$348M in Federal Funds for MO River Navigation Repair

(MISSOURINET) – An unprecedented influx of federal money could well clear up a backlog of projects needed to maintain navigation on the Missouri River. The US Army Corps of Engineers has announced 248-Million dollars from Congress’ infrastructure package will be paired with 100-Million dollars from the supplemental budget to repair and upgrade structures from Rulo, Nebraska to St. Louis. Navigation manager Dane Morris with the Corps’ Kansas City office points out the Missouri River is self-scouring, with 7-Thousand control structures over 735 miles.

Morris says the Corps typically gets only about 10-to-20 Million dollars a year for such repairs and upgrades. Morris says the 2019 Missouri River flood exposed the need for extensive infrastructure repairs to keep barge traffic moving.