The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began the deepening of the Mississippi River Ship Channel, which will provide a draft of 50-feet from the Port of Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico—more than 256 miles of the Mississippi River.
Accordingly, Phase 1 of the project will provide a 50-foot channel from the Gulf of Mexico through Southwest Pass to Belmont Crossing and open up approximately 175 miles of the ship channel to the deeper draft. Phase 1 encompasses the entire jurisdiction of the Port of New Orleans, St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District, the Plaquemines Port, Harbor and Terminal District and the majority of the Port of South Louisiana.
Referring to the project, Louisiana DOTD Secretary Dr. Shawn D. Wilson commented that the start of the project is a milestone for their national maritime industry, which will improve the state’s economy.
In addition, the material dredged from the first 30 miles of the project near the mouth of the Mississippi River will restore an estimated 1,462 acres of critical marsh habitat.
