Because of structural safety concerns, the Chickamauga lock, completed in 1940, must be replaced.he lack of funding to restart work on the new Chickamauga lock in Chattanooga demonstrates a failure to set proper priorities by the Obama administration, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said Wednesday.
Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who became chairman last month of the Senate subcommittee that oversees the Corps’ budget, scolded Corps leaders during a budget hearing Wednesday for not using available funds to restart work on the new lock and other waterway projects across the country.
Last year, Congress revamped the funding formula for building locks and dams and raised the fuel tax on barge operators by 9 cents per gallon to help pay for more inland waterway projects.
"We listened when we heard that the trust fund was broke and needed to be fixed and we listened when you said you needed more revenue."
“Congress has done its job to move ahead promptly on replacing Chickamauga lock, and it’s disappointing the Obama administration has failed to do its job,” Alexander said.