Continuing Resolution Funding Cuts Imperil Montgomery Lock Project
On March 14, President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution passed by Congress. It avoided a government shutdown, keeping the government funded through September 30, the end of the fiscal year, while the Republican-controlled Congress crafts a longer-term federal budget that reflects the priorities of Trump and congressional Republicans.
The CR provided the Corps of Engineers with $1.8 billion in total for construction across all its mission areas, a decline from recent years when the Corps has been receiving between $2.5 and $2.7 billion.
According to Tracy Zea, president/CEO of Waterways Council Inc., that reduction will result in “tough times” for lock and dam projects as the Corps is forced to make hard decisions about how to allocate its reduced funds.
The CR also did not include any congressional earmarks, another recent source of additional funds for lock and dam projects.
WCI’s top concern, Zea said, is that Montgomery Lock may lose access to $205 million in FY25 earmarked funds it needs for removal of the old 56- by 360-foot lock and construction of a new 110- by 600-foot lock in iuts place. The Pittsburgh Engineer District has awarded a nearly $770 million contract to Trumbull-Brayman Construction Corporation, Joint Venture of Pittsburgh, Penn., for the project, with work to begin this spring. Vessels will continue using the existing primary lock until the new lock is completed. The work is part of the Upper Ohio Navigation Project, which includes construction of new primary lock chambers at the Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery locks and dams in Emsworth, Moon Township, and Monaca, Penn., respectively.
The Corps is developing a spending plan that will reveal more details about how it plans to allocate its reduced funds. WCI will release a formal statement once it sees the spending plan, but Zea said he’s heard some talk that Montgomery may not receive any funds.
“Depending on decisions the Corps makes now, this could set that project back by another 5 to 10 years and increase project costs over the long term,” Zea said. “The consequences are not limited to just Montgomery Lock but will impact the entire program that currently has six ongoing construction projects.”
