Funding cut could delay Chickamauga Lock completion

Contractor asks for more money to cope with supply chain delays to the project

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – We’re learning of a hickup that could, at least, delay the completion of the Chickamauga Lock project.

The Army Corps of Engineers has been working to build a new lock for the aging Chickamauga Dam for several years now (The lock shuttles river traffic from the Tennessee River to Chickamauga Lake).

They have been paying for it a year at a time.

The work is about 42% complete now.

But after requesting almost $40 million dollars to finish the project this year, the money was suddenly dropped out of the federal budget according to Waterways Journal Weekly.

The Corps says they can’t provide the funding this year while they evaluate a request for more money from the contractor.

The west coast contractor says they are struggling with supply chain delays.

They now want an additional $97 million and 590 days to complete the work.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that work will continue this year, but they will not issue any new contracts.

That could delay the finish of the lock another five or six years.

The new lock is a big project for the river traffic industry.

It will be able to handle nine barges at a time instead of the single barge the current lock can move through the dam.