US Gulf:
Port Allen Lock, located at Mile 63 of the Port Allen Route, was reported closed for repairs on Aug. 8, triggering waits up to 12 hours. The West Canal’s Ellender Bridge has been reported shut to most marine navigation since Aug. 1 due to mechanical issues. Vessels with air drafts of 50 feet or less were permitted to pass during the week.
Transit remained unavailable at Harvey Lock due to reverse head conditions, sources said. Harvey has been closed to traffic since June 15. BNSF railroad bridge repairs in the Morgan City, La., area, previously scheduled to start on July 17, were pushed back to early September.
Algiers Lock was scheduled to close from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Aug. 10-12 for gate repairs. Sources predicted 12-18 hour delays. Repairs to the side gates at Algiers are expected to force a complete lock shutdown in the fourth quarter lasting 45-60 days. Firm dates for the effort have not yet been announced.
Travel was unavailable through Bayou Sorrel Lock between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily for ongoing guidewall repairs, prompting delays in a wide 9-28 hour range. The project is scheduled to continue into March 2024. In addition, Bayou Sorrel will shut for an 18-hour period on or around Aug. 14, sources said.
Dredging in progress at Bayou Chene necessitated slow travel speeds through the area. Previously set to conclude on July 30, the project was extended through approximately Nov. 30. Repairs were scheduled to kick off at Brazos Lock on Aug. 10, blocking travel daily between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Port Allen Lock waits ran up to seven hours through the week, while intermittent Industrial Lock delays were counted up to 11 hours. Corps data showed seven-hour wait times at Algiers Lock on Aug. 9.
Mississippi River:
Lifting river levels prompted towing capacity increases in the St. Louis, Mo., area, sources said, although restrictions remained in place. Loading drafts were cut by 10-15% for the week, improving from 25-30% reported previously. Drafts remained at 95% of capacity between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill.
On the lower river, loading drafts were restricted by 20% between Cairo and New Orleans, La., while maximum barge counts were reduced by 10-15%, improving from last week’s 15-25% cut. A heat advisory was in place at Vicksburg, Miss., while an excessive heat warning was noted at Baton Rouge, La.
The softer restrictions could prove short-lived however. The river gauge at St. Louis, reported at 5.61 feet on Aug. 9, was forecast to recede to (-)2.30 feet on Aug. 23, while the Memphis gauge, expected to crest at 4.50 feet on Aug. 10, was likely slide to (-)4.00 feet on Aug. 23, forecasters said.
A dredge reported working at the lower river’s Mile 590 on Aug. 8 was scheduled to reposition to Mile 540 within days, while sources warned of upcoming 24-hour shutdowns at Mile 742 due to dredging. Dredging underway at Miles 166-173 of the upper river has minimally disrupted traffic to date, sources said.
Four-hour daytime shutdowns were noted through the bridge at Ft. Madison, Iowa, on Aug. 2 and Aug. 6-9. The site is scheduled to shut for eight hours each on Aug. 19 and 20.
Old River Lock is scheduled to close for repairs on Aug. 14-17 and Aug. 21-24. The lock is located at Mile 305 of the lower river.
Illinois River:
Sources continued to note a 5% reduction in loading drafts for vessels transiting the Illinois River. Wickets were raised at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock due to low water, forcing boats to lock through both locations.
Commercial navigation on the Illinois will remain unavailable through an estimated Oct. 1 due to repairs and maintenance at Brandon Road Lock, Dresden Island Lock, and Marseilles Lock.
Ohio River:
Maximum loading drafts remained at 10.0-10.5 feet on the Ohio River due to low river levels. Critical flow stages on the Monongahela River forced draft reductions to 8.5 feet, sources said.
Repairs to the floating mooring system at John T. Meyers Lock will close the site’s main chamber to navigation through Aug. 20. The secondary chamber will be offline Aug. 21 through Sept. 10 for miter gate repairs, followed by an additional main chamber closure between Sept. 11 and Nov. 17.
Outflows at Smithland Lock prompted mandatory assist boat usage on southbound lockages. The land chamber at Smithland is scheduled to go offline Sept. 22 through Oct. 21 for machinery repairs, followed by a river chamber closure between Oct. 22 and Nov. 20 for machinery replacement.
Delays were reported up to 11 hours at the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock. Corps data showed intermittent 7-26 hour waits at Wilson Lock.