Illinois Waterway to Close for Repairs on Thursday
Written by Becca Moczygemba
May 30, 2023
The Illinois Waterway will close for repairs starting Thursday at eight different lock and dam sites, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The waterway connects Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, and is vital for moving goods through the country. Repairs have been scheduled by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, and will follow a closure schedule that is said to mitigate interruptions in navigation. A closure schedule is listed on the Corps website. No vessels will be able to pass through the affected locks during maintenance.
Closures are set to last approximately 120 days between June 1 and Sept. 30. Maintenance will be done on the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, Dresden Island Lock and Dam, and Marseilles Lock and Dam.
Recall water levels on the Mississippi River were at a historic low back in October 2022. Then, going from one extreme to the other, flooding affected much of the Upper Mississippi River valley from late April to the earlier part of this month. As the Mississippi is critical to transporting bulk goods, closures for any reason will affect transit times and costs.
By Becca Moczygemba, becca@steelmarketupdate.com
