American Currents
ACBL’s Daily River Conditions
Monday, May 5th, 2025
Due to recent heavy rainfall, the Ohio and Lower Miss Rivers have been experiencing a historical flooding event. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the entire region, with water levels expected to continue rising. As a result, we anticipate the following disruptions:
USCG Lock Restrictions/Closures:
- Lower Miss River:
- Daylight restrictions are in effect southbound through all bridges in the system.
- Daylight restrictions are in effect at Vicksburg (LM 435).
- Baton Rouge requires an assist boat until the river reaches 35′ through the Baton Rouge bridges.
Dock and Port Services: Flooding conditions will cause some docks and fleeting locations to suspend operations. For questions regarding individual locations, please reach out to your local contacts.
We understand that these disruptions may cause inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Our team is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as conditions change.
If you have any questions regarding freight destined to the Ohio or Lower Miss Rivers or need further assistance, please contact your Salesperson or Customer Experience Specialist.
- Lower Miss Operational 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 20% NBD Gulf to Cairo.
- Tow size has been reduced pending horsepower classification by 28%-33% (10-11 barges)
- Expect delay to transit of 24-to-48 hours due to reduced navigable space in certain areas.
- Due to the current river stage and operating conditions, ACBL has implemented draft and tow-size restrictions listed below.
- Upper Miss Salvage Operations (UM 23) – Report of a sunken barge at 2200 on 5/2. Date of operations are TBD, more info to come.
- Lock & Dam 19 Closure (UM 364.2) – Scheduled daily closures June 3rd thru June 5th, from 0800-1200 each day to allow maintenance.
- McAlpine Lock Closure (OR 606) – Beginning April 29th thru June 27th, there will be intermittent daytime closures for southbound traffic from 0700 to 1900, Monday through Saturday, to facilitate work on the Portland Canal wall. Northbound traffic will be permitted to transit, provided there are no divers in the water. May 5th 07:00: Passed 7 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 0.3 hours of delay. LPMS shows 1 tow waiting, averaging 13.0 hours of delay.
- New Cumberland Lock Closure (OR 54) – A scheduled primary chamber closure began at 0600 on February 28th thru May 28th to facilitate repairs. May 5th 07:00: Passed 5 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 15.1 hours of delay. LPMS shows 3 tows waiting, averaging 19.0 hours of delay.
- Wilson Lock (TR 259.4) -Main Chamber Closure 07:00 9/25 due to cracks in miter gate pintle, repair time is now extended to July 2025. May 5th 07:00, 0 tows passed in the last 24 hours, averaging 387.9 hours of delay. LPMS shows 40 tows waiting, which has an average of 272.1 hours of delay.
- Kentucky Lock Closure (TR 22.4) – Full closure beginning May 2nd at 0600 thru May 15th at 1800. May 5th 07:00, 0 tows passed in the last 24 hours, averaging 0 hours of delay.
- Cheatham Lock Closure (CR 148.7) – Lock will be closed for scheduled repairs from March 3rd thru May 29th, 2025, with interim openings:
- Opening 5: May 15th starting at 1800 thru May 19th at 0600.
- Dardanelle Lock 10 (AK 205.5) – Scheduled daily closures with 70′ width restrictions from 0700-1900 beginning June 15th thru September 30th for Constuction.
- James W. Trimble Lock (AK 292.8) – Scheduled daily closures with 70′ width restrictions from 0700-1900 beginning June 15th thru September 30th for Constuction.
- Port Allen Lock (LM 228.4) – May 5th 07:00: Passed 9 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 3.2 hours of delay. LPMS shows 1 tow waiting, averaging 14.0 hours of delay.
- Algiers Canal Closures (AC 3.8) –
- Old Hwy 23 Lift Bridge will be closed for 24 hours beginning at 0700 on May 8th thru May 9th.
- The daytime closures scheduled to occur Monday through Saturday, from 0630 to 1900, starting May 12th thru August 2025, have been put on hold.
- May 5th 07:00: Passed 14 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 9.4 hours of delay. LPMS shows 12 tows waiting, which has an average of 19.2 hours of delay.
- Morley Lift Bridge Closures (PA 56) – There will be scheduled intermittent closures for several repairs:
- May 15th: 16-hour closure from 1900-1100
- May 22nd: 16-hour closure from 1900-1100
- Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock (Industrial Canal Lock) – (EC001) – May 5th 07:00: Passed 9 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 106.0 hours of delay. LPMS shows 23 tows waiting, averaging 40.7 hours of delay.
- Colorado River Locks (WC 440) – The East and West locks will have daytime restrictions Monday through Friday, January 29th thru May 16th. May 5th 07:00: Passed 26 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 5.8 hours of delay. LPMS shows 12 tows waiting, which has an average of 19.6 hours of delay.
- Brazos Lock Closure (WC 401) – Daytime closures, originally scheduled from August 31, 2023, to April 30, 2025, have been extended through June 30, 2025. Closures will occur Monday through Friday from 0700 to 1900. May 5th 07:00: Passed 28 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 9.4 hours of delay. LPMS shows 1 tow waiting, averaging 30.0 hours of delay.
- Leland Bowman Lock Closure (WC 163) – Daytime closures Monday thru Friday, from 0700-18:30, beginning March 24th thru April 25th for various repairs. As of April 21st, it has been decided 2 weeks of additional daytime closures are needed, dates are TBD. May 5th 07:00: Passed 23 tows in the last 24 hours, which averaged 0.6 hours of delay. LPMS shows 0 tows waiting, averaging 0 hours of delay.
