Sen. Bob Casey Says Additional Federal Funds Being Allocated to Delaware River Dredging Project
By Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The dredging of the Delaware River has been given a financial shot in the arm, thanks to the US Army Corps of Engineers.
US senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) says the Army Corps is using $62.5 million in unallocated funds, plus another $35 million that was already designated for the project, to push the dredging forward.
"When you total up what's in the budget already and what's in the work plan, it's 97.5 million dollars," Casey notes. "That keeps the project on target. We're not there yet, but working with the administration. They've been helping us to get the dollars for it, so that we can complete the project by the end of 2017."
The project calls for the river's shipping canal to be dredged five feet deeper, to a depth of 45 feet. Casey says this will allow larger ships into the Port of Philadelphia, which will, in turn, allow more cargo and commerce for the region.
