The Big River Coalition’s Corps 2019 Revetment Schedule and Transit Restrictions Update 111519 is attached for your reference.
The first revetment operations on the Mississippi River Ship Channel are scheduled to start at Point Michel (Mile 43.5 Above Head of Passes) by Monday, November 18, 2019. The Mat Sinking Unit could begin work at Point Michel as early as Sunday afternoon (November 17, 2019).
The revised schedule removes three areas between New Orleans and Baton Rouge several of those locations were expected to require extensive transit restrictions.
Please note the transit restrictions established around the revetment operations are tentative and subject to change based on the unknown nature of long-term river stage predictions.
RE: CORPS’ 2019 REVETMENT SCHEDULE AND TRANSIT RESTRICTIONS 111519
Corps 2019 Revetment Schedule and Transit Restrictions 111519.pdf
The latest schedule for the Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) 2019 Mississippi River Bank Stabilization program schedule (revetment and rock work), with applicable navigation restrictions, is enclosed below. The latest schedule of work as provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today is attached. The list of sites has been revised limiting the proposed revetment locations between Baton Rouge and New Orleans to two priority sites and three locations below New Orleans that require revetment mat placement.
The Corps hosted a meeting, with representatives from the Corps’ Bank Stabilization Division, the U.S. Coast Guard, applicable Pilot Associations and the Coalition, to detail the scope of bank stabilization efforts and develop potential transit restrictions. During times of actual revetment work, the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) extends from approximately 300 to 800 feet channelward from the bank. When the Unit is not folded in, it extends about 480 feet from the bank channelward. When it is folded in, the MSU extends 250 feet from the bank. The scheduled working times for the MSU are from 0600 hours to 1900 hours. In different locations the operations may be completed slightly before or after 1900 hours. The Corps agreed to Industry’s request to fold in the Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) at night on revetment locations that warranted concern. The Pilots and Coast Guard’s Lower Mississippi River Vessel Traffic Service will utilize the Contact Pilot on the MSU to coordinate vessel movements in the vicinity of these operations.
The Corps has adjusted the schedule based on the impact of the elevated river stages and has made significant changes to the schedule of work. The first revetment operations on the Mississippi River Ship Channel are scheduled to start at Point Michel by Monday, November 18, 2019. Point Michel is the top priority of the revetment locations below Baton Rouge.
2019 Corps’ Revetment Schedule and Restrictions Locations Below New Orleans
|
Location |
Mile (Right or Left)
|
2019 Scheduled Date(s) |
Restrictions |
|
Myrtle Grove |
58.9 RDB |
November 28 to December 1 |
One-way transits with slow bell during working hours. MSU to fold in at night. |
|
Point Michel |
43.5 RDB
|
November 18 to November 20 |
One-way transits with slow bell during working hours. MSU to fold in at night. |
|
Port Sulphur |
36.3 RDB |
November 21 to November 22 November 25 to November 27 |
One-way transits with slow bell during working hours. MSU to fold in at night. |
2019 Corps’ Revetment Schedule and Restrictions Locations Above New Orleans
|
Location |
Mile (Right or Left) |
2019 and 2020 Scheduled Date(s)
|
Restriction
|
|
Missouri Bend |
219.3 RDB |
December 13 to December 20 December 23 |
One-way transits with slow bell during working hours. MSU to fold in at night. |
|
*Aben |
172.5 RDB |
December 3 to December 6 December 9 to December 12
|
*No traffic during working hours. MSU to fold in at night. |
*Please note that the location at Aben (Mile 172.5 AHP) will require vessel transits to be completed at night after the Mat Sinking Unit has completed work for the day. The schedule of work for Aben in this table does not match the attachment date but was adjusted based upon confirmation from the USACE.
The planned 2019 revetment operations include work at several key locations where the banks have been compromised by the extended high river stages. The work dates are established to focus on the priority locations first. However, throughout the bank stabilization efforts changes based upon river stages and experience with vessel transits should be anticipated. The Corps, Coast Guard, Pilots and BRC will work closely with industry to ensure that changes are noted and distributed as warranted and available.
