New Orleans residents voice opposition to Army Corps lock project

Residents and community advocates in New Orleans are expressing significant concern regarding the Army Corps of Engineers' plan to proceed with the IHNC Lock Replacement project. Critics argue that the Corps has a history of failing to provide adequate flood protection and accountability for communities harmed by previous projects, such as the MRGO Lock.

Opponents of the proposal highlight that the environmental review process has been declared “closed,” despite claims that the current economic calculations fail to account for the potential loss of historic structures, including the 1923 IHNC Lock and the 1919 St. Claude Bridge. There are also concerns regarding the impact on property values in neighborhoods downriver from the French Quarter, such as Arabi, and potential disruptions to bridge traffic.