Page 18: of Marine News Magazine (January 2026)

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Insights

Inland Infrastructure © Marine News | www.MarineLink.com

The Time is Now

By Tracy Zea, President/CEO, Waterways Council, Inc. from the bipartisan infrastructure bill of 2021 has demon-

As Americans do each year, strated that execution challenges extend beyond funding. with 2026 just the same, we are hopeful for a more promising The time is now for the Corps to make critical chang- year, with better outcomes and calmer seas. But for construc- es to its delivery process for these essential infrastructure tion of the Nation’s inland waterways lock and dam infra- projects that help to propel the Nation’s economy forward. structure, there is a strong sense of urgency like never before. A recent HDR study commissioned by Waterways

Since 1987, just 10 projects to modernize or expand Council, Inc. (WCI) recommends the Corps treat the in- locks on the inland waterways system have been complet- land navigation waterways as a system rather than a series ed, with seven of them started and ? nished between 1987 of individual projects and manage it through the Capital and 1997 at an average cost overrun of 33%. Investment Strategy (CIS).

Since 2008, only two lock modernization projects have It also recommends the Corps create a centralized pro- been completed. One of them, the Olmsted Locks and gram management of? ce for the inland waterways and im-

Dam, opened in 2018 and took 26 years to complete at a prove cost estimations and value engineering, to use stan- cost hike of 275% from its original authorized cost. Olm- dard designs for locks and dams where possible, to expand sted had become the poster child for what could go wrong site investigation efforts, to use 3D modeling and conduct in Corps of Engineers’ construction and project delivery constructability reviews; and to centralize competencies – until now. Unfortunately, the lessons from Olmsted to and deepen the Corps’ knowledge base. avoid repeating another multi-decade construction time- WCI has called for the revocation of Executive Order line haven’t been leveraged. Kentucky Lock is now slated (EO) 12322 (EO), issued by President Ronald Reagan in to carry an even higher cost overrun, at currently 297% 1981, that mandates federal agencies submit any water and and expected to increase. Its projected ? nish date is some- related land resources project proposals to the Of? ce of time in the 2030s and will mark over 30 years since its Management and Budget (OMB) for review before sending construction started. Before 2014, inadequate or uncertain them to Congress for approval. This creates an inef? cient annual funding was to blame for cost overruns and delays bureaucratic bottleneck, allowing OMB to interpret proj- for navigation projects, but the infusion of $2.9 billion ects and limit access to effective solutions such as continuing 18 | MN January 2026