Page 40: of Marine News Magazine (September 2011)

40MNSeptember 2011The Markland Locks and Dams on the Ohio River is one of the most important pieces of infrastructure, key to the continued success of inland transportation and, by default, the American economy itself. At the same time, it has also become perhaps the poster child for U.S. inlandinfrastructure woes. Just one of dozens of inland waterway repair projects remaining uncorrected, as much as $11.6 billion dollars of commerce annually pass through these critically located locks and dams. Built and completed in the late 1950?s and in need of repairs since 2000, the Waterways council, Inc. ? the national public policy organization that advocates for a properly funded and well-maintained system of inland waterways and ports ? has given the locks and dams a ?D? rating. Two of four lock gates collapsed last year. A project cur- rently underway to replace them, using new and highly innovative technology, could also serve as the model for how these improvements and repairs are performed and funded in the year to come. The health of the inland waterway system may well hinge on its success. Separately, Michael Toohey, the new President and CEO of Waterways Council, told MarineNews in August, and referring to a different project, ?The use of experimental engineering techniques has apparently driven the project financials to an unsustainable level for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund and those users required to pay these costs.? At the Markland project, however, both the Army Corps of Engineers and the manufacturer of an New Hope & Technology Awaits Critical Inland Repairs Industry hopeful Markland project delivers promised financial, efficiency metrics. ? by Joseph Keefe(Photo courtesy of Climax Portable Machine Tools)MN#9 (32-49):MN 2011 Layouts 9/6/2011 12:25 PM Page 40