RIVER TRAFFIC INCREASES ON UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER

ST. LOUIS River traffic has increased on the upper Mississippi River.

"Record tonnages have been reported on the locks and dams along the Mississippi within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District," says Anson Eickhorst, chief economist for the St. Louis District.

Locks and Dams 24 and 25 at Clarksville and Winfield, respectively, reported almost 42.5 million tons each, up almost five million tons over the previous record of 37.9 million tons.

The newly opened Melvin Price Locks and Dam at Alton, Ill., reported 80.5 million tons, up almost 7 million tons over the record of the old Locks and Dam 26, which was replaced by the Melvin Price Locks in February of 1990. Locks and Dams 27, located on the Chain of Rocks Canal at Granite City, Ill., also surpassed previous records, with 85.4 million tons of traffic, up from the 1983 record of 80.8 million.

"Reduced delays since the Melvin Price Locks and Dams came on line has increased traffic on the river," said Eickkorst. "Reduced delays mean reduced shipping costs."

Eickhorst said because of the lock and dams system on the upper Mississippi, an annual movement of about $20 billion of commerce has been able to move through the St. Louis area, even during drought induced low river stages.