The waiting game: Towboats face delays as Alton's main lock closes for repairs (photo)
A towboat sits waiting near the Great River Road just outside of Alton on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. River traffic slows in the winter, but the main lock at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam 26 in Alton is also closed for repairs to the gates and machinery. Towboats are being forced to use the smaller secondary lock, which cannot accommodate long strings of barges since it is half the size of the main lock. Repairs are scheduled to be finished by March 31, 2025.
