70 Years Later, ‘Final’ IHNC Report Available
After 70 years of study, review and development, the Corps of Engineers is moving closer to building a new Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
The Corps’ public review and comment period on the project originally extended from July 10 to August 10, but it was extended by an additional 15 days on July 16. The Final General Reevaluation Report and Integrated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock Replacement Project from the New Orleans Engineer District includes continued operation of the existing lock during construction of the replacement lock to maintain navigation access.
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 would 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.
The “final” recommendation is one step in a long process. If approved, the project would advance to the next phase, which would include additional engineering and design, continued community coordination and future implementation actions, which are subject to congressional authorization and funding. If the project is funded by Congress, construction is currently estimated to occur from 2033 to 2047.
Long History
The replacement project was first authorized by Congress in 1956, and the first public meeting occurred in 1960. After decades of design considerations, Congress approved a $573 million replacement project in 1998.
However, the project stalled due to opposition by neighborhoods (which continues), environmental lawsuits and the impacts of Hurricane Katrina. The Corps notes, “The project has been refined multiple times over the years in response to public feedback, including concerns related to traffic, access, construction sequencing, community cohesion, noise, historic properties, environmental effects and quality of life in the neighborhoods surrounding the IHNC.”
The report recommends a plan to replace the existing IHNC Lock with a modern shallow draft lock chamber 900 feet long and 110 feet wide, to be constructed approximately 2,400 feet north of the existing lock at an estimated cost of $4.68 billion.
The report reflects substantial changes and refinements made during the study process, including changes informed by agency coordination, technical analysis, public meetings, Section 106 consultation and comments received during review of the draft report.
CIMP Updates
The comments helped shape the final report and informed updates to the Community Impact Mitigation Plan (CIMP), the district said. The CIMP, a congressionally mandated element of the lock replacement plan, is intended to reduce, avoid or offset project-related impacts to nearby communities during construction and operation of the project.
The updated CIMP includes measures related to transportation, pedestrian and bicycle access, neighborhood connectivity, noise, recreation, cultural resources, business and community support and continued coordination with residents, local governments and stakeholders as the project advances. Construction would occur over multiple years and would require close coordination with local, state and federal agencies, navigation interests, emergency responders, transit providers, nearby neighborhoods and other stakeholders who choose to participate in the CIMP.
Additional changes from the draft report include refinements to the recommended plan, updated cost and economic analyses and updates to cultural resources mitigation.
The final report with all supporting documents can be found on the Corps’ website at https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/About/Projects/IHNC-Lock-Replacement/.
