According to today's USDA Grain Transportation Report, on January 1, the main chambers of both the Melvin Price Lock and Dam (near St. Louis, MO) and Lock and Dam 27 (near Granite City, IL) are closed for maintenance and scheduled to remain closed through March 31. (However, icy conditions may slow the maintenance work at both Lock and Dam locations.)
At both locations, all tows transiting the locks must use the 600-foot auxiliary chamber—a procedural change that significantly slows processing time, increasing tow delays. As of January 17, a 45-hour delay (9 tows) was reported at the Melvin Price Lock and Dam and a 38-hour delay (28 tows) at Lock and Dam 27.
In 2022, 20.8 million tons of grain moved through Lock and Dam 27. In the first 2 weeks of 2023, 354,000 of grain moved through Lock and Dam 27—down 42% from last year and down 52% from the 3-year average (GTR figure 9).