US Gulf:
Unplanned closures were reported at two locks in the US Gulf during the week. A broken miter gate hinge assembly forced Industrial Lock to halt operations from March 30 through at least April 6, sources said, while Port Allen Lock was shut on March 28 for emergency repairs and is expected to remain offline for three weeks or more.
The Port Allen Lock closure forced vessels to detour through Algiers Lock, prompting waits at 36-72 hours on April 4. Corps data showed 65 tows waiting to pass Industrial Lock at midweek.
Due to the shutdown at Port Allen Lock, planned repairs at Bayou Boeuf Lock scheduled for April 1-30 were delayed until further notice. The project had been expected to block daytime navigation throughout the month, while also closing the site entirely on April 2-5 and April 9-12.
Harvey Lock was scheduled to shut from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 5-7 due to construction in the area, with a single opening planned from 12-1 p.m. daily. Wait times were noted up to 16 hours on April 4.
Guidewall repairs at Bayou Sorrel Lock restricted weekday movements between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., resulting in waits up to 10 hours. Repairs underway at the Ellender Bridge, at Mile 243 of the West Canal, will block Monday-Friday navigation from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 12. Planned bridge work at Mile 63 of the Port Allen Route will close the area to daytime navigation on April 19, 21, and 23.
Repairs in progress at Brazos Lock are planned to run into late August, limiting movements from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with intermittent 5-12 hour delays reported. Colorado Lock waits were noted up to 10 hours during the week.
Mississippi River:
A sunken barge at Mile 260 of the Lower Mississippi River remains without a planned salvage date. While the barge is currently not impacting area traffic, the retrieval operation will require a stoppage in both directions while the work is performed, sources said.
Due to the planned French Quarter Festival in New Orleans, a security zone will be enacted at Miles 94.4-95.1 of the lower river on April 11-14, the Coast Guard reported, restricting passage through the area.
Dredging underway at Mile 107 will run through approximately May 26, while dredging previously reported at Miles 0-22 was completed on March 25. Demobilization operations will continue through approximately April 7 at the site, necessitating slow travel through the area. Intermittent 4-11 hour waits were reported at Lock 27 during the week.
Illinois River:
Marseilles Lock will shut from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 17 for upper miter gate repairs, a Corps posting indicated. The Corps canceled a planned April 3-4 closure for fish barrier testing at Miles 296-296.7.
Four wickets remained stuck in the raised position at LaGrange Lock, prompting caution warnings for vessels transiting the site’s navigational pass. The wickets are located at the lock’s left descending side of the river and are submerged below the waterline. Wickets were down at Peoria Lock, allowing tows to pass without locking.
Ohio River:
Rapid water level increases were observed during the week on the Ohio River. Several docks were reported out of operation between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, Pa., and sources expected navigational stoppages on the upper river.
The gauge at Cincinnati showed depths at an action-stage 44.3 feet and rising quickly on April 4. Forecasts predicted levels to crest at a minor-flood 52.8 feet on April 7-8.
Meldahl Lock waits were noted as high as 33 hours due to an ongoing main chamber shutdown, down from 48 hours at last report. Repair operations were previously expected to conclude in late March.
Greenup Lock valve repairs are underway through April 12. Planned maintenance at both Markland Lock and Cannelton Lock is scheduled for April 22 through June 7, while Markland Lock will shut completely on June 10-28 for miter gate repairs.
Machinery work at Racine Lock will run from June 1 through July 11. Delays at Hannibal Lock are expected between June 15 and Nov. 7 for planned miter gate repairs. Belleville Lock will see main and auxiliary chamber shutdowns lasting 30 days each during the second half of the year.
A daytime main chamber closure in place through April 11 at the Tennessee River’s Pickwick Lock forced detours through the auxiliary chamber. Wait times ran up to 22 hours at Kentucky Lock, and intermittent Wilson Lock delays were quoted in a wide 12-34 hour range.
Arkansas River:
Travel through the Van Buren Bridge, located at Mile 300.8 of the Arkansas River, will be unavailable on Aug. 16-Sept. 8 for repairs. Vessels will reportedly be allowed to pass the site after the ninth day of work.