Lock and dam upgrades part of broader infrastructure plan
April 21, 2017
The Alton Telegraph published this article from Brian P. McGuire, president & CEO Associated Equipment Distributors. Click here to find the original article.
As the Chicago Tribune recently pointed out (Illinois rivers project could get new life with Trump infrastructure push) (March 13, 2017), Western Illinois will benefit enormously if our elected officials in Washington maintain their commitment to substantially invest in our nation’s deteriorating infrastructure.
Whether it’s structurally deficient bridges, dams and levees or inadequate roads, airports and pipes, America’s infrastructure is insufficient and our leaders in Washington can no longer shun obligations when it comes to required upgrades.Locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, which carry tons of commodities to major cities in the Midwest, would receive a major overhaul. Farmers, manufacturers, and businesses throughout the region and the country would benefit from delivering goods to distributors, store shelves, and consumers, faster and more efficiently.Our infrastructure is the lifeblood of our economy. It impacts our quality of life, the competitiveness of our businesses, and the safety and security of our country. All while spurring economic growth and creating well-paying jobs.I urge Sen. Richard Durbin, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and representatives Cheri Bustos, Mike Bost and Darrin LaHood to work in a bipartisan manner with the Illinois congressional delegation, their colleagues, and the Trump administration to immediately address the nation’s infrastructure crisis. Our nation must not continue to forsake responsibility when it comes to the maintaining and improvement of our infrastructure. Continued delay is unacceptable to Illinoisans and the rest of the country. 
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