Closures Announced For Norrell, Hardin Locks On MKARNS In 2022

The Little Rock Engineer District reports that Norrell Lock (Lock 1) and Joe Hardin Lock (Lock 3) on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) are scheduled for closures during 2022.

Norrell Lock is at Mile 10.3 and Joe Hardin Lock is at Mile 50.2.

Norrell Lock Schedule

The closures at Norrell Lock are for installing temporary cofferboxes, concrete saw-cutting of the lock walls and other work related to the new dewatering stoplog slots near the upstream and downstream miter gates.

The work will begin with 70-foot-maximum tow-width restrictions June 1–11 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Another work period will begin June 22 and last through July 21, with the same tow-width restrictions, but from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.

The lock will then have a full closure from 7 a.m. August 1 until 7 p.m. August 10.

From August 21 through September 19, the 70-foot tow-width restrictions will return, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.

During the work, the availability of the lock’s tow-haulage system may be intermittent, the district said.

Joe Hardin Lock Schedule

The closures at Joe Hardin Lock are for the lock dewatering and preparatory inspections prior to the dewatering.

The work will begin with two periods of intermittent closures from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. September 12–19 and then September 28 and 29. The lock will then have a full closure from 7 a.m. September 30 until 7 p.m. October 9.

Mariners are advised to contact the locks prior to arrival for specific instructions on how to proceed for safe lockage.