Waterway/Lock Closures

Waterway/Lock Closure Listings

Onslow Beach Swing Bridge, AIWW, North Carolina

Mariners are advised the Onslow Beach Swing Bridge, located across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) at Camp Lejeuene, North Carolina, will be undergoing demolition activities from April 10, 2026 through June 30, 2026.  The demolition includes removal of the bridge's superstructure, substructure, and fender system. Work will occur Monday though Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding federal holidays.  During these times, the navigational channel will be restricted as follows:

From April 10, 2026 through April 17, 2026, the existing swing span will be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position during working hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, the bridge will be made available for navigation and maintained in the open-to-navigation position between 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. and outside of working hours.

From April 20, 2026 through June 30, 2026, during work hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., a crane barge wll be stationed in the navigational channel reducing the horizontal clearance (width) of the bridge.  Vessels with beams less than 20 feet may transit the bridge at any time if safe to do so. Vessels not able to safely pass through should transit the area outside of working hours or between 12 noon and 1:00 p.m.

Vessels that cannot adjust their schedule may be allowed to transit during working hours by providing 24 hours' advance notice to the bridge tender at 910-440-7376. The bridge and work barges may be contacted on VHF-FM channel 13 when work is in progress or vessels are operating in the area.

Mariners should adjust their transit plans accordingly and navigate the waterway with extreme caution and due regard for prevailing conditions.

South Mills Lock Closure, Dismal Swamp Canal

From April 20-22, 2026, South Mills Lock will undergo needed electrical repairs to ensure future reliable service. The facility will be closed to navigation during this time. The lock will reopen on April 23, 2026. Those planning to use South Mills Lock to transit the Dismal Swamp Canal are advised to plan accordingly. Transiting via the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal is a potential alternative.

LaSalle Causeway, Canada
AGLCA Note:  This bridge is in Kingston and is between the St. Lawrence River and the Rideau Canal.  It will only affect those cruising a side trip on the Rideau Canal. It is not on the main Great Loop route.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has notified the public of an approved schedule for removals of LaSalle Causeway's temporary modular bridge, which will ensure navigation through the main channel into the Rideau Canal for taller vessels.

Please note that all openings, listed below are weather-dependent and subject to change. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) encourages users to consult their public notices and X (Twitter) account for updates, and consult the PSPC LaSalle Causeway page for any schedule changes after business hours.

Passage under the east fixed portion of the LaSalle Causeway Bridge: Boaters with vessels under approximately 14 to 16 feet (4.27 metres to 4.9 metres) vertical clearance may continue to navigate through the East Fixed Bridge at all times, subject to current water levels. Two options are available to determine if a vessel meets clearance requirements under the east fixed portion of the LaSalle Causeway bridge, which is not experiencing any planned closures this season. The first is a physical water level gauge that displays the current height clearance once you arrive at the bridge, and the second is an electronic gauge, which is being reinstalled in the spring, that will make current clearance information available online for public access. 

To view the Public Notice issued by PSPC, full schedule details, and additional information, please visit the PSPC website. For any questions related to the schedule, please contact Transport Canada at [email protected]. For trip planning or boater access information, visit the Rideau Canal’s LaSalle Causeway webpage or email [email protected].

Specific openings during the 2026 navigation season are:
Sunday, May 17 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 31 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 7 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 14 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 21 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 28 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 1 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 5 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 12 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 19 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 26 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 2 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 9 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 16 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 23 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 30 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 6 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 20 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, October 4 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, October 13 — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chicago Harbor Lock

The Chicago Harbor Lock is closed for annual winter maintenance and will open on April 15, 2026 for the season.  

Lock Closure Lockport Lock River Mile 291, Illinois Waterway

10/15/25-Lockport Lock, River Mile 291, will be closed starting Tuesday March 31, 2026 at 0600 until Tuesday May 19, 2026 at 1900. The purpose of the closure is to perform emergency replacement of the miter gate pintle sockets. Mariners shall not tie up to guide walls during the closure period unless requested to do so by lock staff. If you have any questions/comments/concerns regarding this Notice to Navigation Interests, please contact Michael Walsh, USACE Chicago District Waterways Project Office Operations Manager at 815-510-0361 or by email at [email protected]. 

Tennessee-Tombigee Waterway, Mississippi

3/30/26-Notice is given to mariners that routine maintenance closures have been scheduled for Glover Wilkins and Thad Cochran Locks. The\ will UHPDLQ closed for 30 days to perform critical maintenance activities. The current schedule is listed below: 

Glover Wilkins Lock - River Mile 376.3 
Closure beginning: 09 September 2026 at 0600 
Lock re-opening: 10 October 2026 at 1800 

Thad Cochran Lock - River Mile 371.1 
Closure beginning: 10 September 2026 at 0600 
Lock re-opening: 10 October 2026 at 1800 

If locks re-open prior to the scheduled date, an updated Notice to Mariners will be issued. For any additional information please contact Roger Wilson, Jr. at the Tennessee-Tombigbee Project Management Office at (662) 245-5500.

Tombigbee River, Alabama, RM 60

Notice is given to mariners that a construction project at Olin Corp. on the Tombigbee River in the vicinity of RM 60.0 will commence 13 April 2026 and is expected to take approximately 90 days. This work will affect navigation during daylight hours 7-days per week. Mariners are instructed to contact the numbers below 3 hours before arriving on site to give the contractor time to move equipment for traffic. 

Project personnel can be reached on VHF Channel 13. The following can also be contacted:
G.A. West – Hector Zavala – (251) 644-5084
G.A. West – Thomas Matthews – (251) 327-7785
Olin – Mike Lewis – (251) 753-0156

W. P. Franklin Lock, Okeechobee Waterway

W.P Franklin Lock is open with a 26 foot width restriction until further notice. For updates, contact the Franklin Lock & Dam at 239-694-5451 or 863-662-9908.

Okeechobee Waterway

Notice is given that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is advising commercial and recreational vessels to check lake and canal levels daily when making navigation decisions.  You may check lake and route depths at:  https://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml