The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued earlier today (Wednesday, January 6, 2021) is here.
The updated or revised status reports are highlighted in bold and lists conditions on the Port Allen, Old River, Algiers and Bayou Beouf Locks and the East and West Calumet Floodgates.
This update was issued to announce the scheduled Intermittent Closures at the Port Allen Lock but the update issued yesterday covered the update on the Old River Lock restrictions therefore both are listed in bold.
PORT ALLEN LOCK:
In order to remove sections of the damaged floating guidewall at the Port Allen Lock the following intermittent closures are scheduled:
| “Port Allen Lock will have intermittent closures (up to 4 hours) from 12:00 P.M. (noon) until 6:00 P.M. on 12 January 2021, and again from 7:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. on 13 and 14 January 2021, each day, due to hired labor removing damaged sections of the floating guidewall from the recent barge collision.
The following special restrictions also remain in effect: |
|
“Approximately 200’ of the floating guidewall at Port Allen Lock has sustained significant damage. The damaged section of wood and plastic timber is hanging into the forebay and partially blocking the channel. The following restrictions will apply until further notice:
WESTBOUND RESTRICTIONS
* Tows greater than 730’ long will not be permitted to lock westbound.
* Tows less than 730’ long will be permitted to lock westbound as long as they use an assist vessel to help steer clear of the damaged area.
* Single barge tows will be permitted to lock westbound without an assist vessel.
EASTBOUND RESTRICTIONS
* Tows greater than 650’ long will need to have an assist vessel on the head of the tow once they exit the lock into the river in order to steer clear of the damaged area at the end of the guidewall.
OLD RIVER LOCK:
The transit restrictions required during the ongoing repairs to the Lowering Carriage at the Old River Lock noted below have been extended until approximately April 30, 2021:
“Tows entering Old River Lock are urged to use extreme caution while approaching and entering the lock chamber. Until approximately 30 April 2021, 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 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.”
