Grounded barge forces another closing of Mississippi

MISSISSIPPI RIVER — Another barge grounding near Greenville has closed the Mississippi River to shipping.

Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Robert Anderson said a barge ran past buoys marking the shipping channel Saturday evening.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Tippets said yesterday it was refloated, but vessel traffic was not expected to resume before today. He said the corps was dredging yesterday at Greenville.

Tippets said yesterday afternoon, 18 vessels were waiting to head north and 21 waited to head south.

The river carries water from more than 40 percent of the United States. Widespread drought has starved it of rainwater, and the corps has had to hustle to keep the channel clear.

It already had planned to close the river for 12 hours today for dredging near Baton Rouge, La.