	some ping restrictions remain on rhine limited ping restrictions due to high water remain in force on parts of the west german stretch of the rhine river between the dutch border and the city of mainz but most are expected to be lifted this weekend water authority officials said the restrictions caused by high water levels include speed limits and directives to keep to the middle of the river to prevent damage to the river banks the high water was expected to recede within two days to below levels at which the restrictions come into force traffic was halted briefly late tuesday night wednesday and parts of thursday on stretches of the rhine between bonn and koblenz but the ping bans were lifted the officials said ping is now permitted on all parts of the west german section of the rhine with restrictions in some areas reuter 
