Kentucky Lock Closure (TR 16) – Lock has been closed since ~20:00 Jan 2nd due to an electrical issue. Most traffic has been routed through Barkley Lock, however there are 5 vessels showing on turn at Kentucky that have averaged 32.69 hours of delay.
Chicago/Illinois/Upper Miss
Upper Miss Low Water – The Upper Miss is forecasted to see decent water through mid-Jan and as such, we have regained tow size and increased loading draft guidance, for releases through this coming weekend.
ACBL Liquid drafts are 8”6” on the UMR, Illinois River and Tenn-Tom.
ACBL Dry loading drafts to 11′ SBD for barges loading St. Louis through Cairo, and will reevaluate Monday 1/9.
Drafts remain 8’6″ for NBD barges transiting to/from/through the St. Louis area; roughly 30-36% below normal drafts.
Upper Miss Closure for Dredging – The Dredge Jadwin is positioned at UM 46, requiring daily closures 0600 – 1800 for work. Expect traffic to pass each night once this begins and work to complete December 28th at 18:00.
Mel Price and Lock 27 Main Chamber Closures – Starting Jan 1, the main chamber at both Mel Price Lock (UM 200) and Lock 27 (UM 185) will be closed for maintenance. While the Auxiliary chamber will be in use, expect a potential for multi-day delays to transits above St. Louis. Ice conditions could exacerbate the impact of this work, scheduled through the end of March.
As of Jan 4th, there has been minimal delay due to this work.
Ice Conditions on the Illinois River and Upper Miss – Ice conditions are improving on the Illinois, but we remain impacted with Ice Couplings required at most locks.
As of 12/19, USACE began requiring Ice Couplings, and they remain required at Peoria (IR 158) and Marseilles (IR 245).
ACBL began building tow with Ice Couplings out of Cairo 12/16.
Tow sizes Chicago to Cairo have returned as of the New Year.
Lagrange Lock Delays – Due to congestion as fog delays, there is a 20-boat queue at Lagrange Lock (IR 82). Expect 3-day delays to transit, and the backlog to clear over the next week.
2023 Illinois River 120-Day Closure – ACBL has released our guidance for shipments to/from the Illinois River and Chicago which will be impacted by the lock closures Jun – Sep 2023. Click Here for our full guidance. Please contact your sales representative if you have further questions.
Lower Miss/Gulf/Canals/Tenn Tom
Lower Miss High Water – Baton Rouge reached 28′ on March 2nd and is projected to be on a continuous rise until cresting at 33.5′ toward the end of March. Carrolton is expected to reach 12′ March 13th and continue to climb through the remainder of March before cresting.
ACBL is currently experiencing southbound and northbound tow size reductions of 15% to 25% pending horsepower class. In turn, we expect a negative impact to transit times of 24-48 hours.
Colonel Charles D. Maynard Lock (AK 86.3) – Will be closed to traffic beginning at 7 a.m. on April 10, 2023, until 7 p.m. on April 14, 2023 to allow workers to upgrade the lock interlock system.
Vicksburg Restriction (LM 435) – With the Vicksburg gauge exceeding 40′ on March 13th, ACBL began limiting transit through Vicksburg to daylight hours for tows exceeding 105′ wide. In turn, expect delays to transit of approximately 12 to 18 hours.
Bayou Sorrel Intermittent Closures (PA 37) – Work resumed March 1st with daily closures from 07:00 – 16:00 Monday thru Friday until May 31st.
Algiers Lock Repair (WC 0) – USACE anticipates repairs beginning late February and lasting seven weeks which will be broken into three phases. Over the course of the projected work, there is an anticipated 20 days of daytime closures which will NOT be consecutive and will be staggered with only two- or three-days’ of consecutive daytime closures at any time. Daytime closures will extend from 0630 – 1900.
Additionally, a crack has developed in one of the gates at the Algiers Lock. Exact date and time of diver/repair operations unknown at this time. USACE report the divers will require no more than 4 days of daytime closures at the Algiers Lock.
Belle Chase Bridge Replacement Closure (AC 3.5) – Rolling day closures are planned Feb 20th, 24th, 28th, March 2nd, March 8th, and March 10th from 06:30 – 19:00 to facilitate the project. Additional closures are planned toward the end of March and April.
Morgan City Railroad Bridge (WC 121) – Intermittent Closures planned to begin in Mid-April and last through June to facilitate repairs.
Calcasieu Lock (WC 241) – Will be closed to navigation beginning January 30th and continuing through April 6th, from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Currently experiencing 13 hours of delay with 8 boats in queue.
Brazos Repair (WC 401) – Daily closure from Wednesday, January 11th thru March 31st from 07:00 to 19:00, Monday through Friday. Currently experiencing minimal delay.
Colorado Lock Closure (WC 440) – Resumption of work at the lock December 5th, 2022, thru March 10th, 2023 from 07:00 to 19:00.
