GRAND RIVERS, Ky. – Congressman Diane Black of Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District received informational briefings on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District’s lock operations and the Kentucky Lock Addition Project during a Oct. 29, 2012, visit with Ingram Barge representatives.
Black, whose district includes or touches Nashville District’s Center Hill, Cordell Hull, Dale Hollow, Old Hickory, J. Percy Priest and Cheatham Lakes, is a member of the Committee on Ways and Means and is one of three committee members to serve as liaison to the House Budget Committee. She lives in Gallatin, Tenn.
“She was interested and asked pertinent questions,” said Adam Walker, Nashville District project manager on the Kentucky Lock Addition Project, which includes constructing a new 110-by-1,200-foot lock to accommodate modern barge tows without having to break the tows.
Total project costs, based on a 2018 completion date if fully funded, are estimated to be $849.4 million, according to Walker.
“This vital project is 41 percent completed with $345 million expended through fiscal 2012, but work will have to be suspended in fiscal 2014 without additional funding,” Walker said. “However, the possibility of incremental funding was included when planning this huge project in phases to ensure structural stability should work have to be suspended pending additional funding,” he added.
After corps briefings at Kentucky Lock and observing a lockage there, Black boarded Ingram’s Motor Vessel George N to observe more of their vast operations which include delivering coal to the Gallatin Steam Plant.
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