Miss. River To Reopen After Barge Freed From Mud

GREENVILLE, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi River is expected to reopen soon to vessel traffic after crews freed a barge that went aground in low waters caused by an extensive drought.

Coast Guard Capt. William Drelling said Wednesday that authorities would inspect the channel near Greenville, Mississippi, then reset navigation buoys before allowing barge traffic to resume on a limited basis.

The river was closed early Wednesday after the barge went aground, just hours after an 11-mile section of river had been reopened to some traffic.

Drelling said about 100 barge tows were waiting to move through the area south of Memphis, Tenn. All together, about 1,500 barges were stacked up along the river, he said.