Cold Spell Halts Mississippi River Barge Traffic

Barge traffic on the upper and mid-Mississippi River was slowing this week as a cold snap in the U.S. Midwest created ice on the Mississippi at Guttenberg, Iowa, and northward, shipping officials said on Wednesday.

"It's very likely the last tow to move through Lock and Dam Number 10 near Guttenberg will be Thursday because of a build-up of ice," said a U.S. Army Corps official.

A tow consisting of six barges was moving south from Clayton, Iowa, and expected by Thursday morning to pass through Lock and Dam Number 10, which is located north of the Wisconsin border. "Temperatures are supposed to reach 20 to 25 degrees F today and fall to 10 by tonight, which is only going to cause additional freezing," the Army Corps official added.

Barges continue to move south of Guttenberg but traffic slowed significantly this week with the largest drop in barge traffic from Clinton, Iowa, north, river officials said.