High water delays metals barges into Chicago

High water levels on the Illinois river have delayed lock maintenance, slowing shipments of pig iron and metals into Chicago by an extra week.

Barges heading north will be forced to hold for longer than expected at the Starved Rock lock, southwest of Chicago, until 13 October because of high water levels, according to the US Army Corp of Engineers.

Planned maintenance was expected to be finished by 5 October but heavy rainfall in Illinois and Wisconsin raised water levels enough to delay lock repairs.

As of today, there were 105 barges waiting to travel north, according to a barge operator.

"The majority of these barges are transporting metals and pig iron into Chicago," the operator said.

Several steel mills operate in the areas surrounding Chicago, including US Steel's Gary Works and ArcelorMittal's Burns Harbor operations.