CREVE COEUR, Ill. – A project fifteen years in the making can finally start thanks to the federal infrastructure bill recently signed into law.
Seven locks and dams along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers will finally get $829 million worth of upgrades they need, including the Peoria Lock and Dam at Creve Coeur.
“It will fund nearly $2 billion of ecosystem restoration,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Springfield). “It will allow Illinois agriculture to better compete around in the world, basically…cutting in half the thru-put time for these barges to move down river to markets where they’re needed.”
Durbin says thousands of construction jobs will be created, and maybe sustaining as upgrades continue.
“We’re particularly proud of what this represents for the navigation industry — making things safer, making things more efficient, making things more cost-effective,” said Col. Jesse Curry, Army Corps of Engineers.
Ag officials say the upgrades will keep grain and other things moving down the rivers, in a system that officials say will be better suited for barge traffic than the current system, which was designed for steamboats.
“This is the most efficient waterway system we’re going to end up with,” said Marty Marr, Illinois Corn Growers Association. “We’re awfully fortunate in this industry to know that this is coming to fruition. We know how efficient it really can be. It takes so long for these barges to lock through the way it is now. It’s really going to add to that efficiency.”
An official with a group representing barge operators agrees.
“This system is pretty old,” said Del Wilkins of Joliet, President of Illinois Marine Towing and Chairman of American Waterways Operators. “Some of these locks and dams were built in the [1930’s]. They’ve outserved their useful life. This investment is also reinvigorating a system to keep our nation competitive.”
Durbin and other officials were joined by U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-East Moline) at a news conference at Peoria Lock and Dam.
Will Stevenson/1470 & 100.3 WMBD
