Page 41: of Marine News Magazine (November 2022)

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Feature

Inland Waterways Infrastructure

USACE gram mainly to start initial designs for its projects, but

New chamber at Lock and Dam 25 years went by without the funding for physical construc-

For the barging industry, improvements at Lock and tion to move forward. NESP’s inclusion in the IIJA ? nally Dam 25 will go a long way toward making river transport cleared way for projects to move beyond the design stage, more ef? cient, ultimately increasing the competitiveness allowing construction contracts to be awarded and project of American farm products in international markets. The builds to begin.

project, which has been long-awaited and is now funded to

More good news followed in March when an addition- completion, will see a new 1,200-foot lock chamber built al $45.1 million came through Congressionally directed adjacent to the site’s existing 600-foot chamber. This en- spending to advance NESP projects, and the program re- ables larger tows to pass through without having to be bro- ceived an additional $12.2 million through the Corps’ FY ken apart, saving precious time while also increasing safety 2022 work plan to continue to advance additional projects. for deckhands. According to Marty Hettel, vice president “It’s an awesome year for the Upper Mississippi River of government affairs at American Commercial Barge Line basin,” said Andrew Goodall, NESP program manager. (ACBL), an expanded 1,200-foot chamber will reduce “We’ve waited many years to have the opportunity on the transit times by about 2.5 hours.

Upper Miss, but now is our time. We’re absolutely going

Lock and Dam 25 is one of seven 1,200-foot lock to take that time that we’re given and the money that we’re chamber projects at existing 600-foot lock and dam sites given and we’re going to deliver.” authorized by WRDA 2007. Hettel serves on the Inland www.marinelink.com MN 41|