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Illinois River lock and dam repairs underway
Scheduled repairs to locks and dams along the Illinois River began June 1st.
Scott Sigman, Transportation and Export Infrastructure Lead with the Illinois Soybean Association, says repairs to the Marseilles and Starved Rock locks this year are the start of a series lasting through 2023.
“Improvements are ultimately something that local Illinois farmers that utilize the river have been calling for a long time.”
Sigman tells Brownfield traffic is restricted on along the river at the project locations from 6 am to 6 pm.
“Then, on August 1st, these two locks will be closed for a full two weeks as the project plan extends from August 1st to the 15th.”
He says in the long run the repairs will help Illinois agriculture.
“Expect greater reliability for cost competitiveness transporting soybeans and grain and fertilizer up-bound for the long term future and the long term competitiveness of Illinois producers.”
Sigman says flooding on the river has not significantly impacted the projects so far, but the Army Corps of Engineers is keeping a close eye on water levels.
The repair projects scheduled for 2020 include the following locks and dams: La Grange at Beardstown, Peoria, Dresden Island at Morris, Lockport, and Brandon Road at Joliet.
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