Anderson: If I were king, I would
decree that lawmakers view transportation
infrastructure as an economic engine that
drives the economy, not the other way
around. So rather than quibbling about
the numbers and model used to project
traffic growth on the Upper Mississippi
River System, we should recognize that
all parties agree there will be significant
traffic increases in the next 50 years and
build with that in mind.
Recent figures from the Minnesota
Department of Transportation (MNDOT)
show that in 2003 farmers from that state
shipped 7,457,309 tons of corn, wheat and
soybeans to the gulf in barges at an esti-
mated $11.45 per ton. A similar rail trip
would have cost $20.33, which MNDOT
says translates into savings of
$66,220,904 for farmers using the water-
way. Barge rates also put pressure on
freight costs well beyond the reach of the
system. If we want this economic engine
to keep working for Midwest farmers and
other shippers, we must fund the seven
new locks called for in the Water
Resources Development Act (WRDA)
recently introduced by Missouri Senator
Kit Bond. To me it's a bit like the line
from the movie" "If you build it, they will
come." And they'll be here before we
know it.
MN: What are some of the bottlenecks
that exist on the system?
Anderson: Those of us on the upper end
of the Mississippi River system have
more than our share of problem areas and
single-chamber, 600-foot locks. One that
is of special concern is Lock and Dam 3 at
Red Wing, Minn. When The Corps' Mis-
sissippi Valley Division leader Brigadier
General Robert Crear was in St. Paul
recently, he told local river industry lead-
ers that the long delayed work to correct
embankment and outdraft problems is
now considered a "new start" because of
the delay. He also indicated that work is
part of a "significant backlog" of under
funded O&M projects.
The need for the work was reinforced
recently when eight barges filled with
cement were caught in the outdraft and
struck the roller gates. The Corps says
that the lock's position on a river bend
tends to sweep tows away from the lock
and toward the gates. The recent incident
makes 12 accidents since 1968. There's
also worry about losing the pool if one of
the 3 embankments on the Wisconsin side
lets go. The WRDA bill I just talked about
identifies the other bottlenecks of concern
that will be remedied with 1,200 foot
locks at Locks 20,21,22, 25 and 25 on the
Mississippi.
Raymond Butler •
GICA
MN: What is the most important message
about the inland waterways industry that
needs to be conveyed to the media and
policymakers?
Butler: The Inland Waterways Industry
26 • MarineNews • June, 2005
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