Cumberland River News - The Waterways Journal

Cheatham Lock Closure Begins In May Cheatham Lock at Cumberland River Mile 148.7 will close May 16 through August 5 with five three-day openings scheduled to pass traffic. The work will allow the completion of repairs begun in 2021. (Photo courtesy of the Nashville Engineer District)

Cheatham Lock at Cumberland River Mile 148.7 will close May 16 through August 5 with five three-day openings scheduled to pass traffic. The work will allow the completion of repairs begun in 2021. (Photo courtesy of the Nashville Engineer District)

Cheatham Lock Closure Begins In May

April 29, 2022

Work at Cheatham Lock at Cumberland River Mile 148.7 will begin this month and could cause navigation delays of up to several days. Work is to begin May 16 and… Read More

Lock Closures Allow Continued Asian Carp Deterrent Research Carp_Research_BAFF

Lock Closures Allow Continued Asian Carp Deterrent Research

March 25, 2022

Recent lock closures at Barkley Lock and Dam in western Kentucky are helping researchers determine more about the movements of invasive Asian carp and how best to contain their spread. Read More

High Water Temporarily Closes Lock, Ferries

March 4, 2022

The Cheatham Lock and Dam on the Cumberland closed for four days due to high water while two ferries, one crossing the Ohio River and one the Lower Mississippi, remain… Read More

Barges Rotate Truss For Smithland Bridge Construction The steel truss of the new $63.6 million Cumberland River bridge rotates in the Tennessee River just off-shore from the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority. The truss must be turned six times during construction. It will then be floated to Smithland, Ky., for installation. (Photo by Scott Swamback/American Bridge Company)

The steel truss of the new $63.6 million Cumberland River bridge rotates in the Tennessee River just off-shore from the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority. The truss must be turned six times during construction. It will then be floated to Smithland, Ky., for installation. (Photo by Scott Swamback/American Bridge Company)

Barges Rotate Truss For Smithland Bridge Construction

January 7, 2022

Construction of the steel superstructure of a new bridge over the Cumberland River at Smithland is nearing the halfway point and just reached a major milestone. On December 29, crews… Read More

WCI Media Tour Touts Importance Of Infrastructure The mv. David K. Wilson’s tow of empty barges prepares to pass beneath several of the bridges in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

The mv. David K. Wilson’s tow of empty barges prepares to pass beneath several of the bridges in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Shelley Byrne)

WCI Media Tour Touts Importance Of Infrastructure

August 27, 2021

Reporters got a chance to ride a towboat, visit a lock and meet with industry professionals while learning about the importance of infrastructure along America’s inland waterways during Waterways Council… Read More

Paducah Port Director Highlights New Opportunities The Paducah-McCracken County Riverport hopes to expand the capacity of its 20-acre bulk commodity storage yard and transfer facility with landside yard and equipment upgrades and expansions. (Photo courtesy of the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport)

The Paducah-McCracken County Riverport hopes to expand the capacity of its 20-acre bulk commodity storage yard and transfer facility with landside yard and equipment upgrades and expansions. (Photo courtesy of the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport)

Paducah Port Director Highlights New Opportunities

August 20, 2021

The Paducah-McCracken County Riverport is undergoing a revitalization, increasing its throughput, landing new projects and seeking to expand its bulk product-handling capacity. Executive director Tim Cahill said the port, located… Read More

Construction Begins On New Cumberland Bridge A towboat pushing a load of gravel passes beneath the current bridge over the river, built in 1931. The old bridge will be demolished as part of the $63.6 million project. (Photo courtesy of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet)

A towboat pushing a load of gravel passes beneath the current bridge over the river, built in 1931. The old bridge will be demolished as part of the $63.6 million project. (Photo courtesy of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet)

Construction Begins On New Cumberland Bridge

August 6, 2021

Construction began last month on the footers for the main piers of the new bridge over the Cumberland River in Smithland, Ky. The bridge, at Cumberland River Mile 2.7, continues… Read More

American Jazz Freed From Sandbar

July 23, 2021

An inland river cruise boat stranded on Lake Barkley in western Kentucky for more than a week was refloated July 16. The American Jazz was able to immediately get underway on its own… Read More

Cruise Boat Remains Grounded On Lake Barkley Sandbar The Lake Barkley Unified Command approved dive operations to assess underwater conditions where the American Jazz is grounded in Lake Barkley, an impoundment of the Cumberland River. The boat ran aground outside the channel at Mile 62 on July 7. Passengers were deboarded using pontoon boats. Some crew members remain aboard. (photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Gabriel Wisdom/U.S. Coast Guard)

The Lake Barkley Unified Command approved dive operations to assess underwater conditions where the American Jazz is grounded in Lake Barkley, an impoundment of the Cumberland River. The boat ran aground outside the channel at Mile 62 on July 7. Passengers were deboarded using pontoon boats. Some crew members remain aboard. (photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Gabriel Wisdom/U.S. Coast Guard)

Cruise Boat Remains Grounded On Lake Barkley Sandbar

July 12, 2021

Note: this is an updated version of a story that was originally posted July 12. Fuel is being removed from American Cruise Lines’ American Jazz before authorities try again to… Read More

Barkley Carp Barrier Has Positive Preliminary Results

July 2, 2021

Preliminary test results suggest a bio-acoustic fish fence (BAFF) installed at Barkley Dam in November 2019 is deterring the movement of Asian carp from the Cumberland River into Lake Barkley. Read More