House Committee Approves $27 million for Lock
May 17, 2006

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee today approved $27 million for construction of the new Chickamauga Lock and an additional $1.25 million for maintenance of the existing lock.

“It is a big victory for the people of the Tennessee Valley,” said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., a member of the committee. “It looks very positive that the money will stay in the bill and be ultimately signed by the president. But this is not a one-time expense.”

The money, included in the Energy and Water spending bill for fiscal 2007, would go toward the $319 million price tag of the new 110-by-600-foot lock scheduled for completion in 2013.

The spending bill now must be voted on by the entire House, an action expected to occur next week. The money also has been requested to be included in the Senate’s version of the energy and water spending bill. The Senate Appropriation committee is scheduled to mark-up and vote on its spending bill versions starting in June, committee spokeswoman Jenny Manley said.

Construction began on the project last year with the rerouting of a road and two bridges. The $27 million approved Tuesday by the House will go largely toward next year’s construction of a coffer dam to create a dry bed for construction crews to work on the new lock, officials said.