New IHNC Lock Design Moves Forward
Replacement of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock in New Orleans, La., is another step closer with the signing of key paperwork, the Corps of Engineers announced September 1.
Adam Telle, assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, signed the Record of Decision for the IHNC Replacement Study on August 27. The signing marks the completion of the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act. The New Orleans Engineer District may now proceed with engineering and design work for the study’s recommended plan; however, additional Congressional appropriations and authorization are required before construction can begin.
Tracy Zea, president and CEO of Waterways Council, Inc., praised the announcement.
“Signing the ROD is a major step forward for a critical project,” he said. “The Corps of Engineers has demonstrated great leadership and vision in pushing this project forward, along with industry staying consistent in educating about the benefits for the project.”
The plan calls for the replacement of the IHNC Lock with a modern, shallow-draft lock chamber 900 feet long by 110 feet wide to be constructed roughly 2,400 feet north of the existing lock. It also includes associated navigation and flood risk management features, bridge replacement and measures to reduce traffic congestion and improve access while mitigating community impact.
“Signing this Record of Decision represents a significant milestone in our commitment to ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork,’” Telle said. “The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock is a vital artery for regional and national commerce, and we have a responsibility to move projects like this from review to reality. By completing this environmental review efficiently and rigorously, we are clearing the path to deliver a modern, resilient lock system that relieves costly navigation bottlenecks, strengthens supply chain reliability, and supports American commerce.”
The IHNC Lock provides the only direct connection between the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the Mississippi River east of New Orleans. The existing lock is more than 100 years old and no longer meets the needs of modern navigation traffic. Replacing the lock will improve navigation reliability, reduce delays, and support regional and national commerce by maintaining a critical link in the nation’s inland waterway system, according to the Corps of Engineers.
