Funding cuts could delay US river lock renovations

Spanish Market: Agriculture, Biofuels, Chemicals, Coal, Crude oil, Fertilizers, Metals, Oil products, Petroleum coke
03/04/25

The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will have to choose between various lock reconstruction and waterway projects for its annual construction plan after its funding was cut earlier this year.

Last year Congress allowed the Corps to use $800mn from unspent infrastructure funds for other waterways projects. But when Congress passed a continuing resolutions for this year's budget they effectively removed that $800mn from what was a $2.6bn annual budget for lock reconstruction and waterways projects. This means a construction plan that must be sent to Congress by 14 May can only include $1.8bn in spending.

No specific projects were allocated funding by Congress, allowing the Corps the final say on what projects it pursues under the new budget.

River industry trade group Waterways Council said its top priority is for the Corps to provide a combined $205mn for work at the Montgomery lock in Pennsylvania on the Ohio River and Chickamauga lock in Tennesee on the Tennessee River since they are the nearest to completion and could become more expensive if further delayed.

There are seven active navigation construction projects expected to take precedent, including the following: the Chickamauga and Kentucky Locks on the Tennessee River; Locks 2-4 on the Monongahela River; the Three Rivers project on the Arkansas River; the LaGrange Lock and Lock 25 on the Illinois River; and the Montgomery Lock on the Ohio River.

There are three other locks in Texas, Pennsylvania and Illinois that are in the active design phase (see map).

By Meghan Yoyotte

Corps active construction projects 2025

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08/04/25

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Oil companies far from Paris accord alignment: Report

08/04/25

Oil companies far from Paris accord alignment: Report

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Flooding on US rivers mires barge transit

07/04/25

Flooding on US rivers mires barge transit

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UK rows back ZEV mandate for hybrids

07/04/25

UK rows back ZEV mandate for hybrids

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Sigma Lithium hits 1Q production, sales goals

07/04/25

Sigma Lithium hits 1Q production, sales goals

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