U.S. Gulf:
Daytime navigation restrictions at the West Canal’s Calcasieu Lock, located at Mile 238.5, were projected to block movements from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, until late August.
A repair operation reported to kick off on May 31 at Port Allen Lock was scheduled to conclude on the evening of June 7. The work reportedly stopped navigation on Monday through Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., producing delays up to 24 hours.
A guidewall construction project is underway at Bayou Sorrel Lock through an estimated February 2023, halting Monday-through-Friday travel between 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily. Delays were predicted in the 12-24 hour range.
Maintenance underway at the Brazos Locks system caused weekday travel shutdowns from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., although normal 24-hour access was available on Saturday and Sunday. Work at the site was tentatively anticipated to wrap up by the end of June. Delays were reported in the 9-14 hour range.
Shoaling reported at Miles 113-116 of the Atchafalaya River continued to necessitate maximum 10-foot draft restrictions through the Morgan City, La., area, a Coast Guard posting indicated. Additionally, tows were capped at 600 feet, while strings measuring longer than 400 feet were advised to utilize an assist tug. Tow widths were limited to 70 feet. The restrictions could be bypassed via a detour through the Port Allen Route.
Unassisted lockages at Algiers Lock remained subject to length and width maximums, sources said, effectively capping tow sizes at four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per turn. Larger passes were possible when locking with an assist vessel. Delays were reported in the 25-44 hour range through the week.
Construction underway through late 2022 at the Belle Chasse Bridge reportedly caused intermittent travel delays up to 12 hours in length during the week. The bridge is located at Mile 3 in the West Canal.
Port Allen Lock passages required up to 55 hours during the week, Corps data indicated, with 28 tows observed in line to lock on June 8. Bayou Sorrel Lock travel was counted up to nine hours, while most Industrial Lock waits fell in a wide 15-35 hour range.
Mississippi River:
Towing restrictions continued on the lower river during the week, following a return to action-stage river levels at Vicksburg, Miss. The gauge was posted at 35.08 feet on June 8, while forecasts predicted a move below the 35-foot action stage on June 8-9. With levels at Vicksburg, Cairo, Ill., and Baton Rouge, La., anticipated to chart downward heading deeper into June, the restrictions were expected to be lifted soon.
Rock-laying efforts underway since May 10 at the lower river’s Mile 807 blocked southbound movements daily between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The effort was tentatively set to conclude on June 10.
Movements were halted at the lower river’s Miles 232-233 on June 3-4 due to a broken power line.
Efforts to salvage a sunken barge at Mile 49 on the upper river necessitated towing restrictions. Previously expected to conclude by the end of May, the effort was extended through June, limiting barge counts to 20-30 units, depending on horsepower and direction of travel.
Lock 14 wait times were reported in the 4-7 hour range during the week. Intermittent 5-8 hour delays were seen at Lock 27 on June 7-8.
Illinois River:
Repairs and maintenance at Brandon Road Lock are scheduled to run through Sept. 8. Movements are limited to overnight hours through Aug. 14, with tow widths capped at 70 feet. Navigation will be completely unavailable from Aug. 15 to Sept. 4, while overnight-only travel on Sept. 5-8 will precede a Sept. 9 scheduled return to normal transit hours.
Elevated river conditions kept wickets down at LaGrange Lock through the week, sources said, allowing tows to pass the site without locking. Sources reported raised wickets at Peoria Lock, however, marking a return to locking at that location.
Intermittent 5-13 hour delays were noted at Brandon Road Lock for the week.
Ohio River:
The main chamber at Belleville Lock is reportedly closed to navigation through June 29 for planned maintenance and repairs. Transits remained available via the auxiliary chamber, however, resulting in 12-36 hour wait times during the week.
The Greenup Lock main chamber was noted shut for repairs in tandem with Belleville Lock’s May 1-June 29 schedule, during which movements are being routed through the auxiliary chamber. Wait times were generally quoted in the 5-16 hour range for the week.
Repairs and maintenance proposed for Hannibal Lock on July 5-Oct. 8 would limit access to the site’s primary chamber. Vessels would be free to pass through the auxiliary chamber, with delays expected.
Cannelton Lock main chamber navigation is projected to be unavailable from July 5 through Nov. 11 to allow for replacement of the primary chamber miter gate. In advance of the main chamber operation, the secondary chamber was reported shut from May 5 through July 1.
The Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock posted wait times up to 31 hours during the week. Extended delays remained in effect at Wilson Lock, with passages posted up to 59 hours.
Miter gate machinery repairs underway at the Cumberland River’s Cheatham Lock were projected to continue through Aug. 5. Work was operating on a repeating two-week pattern, with an 11-day total travel closure followed by a three-day period of unrestricted navigation. Significant delays were expected.
Arkansas River:
Norrell Lock maintenance efforts saw the lock shut from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily through June 11. Additional daytime shutdowns are schedule for June 22-July 21; Aug. 1-10; Aug. 21-Sept. 21; Oct. 20-Nov. 18; Nov. 29-Dec. 23; and Jan. 3-31, 2023. The lock will see a complete travel blackout from Sept. 30-Oct. 9.
Joe Hardin Lock will close for repairs from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 12-19, a Corps posting indicated. Travel will be completely unavailable between Sept. 20 and Oct. 9.