Shipping bounces back as Mississippi River continues to rise

This file photo provided by The United States Coast Guard shows barge traffic on the Mississippi River at St. Louis. Mississippi River shippers have returned to hauling full loads after several storms and aggressive rock-clearing helped deepen the waterway, eliminating worries about barge traffic shutting down, the river's stewards and barge operators said Wednesday.

ST. LOUIS -- Mississippi River shippers have returned to hauling full loads after several storms and aggressive rock-clearing helped deepen the waterway, eliminating worries about barge traffic shutting down, the river's stewards and barge operators said Wednesday.

Barge operators had lessened their loads as the river's level fell, allowing barges to sit higher in the water. There were concerns for months that if the water level fell much more, all barge traffic could be halted.

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