Closed lock and dam causes Mississippi River traffic jam

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Emergency repairs to a gate at a lock and dam near St. Louis is causing a Mississippi River traffic jam.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that barges on Friday were lined up due to a cracked gate at the Melvin Price Locks and dam at Alton, Illinois. Barge traffic has been closed since Wednesday afternoon. Officials hope to reopen the gate around 6 a.m. Sunday.

By Friday morning, 19 northbound barge tows and 15 southbound tows were stalled.

Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman Amanda Kruse says the cracks were discovered during a routine inspections.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, https://www.stltoday.com