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2 DETROIT - The President’s Budget for fiscal year 2022 includes $6.793 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works program, which is the highest annual budget ever proposed for the Army Corps. This includes approximately $595 million set aside for Detroit District projects, including $480 million for the New Lock at the Soo Locks facility in Sault St. Marie, Mich.
The Civil Works budget funds the operations and maintenance program, including Great Lakes federal shipping channels and navigation structures within the Detroit District’s area of responsibility across Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This includes funding for the Soo Locks, in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., which is a critical infrastructure project for the nation.
(Photo: Georgia Ports Authority)
For dredging company officials, the first quarter of 2021 was a pretty good start to a new year. In a tough business, challenges and pitfalls are always expected. But from a bigger picture perspective markets, regulations and policies company officials couldn’t be faulted if a bit of optimism infused their worldview.
There are a number of reasons for this. Many are well known and don’t need to be detailed here. Just quickly, though, WRDA 2020 would be at the top of the list. WRDA, passed last December, provides new funding and policies that will expand dredging opportunities.
March 5, 2021 By David Murray
“For the first time in 20 years, our infrastructure is out of the D range.” So proclaimed the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), which released its 2021 Report Card for American Infrastructure March 3. This year, the overall grade for the nation’s infrastructure was a C-, up from a D+ four years ago. All the categories either stayed the same or advanced slightly. The new category of stormwater infrastructure, added this year, received a D.
While waterways improved slightly to a D+, ports received a B-, one of the best grades of any category.
The ASCE releases such report cards every four years. They drive discussion of the nation’s infrastructure needs both in Congress and in the media.