Final Thought: Barges start floating up Mississippi River

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Some of the very first barges are on their way up the Mississippi River, marking the unofficial start of this year’s navigation season.

A video from DroneCity LLC shows two barges smashing their way through the ice on Lake Pepin — the last part of the river to break up as they head to St. Paul.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates $400 million is saved each year by using inland waterways instead of overland shipping.