Feb 19, 2015 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., joined by waterways industry leaders at the port of Pittsburgh, Thursday detailed new investments coming to Western Pennsylvania’s locks and dams, including $58 million for ongoing work at Charleroi, as a result of language he secured in legislation enacted into law at the end of last year.

In a news release, Casey highlighted what the new investments will mean for the region, and released a new letter to congressional appropriators pushing for a robust investment in this year’s budget. He said the recently enacted legislation is set to provide new funding to the waterways system, which supports 200,000 jobs in the region.

Earlier this month, the senator announced the Army Corps will invest $58 million in major construction that is ongoing at Locks and Dam No. 4 in Charleroi. The money will be added to $9 million in federal money already approved to create a second locking chamber at the dam.

“Our locks and dams play a vital role in creating and sustaining jobs and in supporting economic growth in Southwestern Pennsylvania and throughout the country,” Casey said in a statement. “I’m pleased that Congress came together around bipartisan, commonsense solutions to improve our waterways infrastructure throughout the nation.

“In the coming year, we need to maintain this progress and ensure that our locks and dams have adequate resources.”

“Senator Casey’s diligence and commitment to addressing this issue made a substantial difference to our economy,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “His success on this issue means jobs and more opportunities for our many companies, which rely on the locks and dams for their day-to-day business. While we know the investments are substantial, this is great progress towards that end, and I have every confidence that with Senator Casey taking the lead, we will be successful.”

Since 2007, Casey has helped to secure more than $233 million for the Lower Mon Project, which includes existing Locks and Dams 2, 3, and 4. The three navigation facilities are the last of the old and undersized locks on the Monongahela River system and have components that have been in service for more than 100 years.

According to Casey, the project is a two-for-three improvement that has replaced the fixed-crest dam at Locks and Dam 2 with a gated dam (Braddock Dam), will remove Locks and Dam 3 in Elizabeth, dredge pool 3, construct two new larger locks at Locks and Dam 4 in Charleroi, and relocate numerous municipally-owned shoreside facilities. According to the Pittsburgh District, fiscal year 2015 funds will be used to begin the river chamber portion of the project.

For fiscal year 2016 (the upcoming fiscal year), Casey said the capability is $52 million, which would allow the Army Corps to award the next option for the river chamber completion contract.

In February 2013, Casey introduced the River Act, which sought to significantly boost the nations’ locks and dams while creating jobs. The majority of the act was included in the final version of the Water Reform and Resource Development Act and enacted into law at the end of last year.

Following the passage of the fiscal year 2014 omnibus appropriations bill, Casey sent a letter to Army Corps Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy, urging her to prioritize additional funding for the Lower Mon Project, leading to a total of $74.675 million being allocated to the project, a $72.5 million increase over the initial allocation.

Following the passage of the fiscal year 2015 bill, Casey sent another letter to Darcy urging her to prioritize additional funding for the Lower Mon Project. This led to a total of $58 million being allocated, a $49 million increase over the initial allocation.