LAKE CHARLES – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) recently joined officials from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for a joint aerial mission to observe the USACE’s construction progress and monitor barge congestion on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Michael Clancy, commander of the New Orleans District, led the mission.
The Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and industry partners have been working together to mitigate the impact on commerce as necessary maintenance is performed on the lock systems along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
Members of the team also discussed storm contingency plans in case of emergency for vessels in queue while the construction is ongoing.
The partnerships between the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and industry are vital to ensuring minimal impact to commerce along the only shipping route connecting Houston to New Orleans. Our congressional office has continued to work closely with the Army Corps and Coast Guard to facilitate open communications and continued progress on many Corps projects in South Louisiana.
“My office has made dredging and proper maintenance of water management systems a top infrastructure priority. We have developed a close working relationship with the Army Corps of Engineers, and our efforts are paying off for South Louisiana,” said Congressman Higgins. “We’re going to continue pushing for improvements to our ports and waterways. These are vital economic engines that serve our communities. Working closely with top regional commanders from the Coast Guard and Army Corps, we will continue to push infrastructure projects that benefit South Louisiana.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released more than $205 million in supplemental funding and $323 million in FY18 Work Plan funding for water infrastructure projects in Louisiana.
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