US Gulf:
Bayou Boeuf Lock repairs reportedly kicked off on June 10, halting Monday-Friday travel between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. for approximately 30 days. In addition to the weekday closures, the lock was scheduled to shut entirely from 7 a.m. on June 11 to 6 p.m. on June 14, with a repeat scheduled on June 18-21.
Ongoing repairs at Brazos Lock blocked weekday navigation between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Most delays fell in the 13-23 hour range, according to Corps data, though a handful of 39-52 hour wait times were also reported. The project was estimated to run through October.
Bayou Sorrel Lock guidewall repairs scheduled through Oct. 30 blocked weekday travel from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Delays were quoted up to 51 hours on June 13, up from 29 hours at last report.
Repair work underway at the San Jacinto River Bridge in the Houston area was projected to run into July or August. Traffic is limited to singlewide tows through the western side of the channel, while the channel’s eastern side is completely shut to navigation.
Port Allen Lock delays were reported up to 19 hours at midweek, and tows waited up to 67.5 hours to transit Industrial Lock during the week. Harvey Lock transits stretched to as high as 79 hours, and intermittent waits peaked around nine hours for both Calcasieu Lock and Colorado Lock.
Mississippi River:
High water levels at Savage, Minn., continued to force a complete stop to navigation between Savage and St. Paul, Minn., during the week, sources said. The Savage river gauge showed depths at a minor-flood 702.9 feet on June 13. Levels were forecast to fall out of the minor-flood stage on June 15 but remain above the area’s 697-foot action stage through at least June 20.
In the St. Louis area, loading drafts were capped at 11.5 feet for northbound tows while southbound drafts were permitted up to 12.5 feet.
On the lower river, high water levels continued to prompt reduced tow lengths based on location and vessel horsepower, resulting in 2-3 day delays. Tows traveling downriver were required to run a minimum 240 horsepower per standard loaded barge – up to a maximum of 36 barges – or 550 horsepower per oversized barge. Tows moving in the upriver direction were required to maintain a minimum speed of 3 mph through the bridges at Memphis, Tenn., and Vicksburg, Miss.
River levels were on the decline on the lower river. The Vicksburg gauge was posted at an action-stage 35.6 feet at midweek, with forecasts expecting a fall below action stage on June 15. Baton Rouge, La., posted at an action-stage 32.0 feet on June 13 but was projected to fall below the area’s 30-foot action-stage threshold on June 18.
Intermittent five-hour waits were reported at Lock 25.
Illinois River:
Loading drafts on the Illinois Waterway continued at a maximum 10 feet in both the northbound and southbound directions below Mile 231. Draft limits were noted at nine feet above Mile 231, however.
Sporadic 4-6 hour wait times were reported at Starved Rock Lock, and raised wickets at Peoria Lock pushed late-week wait times to nearly five hours.
Ohio River:
Maximum drafts on the Ohio River continued to be reported in the 10-11 foot range, depending on location and direction of travel, while tow lengths were permitted up to 15 barges.
Sources said primary chamber repairs underway at Hannibal Lock forced detours through the auxiliary chamber for 18 hours daily, with wait times reported up to 13 hours. The project is slated to run through Nov. 8.
Markland Lock repairs, previously scheduled to begin on June 10, were pushed back to July 8, a Corps posting indicated. Main chamber access is expected to be unavailable for 19 hours daily through Aug. 2, forcing traffic through the auxiliary chamber. The main chamber is due to close once more on Aug. 12 through Sept. 6.
Auxiliary lock machinery repairs reportedly in progress at Racine Lock are scheduled through July 11. Minimal delays were reported during the week.
The primary lock at John T. Myers Lock is projected to close to navigation between Aug. 21 and Nov. 9. A similar shutdown in October 2023 resulted in four-day delays. Both chambers at Belleville Lock are expected to go offline for 30 days apiece during the second half of the year.
Delays were posted up to 31 hours at Kentucky Lock on the Tennessee River, while tows waited as much as 20 hours to pass Wilson Lock.
Arkansas River:
The Van Buren Bridge, located at Mile 300.8 of the Arkansas River, is scheduled to close for repairs on Aug. 16-Sept. 8. Queued vessels will be cleared to pass following the ninth day of work, sources said.