CHICAGO – The Coast Guard announces temporary waterway restrictions for vessel traffic on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Oct. 4-11, with the possible need for additional temporary restrictions Oct. 13-15.
These vessel traffic restrictions are necessary to facilitate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ work on an electrical barrier, which is designed to prevent the passage of Asian carp into the Great Lakes. The temporary restrictions on Oct. 13-15 are only necessary if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is unable to complete all work planned during Oct. 4-11.
These temporary restrictions to vessel traffic will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to safely install underwater structures designed to limit the spread of electric current in the waterway from the Army Corps’ Barrier IIB. During these times, electric barriers I and IIA will continue to operate.
To support these actions, the U.S. Coast Guard will activate a safety zone on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Vessel traffic will not be permitted to transit through the zone during periods of work. However, every effort will be made to allow vessels to transit when work is no longer taking place.
The safety zone will be on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in the vicinity of Barrier IIB, from mile 296.1 (450 feet south of the Romeo Road Bridge) to mile 296.7 (0.51 miles northeast of Romeo Road Bridge). The zone will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each of the following days: Oct. 4-11 and Oct. 13-15.
Questions regarding the waterway closure can be directed to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan at 414-747-7182 or to U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago at 630-986-2155.
