; Nov. 29-Dec. 23; and Jan. 3-31, 2023. Transit will be completely unavailable through the site between Sept. 30 and Oct. 9.
The Corps announced a smaller-scale shutdown for Joe Hardin lock in September and October. Travel through the site will be unavailable between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily on Sept. 12-19 and Sept. 28-29, while the lock will see a full shutdown on Sept. 30-Oct. 9.