Tag Archives: marine infrastructure
Ballard Locks face millions in upgrades or risk failure
The region’s economy could be at risk, as well as its environment and even highways if one aging chokepoint is not addressed – the Ballard Locks. Needed work on the 100-year-old facility could take between $30-60 million and between 6-10 years to complete. In the meantime, work on items such as the emergency closure system await updates. “If the locks were to fail in an open position, Lake Washington could drain by a pretty dramatic amount and quickly,” said Charles Costanzo with the American Waterways Operators,,, “You have critical infrastructure like the 520 Bridge and the I-90 Bridge; you have a floating bridge that could potentially no longer be floating. That would seriously compromise the integrity of highway infrastructure and be pretty paralyzing to the region.” “If the locks have to close at the opening of a fishing season … it could potentially be a lost season for the fishing industry,” he said. click here to read the story 13:46
Nunavut fisheries casting a net for federal infrastructure money
Nunavut fisheries say the Liberal budget is giving them renewed hope for much needed money and infrastructure to stimulate their growing industry. The budget offered some good news and some bad news for the territory’s fisheries including money for development, training and research although Inuit fisheries are still not included in some programs aimed at First Nations fisheries. “Firstly the strengthening of the Northern Economic Development — that’s good news from a Nunavut perspective,” said Jerry Ward, chair of the Nunavut Offshore Allocation Holders Association, which represents Nunavut’s offshore fishing industry. Read the rest here 15:42
