Maintenance on Arkansas River system forces closures
BY KELLY BOSTIAN World Sports Writer
Sunday, September 30, 2012
9/30/12 at 6:23 AM
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District announced this week that Webbers Falls, Chouteau and Newt Graham locks on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System will be closed four hours daily beginning Monday.
The closures, sometime between 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, are intended to allow daily preventative and scheduled maintenance, according to Corps spokesman Ross Adkins. "The system has operated 24/7 for more than 40 years," he said. "As these things age they need a little more TLC."
Signs will be posted at launching ramps and marinas along the waterway and signs will be posted on the locks, Adkins said. "We're trying to cut down on any inconveniences," he said.
During the daily four-hour period no passage for commercial or recreational boats will take place.
The decision to close the locks for four hours at midday was decided in discussions with shippers and port operators along the system, Adkins said. The majority of barges move at night, after being loaded through the day.
The Corps is developing a recreation vessel lockage policy this fall and winter for the 2013 season. The policy will take into account special scheduled events like bass tournaments, recreation boater needs and other recreation interests as well.
Original Print Headline: Maintenance on Arkansas system forces closures
