3 meetings to hear public comment on lock hours - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

Vicksburg, Ms (KNOE 8 News) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District is hosting three public meetings to discuss proposed changes in lock operating hours and the Inland Marine Transportation System study on the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway and Red River (JBJ).

The meetings will be held at the Natchitoches Events Center on the 26th of this month and the Caddo-Bossier Ports Regional Commerce Center on April 8th.

The meetings are being designed to involve the public, industry and state officials regarding the lock operating hours. This action is part of a nationwide effort to maximize constrained funding and provides consistent levels of service throughout the Corps' Inland Marine Transportation System.
The cost savings from these efforts could be applied to backlogged maintenance of locks to reduce closures and improve system reliability

Each meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end at 8:00 p.m.  The public is invited to attend the meetings in order to learn more about the levels of service program and provide input for the hours of operation of the locks.

Topics of discussion will be limited to the locks and dams on JBJ river system.  Each person will be allowed five minutes to comment or complete a comment card for submission to the Vicksburg District.  Additional information and guidance will be distributed prior to each meeting.