American Currents

ACBL’s Daily River Conditions

Upper Miss Closeout – ACBL has sent out our annual guidance for final release dates to the Upper Miss and final departure dates off of this river. Click here for our full guidance.

2025 Planned Illinois River Lock Port Closure – The closure of the Lockport Lock, River Mile 291, starting January 14th, 2025, through March 11th, 2025. The purpose of this closure is for the installation of the new Vertical Lift Gates, and sill & seal modifications and repairs. This closure will inhibit the ability to move barges from the Illinois to Chicago and Chicago to Illinois.
- 2025 Illinois River Lockport Closure

Lower Miss Low Water Impact –
- Due to the current river stage and operating conditions, ACBL has implemented draft and tow-size restrictions listed below.
  - Loading drafts were reduced to 28% NBD Gulf to Cairo, 12% SBD Cairo to Greenville, and 16% Greenville to the Gulf.
  - Tow size has been reduced pending horsepower classification by 14-46% (5-21 barges), from Cairo to Hickman, KY, 14-34% (5-16 barges) from Hickman to Greenville, and 9-17% (4-5 barges) Greenville to Gulf.
  - Expect delay to transit of 48-to-72 hours due to reduced navigable space in certain areas.

Ft. Madison Drawbridge Closure (384) – Bridge will be closed October 20th from 0700-1700 to facilitate repairs, with a brief opening at 1130 to clear vessel queue.

Lock 19 Closure (UM 364) – Lock will be closed on October 23rd from 0700 – 1700 to facilitate sampling in preparation for future repairs.

Dredge Goetz (UM 166) – Dredging work is prepositioning to the lower end of St. Louis Harbor, no known closures at this time.

Dredge Potter (UM 126)- Dredging work is prepositioning to St. Gen., no known closures at this time.

Smithland Lock (OR 919) – Land Chamber closure through November 8th. October 21^st 07:00 Passed 12 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 2.83 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 0 tows waiting that have averaged 0.00 hours of delay.

McAlpine Lock Closure (OR 606) – The work starting July 8th thru November 30th has been temporarily suspended as of October 7th. Work is expected to resume November 7th starting at 07:00 to 19:00 up to 10 hours a day, there will be daily closures to downbound traffic while work is being conducted with normal operations resuming in the evening.

Markland Lock Closure (OR 531) – The main chamber is currently closed from September 8th thru November 26th. All traffic will pass through the Auxiliary Chamber during the respective closures. October 21^st 07:00 Passed 7 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 15.87 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 8 tows waiting that have averaged 10.13 hours of delay.

Hannibal Lock Closure (OR 126) – The primary chamber will be down for maintenance work from June 3rd to November 30th, starting 06:00 to 23:59. The auxiliary chamber will remain open to navigation during that period, but there will be instances announced in advance where both chambers are closed for up to 12 hours to facilitate concrete placement. October 21^st 07:00 Passed 12 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 1.97 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 2 tows waiting that have averaged 6.72 hours of delay.

Pike Island Lock Closure (OR84.3) – The main chamber will close starting October 31st thru December 5th.

Cheatham Lock Closure (CR 148) – Industry reported the lock opened the morning of October 17th after temporarily repairing. A timeline for permanent repair completion is February 2025.

Wilson Lock (TR 259.4) – Main Chamber Closure 07:00 9/25 due cracks in miter gates, repair time is estimated to be completed in December. October 21^st 07:00 Passed 3 tows and a partial tow, with 16 barges in the last 24 hours, that averaged 209.05 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 23 tows, and a partial tow, with 152 barges waiting that have averaged 83.68 hours of delay.

Hickman Channel Closure (LM920) – Closed due to industry groundings overnight on 10/17. More information is to be determined.

Dredge Hurley (LM 740) – Dredging area with no closures impacting the area. Expecting closures beginning the week of 10/20.

Dredge Jadwin (LM 523) – Dredging is repositioning to Lake Port as of 10/21 with 24-hour closures.

Port Allen Lock Closure (PA 63) – There is a planned closure starting October 28th – November 3rd from 0600-1830 to facilitate repairs. After initial repairs are complete, another seven-day closure is expected to occur three weeks later depending on conditions.

Gross Tete Bridge Closure (PA 47) – Daily closures to facilitate repairs from September 24th thru December 31st. The bridge will open to traffic from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 22:00 to 05:00 the following day.

Bayou Sorrel Lock Closure (PA 37) – Daily closures Monday through Friday resumed June 26th, 2023, through February 2025, to facilitate guide wall repairs from 07:00 to 16:00. October 21^st 07:00 Passed 10 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 0.26 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 0 tows waiting that have averaged 0.00 hours of delay.

Port Arthur Channel Closure (WC 288) – There is a potential channel closure was postponed to tomorrow, October 17th of up to six hours to facilitate pipe work.
- There will also be dredging closures starting October 17th through January 2025 with traffic passing from 1600-2000. This work will take place in Taylor’s Bayou and will impact transit into Port Arthur.

Brazos Lock Closure (WC 401) – Daytime closure started August 31st, 2023, and is expected to last thru October 2024. Still waiting for Brazos transit times to be updated in LPMS. October 21^st 07:00 Passed 31 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 9.20 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 0 tows waiting that have averaged 0.00 hours of delay.

Holt Lock & Dam Closure (WT 347) – After being closed to transit since June 22nd at 12:00 due to cracking that was previously being monitored, temp repairs were completed October 2nd and operations resumed locking; there are expected daily closures from 07:00 to 19:00 while ongoing work is completed.