The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued yesterday (Sunday, June 28, 2020) is HERE.
The updated or revised status reports are highlighted in bold and lists conditions on the Algiers, Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) and Old River Locks, Calcasieu Salt Water Barrier, Bayou Boeuf Lock and the East and West Calumet Floodgates.
ALGIERS LOCK:
The Algiers Lock is closed to navigation during daylight hours today (Monday, June 29, 2020). The lock closure began at 0700 hours this morning and is tentatively scheduled to end by 1800 hours today. The Lock is closed to allow divers undisturbed access to the perform gate inspections:
“Algiers Lock will be closed to navigation on Monday, 29 June 2020, from 7:00 a.m. until approximately 6:00 p.m., due to U.S. Government Contract Divers performing emergency gate inspections.”
INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL LOCK:
The IHNC Lock will be closed intermittently during daylight hours on July 8th and 9th (2020) to conduct chamber surveys:
“Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock will be closed intermittently on 8 and 9 July 2020, from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., each day, due to lock chamber surveys.”
OLD RIVER LOCK:
The tainter valve on the Old River Lock will be removed and replace during scheduled daylight closures from June 22nd to September 30th (2020):
“Commencing on or about 22 June 2020 and continuing through 30 September 2020, mariners will be subject to intermittent delays to navigation (up to 12 hours) at Old River Lock. The closures will occur during daylight hours between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Reference Navigation Bulletin #20-46 (below) for special instructions during operating hours.”
And continuing,
The Old River Lock requires the following procedures as repairs to the Bulkhead Lowering Carriage are conducted, the work has now been extended until September 30, 2020:
“The following procedures currently in effect have been extended through approximately 30 Sep 2020.
Due to repairs on the Lock Emergency Bulkhead Lowering Carriage, tows entering the Lock are urged to use extreme caution while approaching and entering the lock chamber. While approaching the Lock, the following 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 guide wall 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.”
CALCASIEU RIVER SALT WATER BARRIER:
The Calcasieu Salt Water Barrier will be closed to navigation until July 11th in order to conduct gate replacement operations:
“Calcasieu Saltwater Barrier is now closed to navigation through 7:00 p.m. on 11 July 2020 due to gate replacement operations.”
BAYOU BOEUF LOCK:
The replacement of the Bayou Boeuf Lock’s Chamber Guide Wall is underway and is scheduled to be completed in October 2020 with full details reproduced below:
“As of Wednesday, 11 Sep 2019 Bayou Boeuf Lock is closed to navigation from 7 am until 7 pm (Daylight Hours), Mondays thru Thursdays until approximately 26 Oct 2020 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.”
