American Currents

ACBL’s Daily River Conditions

Friday, March 21st, 2025

  • Upper Miss River Re-Opening: ACBL has sent out our annual guidance for re-opening dates to the Upper Miss. Click the link below for our full guidance.
  • Illinois River Lockport Lock Re-Opening – The US Army Corps of Engineers will reopen Lockport Lock at mile 291 on April 4th at 1800. These are only temporary repairs and once they have a permanent fix, there will be another 4–6-week closure for final repairs. We will provide more information as it becomes available. Click the link below for our revised full guidance.
  • 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 15-33% (6-10 barges)
      • Expect delay to transit of 24-to-48 hours due to reduced navigable space in certain areas.
  • Brandon Road Lock (IR 286) – The closures beginning January 28th, Monday thru Friday until March 25th for rock excavation and dredging, have been extended to April 4th. Openings on Saturdays and Sundays to pass traffic.
  • Mel Price Lock (UM 200) – Main chamber closure January 1st thru April 1st, has now been extended to April 4th. March 21st 07:00 Passed 12 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 2.09 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 17 tows waiting that has averaged 26.63 hours of delay.
  • Lock 27 (UM 185.5) – Main chamber closure January 1st thru April 1st, has now been extended to April 11th. As of March 19th, they will lock NB traffic until at least 1800 on March 20th. March 21st 07:00 Passed 12 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 39.03 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 9 tows waiting that has averaged 42.05 hours of delay.
  • McAlpine Lock Closure (OR 606) -Beginning January 6th thru March 25th there will be intermittent daytime closures starting at 0700 for up to 10 hours a day to work on the Portland Canal wall. Work was suspended as of March 13th, will resume on March 24th.
  • New Cumberland Lock Closure (OR 54) – A scheduled primary chamber closure began at 0600 on February 28th thru May 28th to facilitate repairs. March 21st 07:00 Passed 9 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 1.42 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 0 tows waiting that have averaged 0.00 hours of delay.
  • Tennessee-Tombigbee Channel Closure (TT 410) – Due to flooding there is a shoal that has caused a full channel blockage with a depth of less than 7 feet as of March 17th.
  • Wilson Lock (TR 259.4) -Main Chamber Closure 07:00 9/25 due to cracks in miter gate pintle, repair time is now estimated to be June 14, 2025. March 21st 07:00 passed 2 partial tows with 18 barges in the last 24 hours, that averaged 404.75 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 33 tows and a partial tow with 287 barges waiting that have averaged 227.20 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 1: March 20th starting at 1800 thru March 24th at 0600.
    • Opening 2: April 3rd starting at 1800 thru April 7th at 0600.
    • Opening 3: April 17th starting at 1800 thru April 21st at 0600.
    • Opening 4: May 1st starting at 1800 thru May 5th at 0600.
    • Opening 5: May 15th starting at 1800 thru May 19th at 0600.
  • Lower Miss Channel Closure (LM 908-898) – The river is currently open after being closed due to a sunken barge on March 19th. South-bound traffic will transit first, then north-bound. Salvage operations will take place March 25th-26th with intermittent closure. More info to come.
  • Drilling Near Lower Memphis Bridge (LM 734.5) – Drilling operations in the channel beginning the morning of March 13th has been extended to the evening of March 22nd. Tows exceeding a width of 108′ will have daylight only transit restrictions and no more than 6 wide through the bridge.
  • Togo Closures (LM 413)
    • The scheduled daylight closures in place for traffic due to dike installations that started on January 6th through approximately March 30th has now been estimated to complete on April 1st.
  • Morley Lift Bridge Closures (PA 56) – There will be scheduled intermittent closures for several repairs:
    • March 18th, 22nd, and 25th: 18-hour closures each day
    • April 1st: 18-hour closure
    • April 4th and 8th: 14-hour closure each day
    • April 17th: 16-hour closure
  • Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock (Industrial Canal Lock) – (EC001) – As of March 8th there have been delays reported of up to 24-48 hours due to congestion from high water, hindering timings going to/exiting the river.
  • Colorado River Locks (WC 440) – The East and West locks will have daytime restrictions Monday through Friday now starting January 29th thru February 28th has now been extended until March 31st. Project was unavailable 07:46-17:26 3/20. March 21st 07:00 Passed 29 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 4.22 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 3 tows waiting that have averaged 9.82 hours of delay.
  • Brazos Lock Closure (WC 401) – Daytime closure started August 31st, 2023, and was expected to last thru February 28th but has now been extended to March 28, 2025. Project was unavailable 05:34-15:58 3/20. March 21st 07:00 Passed 19 tows, in the last 24 hours, that averaged 1.79 hours of delay. LPMS is showing 1 tow waiting that has averaged 1.34 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.

River Closure & Restricted Movements


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