The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to spend $45.7 million in the next fiscal year to continue deepening the Mississippi River channel to 50 feet from Baton Rouge to the river’s mouth, reports NOLA.com.
The money was approved by the White House Office of Management and Budget during the last days of the Trump administration. The 2021 money will be added to $85 million approved in fiscal year 2020. Louisiana is on tap to pay more than $100 million of the total $238 million project cost. The deepening project will allow modern New Panamax vessels and Post Panamax vessels to travel as far north as Baton Rouge.
The southernmost segment of the river, between Venice and the river’s mouth, will be overdredged to 54 feet to increase the time before maintenance dredging is required. See the full story at NOLA.com.
