US Gulf:
An ongoing high-water event on the Lower Mississippi River extended towing restrictions on movements above New Orleans, sources said. Barge counts were reduced by up to 25%, resulting in delivery delays as high as 48 hours.
The Baton Rouge river gauge returned an action-stage 34.37-foot reading on April 11, with a peak of 34.5 feet predicted on April 12-14. The gauge was forecast to fall out of action stage on April 23, while an NWS flood warning for the Baton Rouge area was slated to remain in effect through April 20.
Emergency repairs reportedly shut Bayou Sorrel Lock to daytime navigation on April 11-14, blocking travel daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. In addition, tows measuring wider than 54 feet were required to transit with an assist vessel while repairs were underway. Nine-hour delays were reported on April 11.
Algiers Lock is shut for repairs from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, through May 4, with wait times posted up to 29 hours during the week, below 57 hours reported previously. Work underway since Jan. 30 at Calcasieu Lock concluded on April 6, sources said. Lingering delays were counted up to 12 hours on April 10-11.
Maintenance and repairs at Colorado Lock shut the site to daylight-hour navigation through April 28. Wait times stretched to a wide 8-40 hour range through the week, shifting from 13.5 hours at last check.
Bayou Boeuf Lock north chamber guidewall repairs, previously scheduled to begin on April 10, were pushed back to April 17, sources said. The project will close the site to weekday navigation between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., with Bayou Chene available as an alternate route. The project is scheduled to run through May 19.
Miter gate machinery repairs are expected to close Leland Bowman Lock to navigation on April 18-19. Intermittent shutdowns were anticipated at the Morgan City Railroad Bridge, located Mile 121 of the West Canal, between mid-April and the end of June.
Port Allen Lock wait times ran up to 18.5 hours through during the week, while most Industrial Lock delays fell in a wide 31-45 hour range. Boats waited up to 10.5 hours to pass Brazos Lock. Weather delays caused delays up to 24 hours throughout the West Canal.
Mississippi River:
High water levels continued on the lower Mississippi, resulting in tow-size restrictions and delivery delays. Tow lengths were reduced by 15-25%, sources said, stretching deliveries by 24-48 hours as a result.
The NWS river gauge at Vicksburg was posted at an action-stage 40.85 feet and falling slowly on April 12, while forecasts called for the area to recede below the 35.0-foot action stage on April 19.
On the upper river, damage to the Lock 12 upriver mule necessitated the use of an assist tug on northbound lockages, sources said. Lock 19 was due to shut for 6-12 hours daily on both April 12-13 and April 18-19. Daytime travel closures were scheduled at the Ft. Madison Railroad Bridge on April 12, 18, and 19.
Five-hour waits were reported at Lock 19. Lock 1 and St. Anthony Falls Upper Lock remained shut to navigation during the week.
Illinois River:
Brandon Road Lock was closed to daytime traffic on April 11-12 for repairs, leaving transit unavailable from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sources reported intermittent closures at Marseilles Lock, triggering waits up to 28.5 hours through the week. Elevated water levels kept wickets down at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock, allowing boats to transit both sites without locking.
Brandon Road Lock, Dresden Island Lock, and Marseilles Lock are expected to shut on June 1, closing the river to commercial transport through the end of September.
Ohio River:
Floating mooring repairs underway at JT Meyers Lock are scheduled to run through Aug. 20, prompting intermittent main chamber shutdowns. The lock’s auxiliary chamber is reportedly on track to close for repairs Aug. 21 through Sept. 10, followed by another round of main chamber work between Sept. 11 and Nov. 17.
Primary chamber repairs at Hannibal Lock were scheduled to wrap up on April 10. Delays reported at 17 hours on April 10 softened to a 6-14 hour range on April 12, falling from 23 hours in the prior report.
The main chamber at Greenup Lock was scheduled to return from maintenance on April 12, while sources expected the Melville Lock auxiliary chamber to shut April 17 through Aug. 4 for repairs.
On the Tennessee River, intermittent Kentucky Lock delays were reported in a wide 6-26 hour range. Wilson Lock waits ran as high as eight hours.
Arkansas River:
Interlock system repairs were scheduled to completely close Maynard Lock to navigation on April 10-14.