The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) District’s Lock and Waterway Status 60-Day Forecast as issued today (Monday, April 5, 2021) is here.
The updated or revised status reports are highlighted in bold and lists conditions on the Bayou Beouf, Leland Bowman, Old River, Bayou Sorrel, Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC), Port Allen, Algiers and Bayou Beouf Locks and the East and West Calumet Floodgates.
BAYOU BEOUF LOCK:
The chamber guidewall of the Bayou Beouf Lock is being replaced and the work will be conducted during daylight closures to navigation from Monday through Friday until approximately August 30, 2021.
“Bayou Boeuf Lock is closed to navigation from 7 am until 7 pm (Daylight Hours), Mondays thru Fridays until approximately 30 August 2021 to construct the new south side chamber guide wall.”
LELAND BOWMAN LOCK:
The gates on the Leland Bowman Lock are being repaired during intermittent daylight closures from April 5 to April 7, 2021.
“Leland Bowman Lock will have intermittent closures to navigation (up to 4 hours) during daylight hours, from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. each day, from Monday 5 April 2021 through Wednesday 7 April 2021.”
OLD RIVER LOCK:
The Old River Lock will be operated with the restrictions below until approximately April 30, 2021, the load tests have been postponed:
“Old River Lock, effective 30 Mar 2021, periodic closure to navigation for operational load tests have been postponed until further notice. The following notice is still in affect:
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 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.”
BAYOU SORRELL LOCK:
The Bayou Sorrell Lock will be closed to navigation during daylight hours starting today, March 16 until April 7, 2021 and then from April 21 to May 15 (2021) the closures are necessary to conduct guide wall repairs:
“Bayou Sorrel Lock will be closed to navigation from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 7 days a week, beginning on 16 March 2021 and continuing until 7 April 2021, and again from approximately 21 April 2021 to approximately 15 May 2021, for necessary repairs to the guide walls and chamber guide walls.”
INNER HARBOR NAVIGATION CANAL:
The USACE continues with construction that includes periods of hot work (welding) and is operating with the conditions listed below:
“Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock mariners are advised that there is on-going construction, which includes hot work, at the forebay and tailbay of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock. Vessels shall adhere to the following:
- Use extreme caution when entering and exiting the lock especially in the vicinity of the construction and keeping a safe distance from the construction.
- Navigate at a dead-slow speed with no wake whether workers are present or not.
- Use bumpers while locking.”
PORT ALLEN LOCK:
The damaged sections of the floating guidewall at the Port Allen Lock that was partially blocking the channel has been removed. The transit restrictions listed below remain in effect due to the damaged floating guidewall:
| “At Port Allen Lock, the damaged section of the floating Guidewall is marked with 4 white flashing lights at night. Until permanent repairs are made, the following restrictions will apply until further notice:
WESTBOUND RESTRICTIONS * The restriction on tow length has been lifted. * All tows with more than one barge are required to use an assist vessel. * Single barge tows will be permitted to lock westbound without an assist vessel.
EASTBOUND RESTRICTIONS * Tows greater than 650’ long are required to use 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.” |
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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.
Continuing until further notice, mariners are advised to avoid the dolphin at the end of the canal end long guide wall; the dolphin is unstable and a hazard to mariners.
Tow restrictions are still in place 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, which is also unstable and a hazard to mariners.”
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.”
