Maritime merchants are hoping the U.S. Coast Guard will reopen a five-mile stretch of the Mississippi River to southbound traffic at Baton Rouge today. The Coast Guard began allowing some northbound traffic to move past the city Sunday, says Ron Branch, executive vice president of governmental affairs for the Mississippi River Maritime Association. “That’s a good indication that they’ll try to get things moving southbound today,” he says. Roughly 25 southbound tows are waiting between Natchez and Baton Rouge due to the river’s closure, which was triggered by a barge collision with the U.S. 190 bridge on Friday. Each tow has about 20 barges, and their inability to reach New Orleans is delaying shipping vessels that are waiting to take the cargo abroad, Branch says. Each day they’re delayed, tows are absorbing about $20,000 in losses, says Jim Stark, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Association executive director. “This is a historic high river, and there are probably some historic delays and costs that are coming with it,” Stark says. —Steve Sanoski
In other news involving the high water:
—The La. Highway 1 bridge over the Atchafalaya River in Simmesport has been reopened. The bridge had been closed as a precaution after four barges got loose and struck the Kansas City Southern Railroad bridge. Officials say the barges are carrying grain. The bridges link Avoyelles and Pointe Coupee parishes.
—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has closed the Bayou Sorrel Lock to navigation because of high water. Once the gauge on the lock’s flood side reaches 16 feet, the lock closes to maintain structural integrity and prevent potential damage to the gates. The gauge this morning read 16.1 feet.
— Officials in St. Landry Parish have lifted the mandatory evacuation order for residents in Three Mile Lake area, the North Wilderness Road area, and areas south of U.S. Highway 190. The areas will remain under voluntary evacuation until further notice.
Editors note: This item has been changed since originally published.
