IL Waterways Lock & Dam System - The State of Our Navigation Infrastructure

It’s a challenging but exciting time to be doing business on the inland waterways. While the COVID-19 pandemic still haunts us, the relaxation of some restrictions and the restarting of the economy has begun. This is allowing pent-up demand in many sectors to unleash what many are predicting will be an economic boom. 

That said, a lot has changed in the past year, and it is by no means clear that business and supply chains will return to the way things were pre-pandemic. We have a new administration and new policymakers, whose collective actions will certainly play a big a part. Extreme commodity prices are making an impact. Trade policy and domestic infrastructure spending promise to have long-term implications.

But marine transportation along our mighty waterways will absolutely have a crucial supporting role. Already the most cost efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transportation for billions of dollars of essential cargo annually, it is a system with capacity for growth. We proudly serve an industry whose future may very well be as bright as its storied past.