The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued today (Wednesday, November 25, 2020) is here.
The updated or revised status reports are highlighted in bold and lists conditions on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC), Old River, Algiers and Bayou Beouf Locks and the East and West Calumet Floodgates.
INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL LOCK:
The MVN has confirmed that the dewatering of the IHNC Lock and the complete closure that began on September 4, 2020 has now ended. The IHNC Lock is open and operating under normal conditions.
However, additional closures are needed to compete guide wall maintenance in the lock forebay at the IHNC Lock. The scheduled daytime closures will begin on Monday, November 30, 2020 and are expected to last until December 31, 2020, the daytime closures are scheduled from from 0630 hours to 1800 hours from Monday to Thursday.
“Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock will be closed to navigation beginning on 30 November 2020, from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and continuing through 31 December 2020, due to necessary guide wall maintenance in the lock forebay.”
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.”
