WEST ALTON, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
The winter cold is taking a toll on the Mississippi River. Big chunks of ice are clogging the Mississippi river this morning creating headaches for businesses that use it. The Army Corps of Engineers says these conditions are not unexpected for a cold winter like this.Engineers with the corps have been flushing the ice out at Melvin Price Lock and Dam and Chain of Rocks. Farther north in St. Paul, they have closed the lock and dams.
Many places report the ice is eight to ten inches thick. Many Barges avoid the area because the ice can damage the barges. Navigation companies work together to break ice and free it for each other.
Lou Dell'Orco with the Army Corps of Engineers says, "Traffic is very slowly typically you'll see barge companies towing industries trying to make it up to Quincy on the northern most part of the Illinois based on the ice conditions grain chemicals coal all to manufacturers."
The Corp tries to restrict the length of tows this time of year because smaller tows are easier to push in these conditions.
