Inclement Weather in the Northern Region – Due to weather conditions, service providers may experience cleaning and operational delays as local vendors stand by for conditions to improve.
High Water on the Ohio River – A safety advisory has been issued for many areas on the Ohio River; south-bound traffic is restricted to daylight only transit.
McAlpine Lock Closure (OR 606) –beginning January 6th thru March 25th there will be intermittent daytime closures, due to work on the Portland Canal wall, will resume starting at 0700 for up to 10 hours a day. Due to high river stages transits at McAlpine are restricted to daytime only.
Markland Lock Closure (OR 531.5) – Both the main and auxiliary chamber will be closed from 0730-1730 on both February 25th and February 27th for electrical upgrades.
New Cumberland Lock Closure (OR 54) – The scheduled primary chamber closure for February 7th thru May 28th to facilitate repairs, has been rescheduled for February 25th thru June 1st.
Louisville & Nashville Railroad Drawbridge (TR 414) – Due to repairs, the bridge will be in the closed to navigation position for two separate closures:
February 17th thru February 21st
February 24th thru February 28th
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 beJune 14, 2025.Transits are restricted to N/B tows only due to high river stages.
Cheatham Lock Closure (CR 148.7) – Lock will be closed for scheduled repairs from March 3rd thru May 29th, 2025, with interim openings:
Chicago/Illinois/Upper Miss
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.
2025 Planned Illinois River Lock Port Closure – The closure of the Lockport Lock, River Mile 291, was delayed and is now scheduled to start January 28th, 2025, throughMarch 25th, 2025. The initial advisory regarding releases has been revised as of November 7th. Please see the advisory below.
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.
Weather Conditions on the Illinois River – Due to river conditions, as of December 30th ice couplings are now required going on the Illinois, delays to be expected.
Mel Price Lock (UM 200) – Main chamber closure January 1st thru April 1st, currently double locking; expect delays to grow to 18-25 hours daily.
Lock 27 (UM 185.5) – Main chamber closure January 1st thru April 1st, currently double locking; expect delays to grow to 18-25 hours daily.
Lower Miss/Gulf/Canals/Tenn Tom
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 16% NBD Gulf to Cairo.
Tow size has been reduced pending horsepower classification by 14-27% (5-10 barges)
Expect delays to transit of 24-to-48 hours due to reduced navigable space in certain areas.
Lower Memphis Bridge (LM 734.5) – A 20-day project will begin on January 30th thru approximately February 19th with daylight only transit for tows over 3 wide.
Togo Closures (LM 413) –
The scheduled closure in place for S/B traffic due to dike installations that started on January 6th through approximately March 30th has now been extended thru late April.
Natchez Bridge (LM 361) – There will be a 58-day project (January 11th thru March 2nd), 1.9 miles below the bridge, to replace a line across the river. There will be 12 days of intermittent 12-hour closures scheduled for February 9th thru March 8th, now postponed until June2025.
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
Colorado River Locks (WC 440) – The East and West locks will have daytime restrictions Monday through Friday now starting January 29ththru February 28th.
Brazos Lock Closure (WC 401) – Daytime closure started August 31st, 2023, and was expected to last thru November 2024 but has now been extended to February 28, 2025.
Leland Bowman Lock Closure (WC 163) – Scheduled intermittent closures starting February 19th thru February 22nd during daylight hours for up to 4 hours a day.
