US Gulf:
Extended delays continued at Industrial Lock during the week due to the unscheduled shutdown of Demopolis Lock on the Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway. Corps data showed wait times in the 2-4 day range, while 35 tows were queued at the site on May 9. In addition, navigation was completely unavailable for a four-hour stretch on May 7, sources said.
A Bayou Boeuf project previously scheduled for April is now set to begin in late May, sources said. The monthlong project is anticipated to block weekday navigation from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., while two additional 83-hour shutdowns are expected during the course of the effort. Temporary repairs conducted on May 7 shut the site from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Brazos Lock repairs underway through October triggered intermittent weekday lock closures from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Travel was also unavailable from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. on May 7. Sporadic delays were noted in a wide 5-17 hour range.
Guidewall repairs at Bayou Sorrel Lock, located at Mile 37 of the Port Allen Route, are expected to run through Oct. 30, limiting weekday movements from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Most delays were quoted in the 10-27 hour range during the week.
Port Allen Lock delays were posted up to 27 hours., while tows waited 11 hours to pass Algiers Lock. Intermittent 6-8 hour waits were noted at Calcasieu Lock, while a handful of 6-12 hour delays were heard at Colorado Lock. Brazos Lock passages ran in a wide 5-17 hour range.
Mississippi River:
High flows continued on the Mississippi River, prompting towing restrictions. On the upper river, barge counts were reduced by 20% at Miles 1-200, while tows faced varying reductions below Cairo, Ill., depending on location and vessel horsepower, triggering delays of 2-3 days or more. Sources reported maximum 9.5-foot northbound loading drafts in the St. Louis area, while southbound drafts topped out at 10.5 feet.
The river gauge at St. Louis was expected to lift into action-stage territory on May 10. Forecasts called for a crest at 28.8 feet before dropping out of action stage on May 12. A flood warning posted for the St. Louis area on May 9 was set to remain in effect through May 15.
Depths were projected to push above action stage at both Baton Rouge, La., and Vicksburg, Miss., on May 10-12, with forecasts predicting the high levels to continue for at least 1-2 weeks. A May 9 flood warning reported for the Baton Rouge area was scheduled to expire on May 27.
Dredging at Mile 107 is slated to run through May 26. Waits were posted up to 15 hours at Lock 27 during the week.
Illinois River:
Sources continued to report high water levels and a corresponding 50% reduction in tow lengths on the Illinois River above Starved Rock Lock. The restrictions increased transit times and stretched locking windows, sources said.
Maximum loading drafts continued at 10 feet in both the northbound and southbound directions below Mile 160. Draft limits fell to 9.5 feet at Miles 160-231 and nine feet above Mile 231.
Ohio River:
Sources described falling river levels on the Ohio River system during the week, though draft restrictions remained in place. Loading reductions were noted in the 10-15% range on barges traveling southbound, leaving maximum drafts at 10-11.5 feet, depending on location and direction of travel.
The Willow Island Lock main chamber is offline through May 15 for repairs and maintenance, necessitating detours through the site’s auxiliary chamber. Delays were posted up to 20 hours, down from a maximum 81 hours at last report.
Repairs in progress at Cannelton Lock and Markland Lock were expected to slow travel through both sites until June 7, though minimal delays were reported for the week. Markland Lock will shut again on June 10-28 for miter gate repairs, with delays expected.
Racine Lock machinery work is slated to run from June 1 through July 11, and miter gate repairs will slow navigation at Hannibal Lock from June 15 to Nov. 7. The main and auxiliary chambers at Belleville Lock will close for 30 days each during the second half of the year.
A planned main chamber shutdown at John T. Myers Lock will run from Aug. 21 through Nov. 9. A similar closure in October 2023 resulted in four-day delays.
Intermittent 4-8 hour waits were reported at the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock., while tows waited up to seven hours to pass Wilson Lock. The Cumberland River’s Old Hickory Lock was scheduled to return from repairs and maintenance on May 9.
Arkansas River:
High-flow conditions reported on the Arkansas River prompted vessel stoppages and dock closures during the week, sources said. Regular operations were expected to resume in the week ahead.
Repairs to the Van Buren Bridge are scheduled to begin on Aug. 16. The project will run for approximately 18 days, with vessels cleared to pass the site after the ninth day of work. The structure is located at Mile 300.8 of the Arkansas River.