Posted on July 13, 2026
NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, released the Final General Reevaluation Report and Integrated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock Replacement Project for a 30-day public review from July 10, 2026, through August 10, 2026.
The final report identifies a recommended plan to replace the existing IHNC Lock with a modern shallow draft lock chamber 900-foot in length by 110-feet wide, to be constructed approximately 2,400 feet north of the existing lock.
Additionally, the recommended plan includes associated navigation features, flood risk management features, bridge modifications, traffic and access measures, and community impact mitigation measures.
The Final Report reflects substantial changes and refinements made during the study process, including changes informed by agency coordination, technical analysis, public meetings, Section 106 consultation, and comments received during the Draft Report public review period.
The project has been refined multiple times over the years in response to public feedback, including concerns related to traffic, access, construction sequencing, community cohesion, noise, historic properties, environmental effects, and quality of life in the neighborhoods surrounding the IHNC.
Comments received during the 2025 public review period helped shape the final report and informed updates to the Community Impact Mitigation Plan (CIMP). The CIMP, a congressionally mandated element of the lock replacement plan, is intended to reduce, avoid, or offset project-related impacts to nearby communities during construction and operation of the project.
The updated CIMP plan includes measures related to transportation, pedestrian and bicycle access, neighborhood connectivity, noise, recreation, cultural resources, business and community support, and continued coordination with residents, local governments, and stakeholders as the project advances.
Additional changes from the draft report include refinements to the recommended plan, updated cost and economic analyses, and updates to cultural resources mitigation. The final report also includes responses to comments received on the draft report’s public comment period.
The recommended plan includes continued operation of the existing lock during construction of the replacement lock to maintain navigation access.
Construction would occur over multiple years and would require close coordination with local, state, and federal agencies, navigation interests, emergency responders, transit providers, nearby neighborhoods, and other stakeholders who choose to participate in the CIMP. USACE will continue close coordination throughout future design phases to refine construction sequencing, traffic management, bridge-related work, and other cultural and mitigation measures.
If approved, the project would advance to the next phase, which would include additional engineering and design, continued community coordination, and future implementation actions, which are subject to congressional authorization and funding.
The IHNC Lock provides the only direct connection between the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the Mississippi River east of New Orleans. The existing lock is more than 100 years old and no longer meets the needs of modern navigation traffic. Replacing the lock would improve navigation reliability, reduce delays, and support regional and national commerce by maintaining a critical link in the nation’s inland waterway system.
The final report with all supporting documents can be found on our website here: https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/About/Projects/IHNC-Lock-Replacement/.
