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ACBL’s Daily River Conditions
Monday, October 28th, 2024
- Upper Miss Closeout – ACBL has sent out our annual guidance for final release dates to the Upper Miss and final departure dates off of this river. Click here for our full guidance.
- 2025 Planned Illinois River Lock Port Closure – The closure of the Lockport Lock, River Mile 291, that was scheduled to start January 14th, 2025, through March 11th, 2025, will be delayed. The exact time frame is still to be determined. Once the revised timeline is determined, ACBL will have a revised schedule as well for releases to the region.
- The purpose of this closure is for the installation of the new Vertical Lift Gates, and sill & seal modifications and repairs. This closure will inhibit the ability to move barges from the Illinois to Chicago and Chicago to Illinois.
- 2025 Illinois River Lockport Closure
- Lower Miss Low Water Impact –
- Due to the current river stage and operating conditions, ACBL has implemented draft and tow-size restrictions listed below.
- Loading drafts were reduced to 28% NBD Gulf to Cairo, 16% SBD Cairo to Greenville, and 20% Greenville to the Gulf.
- Tow size has been reduced pending horsepower classification by 14-46% (5-21 barges), from Cairo to New Madrid 14-35% (5-16 barges) from New Madrid to Vicksburg, and 9-24% (4-11 barges) Vicksburg to the Gulf.
- Expect delay to transit of 48-to-72 hours due to reduced navigable space in certain areas.
- Dredge Goetz (IR76) – Repositioned over the weekend of 10/26 and is not expecting any closures at this time.
- L/D Closure (UM457) – Lock will be closed from 0700-1900 on October 29th through November 1st for maintenance and to repair of the miter gates.
- Dredge Potter (UM 102) – The dredge is repositioning and is not expecting any closures once on station.
- Smithland Lock (OR 919) – Land Chamber closure through November 8th. October 28th 07:00 Passed 18 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 1.45 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 3 tows waiting that have averaged 5.17 hours of delay.
- McAlpine Lock Closure (OR 606) – The work starting July 8th thru November 30th has been temporarily suspended as of October 7th. Work is expected to resume November 7th starting at 07:00 to 19:00 up to 10 hours a day, there will be daily closures to downbound traffic while work is being conducted with normal operations resuming in the evening.
- Markland Lock Closure (OR 531) – The main chamber was scheduled to be closed from September 8th thru November 26th but is open as of Friday 10/25.
- Greenup Lock Closure (OR 341) – The lock is closed from October 24th thru November 13th for electrical upgrades, but the auxiliary chamber will be available for lockage. October 28th 07:00 Passed 11 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 7.69 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 3 tows waiting that have averaged 8.25 hours of delay.
- Hannibal Lock Closure (OR 126) – The primary chamber will be down for maintenance work from June 3rd to November 30th, starting 06:00 to 23:59. The auxiliary chamber will remain open to navigation during that period, but there will be instances announced in advance where both chambers are closed for up to 12 hours to facilitate concrete placement. October 28th 07:00 Passed 10 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 4.84 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 1 tow waiting that has averaged 0.82 hours of delay.
- Pike Island Lock Closure (OR84.3) – The main chamber will close starting October 31st thru December 5th for structural upgrades and to repower the hydraulic system.
- Wilson Lock (TR 259.4) – Main Chamber Closure 07:00 9/25 due to cracks in miter gate pintle, dewatering scheduled between November 12th and December 20th. Repair time is currently unknown. LPMS is not reporting any transits since 11:19 10/27. October 27th 11:19 Passed 1 tows with 15 barges in the last 24 hours, that averaged 190.68 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 23 tows with 203 barges waiting that have averaged 121.75 hours of delay.
- Cheatham Lock Closure (CR 148) – Industry reported the lock opened the morning of October 17th after temporarily repairing. A timeline for permanent repair completion is February 2025.
- Hickman, KY Channel Restrictions (LM920) – Due to poor operating conditions in the area, various tow size and transit restrictions have been implemented. Daylight restrictions are in place for southbound tows of 105′ in width, and northbound tows of 20 barges or more as well.
- Dredge Hurley (LM 920) – Dredge has repositioned to Hickman, KY as of 10/27 with river closure until 0700 on 10/29 in which they will reopen allowing southbound traffic to clear the queue. Rolling 24-hour closures will follow.
- Dredge Jadwin (LM 437) – Dredge is repairing in Vicksburg, expected to last a week. After repairs are complete, it will begin dredging in the area.
- Port Allen Lock Closure (PA 63) – The planned closure starting October 28th – November 3rd from 0600-1830 to facilitate repairs has been delayed until November 4th thru the 10th. After initial repairs are complete, another seven-day closure is expected to occur three weeks later depending on conditions.
- Gross Tete Bridge Closure (PA 47) – Daily closures to facilitate repairs from September 24th thru December 31st. The bridge will open to traffic from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 22:00 to 05:00 the following day.
- Bayou Sorrel Lock Closure (PA 37) – Daily closures Monday through Friday resumed June 26th, 2023, through February 2025, to facilitate guide wall repairs from 07:00 to 19:00. LPMS is not showing any transits since 01:05 10/28. October 28th 01:05 Passed 10 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 1.60 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 3 tows waiting that have averaged 6.01 hours of delay.
- Port Arthur Channel Closure (WC 288) – There is a potential channel closure was postponed to tomorrow, October 17th of up to six hours to facilitate pipe work.
- There will also be dredging closures starting October 17th through January 2025 with traffic passing from 1600-2000. This work will take place in Taylor’s Bayou and will impact transit into Port Arthur.
- Brazos Lock Closure (WC 401) – Daytime closure started August 31st, 2023, and is expected to last thru October 2024. Project was available all day 10/27. October 28th 07:00 Passed 16 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 1.15 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 1 tow waiting that has averaged 0.63 hours of delay.
River Closure & Restricted Movements
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