US Gulf:
Calcasieu Lock shut to daytime navigation on Jan. 30, blocking weekday traffic from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and triggering delays up to 32 hours. The project is scheduled to continue through March 3.
Work is slated to kick off on Feb. 6 at Bayou Boeuf Lock, closing the lock to daytime navigation on Monday through Thursday through Feb. 16. Lock operators will intermittently open the lock during working hours, sources said, with 6-12 hour delays expected.
Weekday travel continued to be blocked intermittently at Bayou Sorrel Lock due to guidewall replacement, triggering wait times in a reported 5-22 hour range on Jan. 29-31. The project was anticipated to continue into March 2023.
Colorado Lock repairs, responsible for daily travel slowdowns between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., were scheduled to end on Jan. 27. Lingering delays were noted at 4-17 hours on Jan. 30-Feb. 1.
Monday-through-Friday maintenance shutdowns at Brazos Lock blocked navigation between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., resulting in 7-29 hour delays. The project is scheduled to run through Feb. 8.
Port Allen Lock waits were clocked up to 53 hours during the week, while Industrial Lock travel was delayed up 35.5 hours. Corps data showed Algiers Lock wait times in a wide 4-18 hour range on Jan. 31-Feb. 1. Periods of thick fog were heard to trigger 24-36 hour transit holds throughout the Gulf.
Mississippi River:
Rising waters were reported on the lower Mississippi River, while a decline in levels on the upper river prompted tightening travel restrictions.
A return to negative depth readings at the St. Louis river gauge led to the reinstitution of 10-foot maximum drafts on dry barges running southbound between St. Louis and Cairo, sources said, one week after drafts were raised to 18 feet due to improving conditions.
The St. Louis gauge was posted a (-)2.64 feet and rising slowly on Feb. 1. Forecasts predicted a (-)1.0-foot reading on Feb. 14.
The main chambers at Mel Price Lock and Chain of Rocks Lock are closed through March 31 and March 17, respectively, for maintenance and repairs, necessitating detours through the sites’ auxiliary chambers. Delays were noted up to 62 hours at Mel Price, while 64-hour waits were reported at Chain of Rocks.
Upper river locks currently closed for the winter navigations season are tentatively set to reopen for spring transit between Feb. 26 and March 31, starting with Locks 24 and 25. Freight operators are expected to begin releasing NOLA barges destined for upper-river locations as far north as Clinton, Iowa, in the second week of February, while tows bound for docks above Clinton could begin releasing in the fourth week of February.
Illinois River:
Falling temperatures and reports of new ice formation triggered a return to mandatory ice coupling usage at Dresden Island Lock and below, sources said. Ice was reported forming as far south as Peoria Lock, where an assist boat was necessary for all lockages due to haulage system repairs. Shippers reported slowdowns throughout the waterway due to the adverse conditions.
Wickets continued in the raised position at both Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock, necessitating lockages through both locations. Marseilles Lock waits were posted in a 3-11 hour range, and Starved Rock Lock travels were clocked up to 10 hours during the week. LaGrange and Peoria Lock wait times were quoted up to nine hours each.
Ohio River:
Auxiliary chamber closures were planned at Bellville Lock and Racine Lock between Jan. 30 and Feb. 26, followed by a main chamber shutdown at Racine Lock from Feb. 26 to March 12.
JT Meyers Lock is scheduled for a number of intermittent main chamber shutdowns between Jan. 30 and Aug. 20 due to floating mooring repairs. The Dashields Lock primary chamber will shut for 48 hours on Feb. 16-18, while Hannibal Lock, located at Mile 126, is due to close its main chamber Feb. 20 through April 7.
Greenup Lock will shut its primary chamber for maintenance and repairs March 12 through April 12, while the Melville Lock auxiliary chamber will go offline for repairs April 17 through Aug. 4.
Intermittent delays at the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock were observed in a 6-18 hour range through the week. Wilson Lock waits were counted at a wide 8-35 hours.
Arkansas River:
Norrell Lock was closed to navigation on Jan. 30-31.