First Phase Completed In Three Rivers Project

The first phase of the $333.8 million Three Rivers project is substantially complete, Josh Hendricks, chief of the Operations Technical Support Branch at the Little Rock Engineer District, told the Arkansas Waterways Commission (AWC) at its latest meeting. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for August 12.

According to Commissioner Marty Shell, the project came in ahead of schedule and under budget.

“That’s something you don’t often see reported in the news,” he told The Waterways Journal.

The Three Rivers project was authorized in the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 and was fully paid for by the federal government. It’s located between the White and Arkansas rivers, just upstream of Montgomery Point Lock and Dam in southeast Arkansas.

Due to extensive modifications to the Mississippi River over the decades, the stream slope has become steeper, and water velocity has accelerated, causing the Mississippi River to gradually migrate into the White River. That flow then overflows into the Arkansas River. Left unchecked, the White and Arkansas Rivers would merge. If that were to happen, navigation pool would be lost from the Arkansas Post Canal all the way to Montgomery Point Lock and Dam. If an uncontrolled connection were to form in the area, it could result in more than $300 million in lost navigation benefits and commerce, as well as severe impacts to important bottomland hardwood forest and aquatic habitat.

Hendricks told the commission that the district has started working on the 110-foot stop wall conversions at Locks 7 through 13 and expects those to be completed this year. He shared that Locks 2 and 5 are under design and are awaiting contract awards for construction, and Locks 3 and 4 will begin construction in fiscal year 2028. Two new downstream miter gates for Trimble Lock and Dam are under fabrication, and the major rehabilitation evaluation at David D. Terry is ongoing, he said. He discussed a previous issue at Montgomery Point that was resolved and a current issue at Lock 2 that is being addressed.

Red River Navigation Study

The AWC, which is the state agency responsible for developing, promoting and protecting waterborne transportation in Arkansas, met June 18 to get updates on previously funded projects on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System as one funding cycle ends and another is about to begin.  Tate Wentz, chief of Water Strategy and Conservation for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division, provided an update on the Red River Navigation Study. He highlighted a $3.1 million feasibility study funded by Louisiana and Arkansas, with preliminary estimates of $3.4 billion for Plan A and $4.5 billion for Plan B. The study recommends extending navigation to Fulton due to better intermodal connections and comprehensive benefits. He noted that the team is nearing the completion of Phase One before another group takes over the end of the project.

Grant Updates

Bryan Day, executive director of the Little Rock Port Authority, presented updates on recent grants to the port. LRPA was awarded the grant to purchase lid handlers and floating barges and complete safety improvements at the port. Day reported that the lid handlers are now in use and have improved safety and effectiveness while eliminating manpower. The floating barges have not been placed in the water yet, but they are working toward placement. Safety improvements are currently underway to protect employees while on the docks.   

On behalf of the Central Arkansas Intermodal Authority, Don Bradley III awarded grant funds for road improvements. He reported completion of wetlands delineation, cultural resources investigation, preliminary design, Corps of Engineers permitting, port entrance improvements and coordination with levee districts for certifications and accreditation. Roadway entrance construction is in progress and nearing completion, with several planning grants submitted to fund the remaining designs and evaluations.

Allen Evans gave an update of the Chicot-Desha Port Authority’s grant projects. He said allocated grant money was used to modernize and rehabilitate the port’s old scales and to build a new scale house. He reported that the port is currently waiting on the new scale that will be located on its access road going into the slackwater harbor.   

New Chairman

The commission announced the term end of Chairman John Charles Edwards, which expires January 14, 2027. Shell made a motion to elect Vice Chairman Mike Lowe as the new chairman, with Edwards seconding the motion. Edwards proposed electing Commissioner Rajesh Chokhani as vice chairman, and Shell seconded the motion. Both motions passed.   

Director Joe Bailey reported that since the commission’s first-quarter meeting in March, he has attended meetings for Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals, Southwest Arkansas Development Authority, Red River Navigation, MKARNS Coalition, the Little Rock District and Metro Little Rock Alliance. He also met with and toured Bruce Oakley, Inc.