U.S. Sentor Lamar Alexander said the latest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Work Plan released Monday includes $76.5 million to continue construction of Chickamauga Lock for the fourth consecutive year, which is great news for East Tennessee and everyone who benefits from river traffic passing through the Chickamauga Lock in Chattanooga. The Work Plan also makes full use of the Inland Waterways Trust Fund revenues, which are fees paid by those who use the waterways for water infrastructure projects, for the fourth consecutive year.
“This funding will be enough to continue construction of the new Chickamauga Lock for the fourth consecutive year, which is great news for East Tennessee since it will help keep up to 150,000 trucks off I-75 and keep the cost of shipping goods low for Oak Ridge, Y-12, and manufacturers across the state,” Senator Alexander said. “More U.S. senators ask to increase funding for the Army Corps of Engineers than any other part of the budget. This year, Congress worked hard to provide record funding for the Corps to ensure we could keep federal lock and dam projects funded for the fourth consecutive year, which was important for Chickamauga Lock after the project was restarted in 2015.”
Senator Alexander said he has made completion of Chickamauga Lock one of his top priorities as chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, which is responsible for recommending funding levels for the Army Corps of Engineers.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers Work Plan, the $76.5 million for Chickamauga Lock will be enough to continue engineering, design and construction of the lock.