Peoria’s Lock and Dam is getting some national attention, as Congress heads into discussions on wide-ranging legislation dealing with the country's aging infrastructure.
US Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., toured the lock in Creve Coeur Wed., to hear about recurring maintenance issues with the nearly 90-year old structure. Her visit comes ahead of negotiations on a trillion-dollar federal infrastructure package.
Representatives from the farming and shipping industries also joined Representative Bustos on the tour. They stressed the wide-ranging impact of the lock and dam, situated on the Illinois River, in Creve Coeur. They call it America’s “third coast” because the river gives farmers and companies access to other markets, while keeping prices competitive.
“I think the bottom line here is there’s a recognition that we have to invest in our locks and dams and that it ties back to jobs and the economy,” Bustos said. “I hope it’s one of the areas where Democrats and Republicans can come together and get something done.”
The Peoria Lock was constructed in the 1930s, and much of the machinery and infrastructure is unchanged. As a result, the Corps says, maintenance needs have surpassed annual operations and maintenance funding.
Col. Craig Baumgartner is Commander of the Rock Island District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Col. Baumgartner says unscheduled maintenance issues force the lock to stop the flow of traffic, costing Illinois farmers and producers.
“When there’s a lot of efficiency loss, we run the risk of losing competitiveness, quite frankly, as a nation,” Baumgartner said.
The US Army Corps of Engineers estimates about 8.2 million tons of grain passed through the Peoria Lock last year. Other products include fuel, fertilizer – and even cupcakes, before the Hostess plant in Chicago closed in 2014.