The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued today (Monday, December 21, 2020) is here.
The updated or revised status reports are highlighted in bold and lists conditions on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC), Port Allen, Old River, Algiers and Bayou Beouf Locks and the East and West Calumet Floodgates.
INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL LOCK:
The schedule daytime closures of the IHNC Lock have been completed, but the Lock is now scheduled to be closed from 0630 hours to 1800 hours on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. The scheduled closure will allow government contracts undisturbed access to the new canal end dolphin.
“Work on the Guide Wall at IHNC Lock has ceased and the lock is now open. However, the lock will be closed on Wednesday 23 December 2020 from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for government contractors to perform work on the new canal end dolphin.”
PORT ALLEN LOCK:
The Port Allen Lock will be closed to navigation from 0500 hours on December 18, 2020 to 2200 hours on December 23, 2020 to allow unrestricted access for the dustpan dredge WALLACE McGEORGE.
“Commencing at 5:00 a.m. on Friday, 18 December 2020, and continuing through 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 23 December 2020, Port Allen Lock will be closed to navigation due to the U.S. Government Contract Dustpan Dredge
WALLACE McGEORGE working in the lock forebay. The dredge will work 24 hours a day, and will use deep water material placement methods in the Mississippi River using floating pipelines.”
OLD RIVER LOCK:
The restrictions related to the Lowering Carriage as noted below will continue until approximately December 31, 2020:
“Tows entering Old River Lock are urged to use extreme caution while approaching and entering the lock chamber. Until approximately 31 December 2020, the following restrictions/instructions are required for passage:
- Tows are to enter the Lock at DEAD SLOW speed.
- All tows are restricted to no longer than 1100’ in length.
- All tows will line up along the floating guidewall before proceeding.
- Two line-handlers with life vests and bumpers will be required on both approach and exiting of the Lock.
- Vessels must be moored by bow and stern lines to floating timberheads.”
ALGIERS LOCK:
The Algiers Lock continues to operate with special restrictions in place due the unstable condition of the dolphin structure adjacent to the upstream river end guide wall:
“Algiers Lock is currently open to navigation with normal locking hours of operation. However, tows are restricted in both directions to a maximum width and length of 54 feet W by 700 feet L or 70 feet W by 600 feet L. Mariners are advised to continue to avoid the end of the long, river end, guide wall. It is unstable and a hazard to mariners.”
BAYOU BOEUF LOCK:
The replacement of the Bayou Boeuf Lock’s Chamber Guide Wall continues with intermittent daytime closures and is scheduled to be completed in May 30, 2021 with full details reproduced below:
“Bayou Boeuf Lock is closed to navigation from 7 am until 7 pm (Daylight Hours), Mondays thru Thursdays until approximately 30 May 2021 to construct the new south side chamber guide wall.”
EAST and WEST CALUMET FLOODGATES:
The East and West Calumet Floodgates remain closed due to heavy siltation in the channel:
“Continuing until further notice, East and West Calumet Floodgate will remain closed to navigation due to heavy siltation in the channel making it unsafe for navigation.”
Please see the linked attachment for complete details.
