Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett Announces Signature of Third Delaware River Dredging Contract; Dredging will Extend to Walt Whitman

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett was joined today by the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority and other dignitaries to announce signature of the third Delaware River dredging contract needed to continue deepening the channel from just south of the Philadelphia International Airport to the Walt Whitman Bridge.

"This continuation will allow the Port of Philadelphia to compete with deep-water ports up and down the East Coast," said Corbett. "Studies have estimated that by deepening this river channel to 45 feet, we will create 8,000 to 12,000 direct jobs and spin-off as many as 38,000 more throughout the region."

The third contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for $14.55 million and was signed on July 31. Approximately $1 million of commonwealth funds along with $13.55 million of federal funds were used to make this award.

The deepening of the Delaware River to 45 feet will modernize the existing federal navigation channel and allow the Port of Philadelphia to maintain its competitiveness and attract new cargoes.

"This deeper channel will allow the next generation of giant ships, the ones for which the Panama Canal is being widened and deepened, to dock here," said Corbett.

Gov. Corbett was joined today by many dignitaries who were essential in keeping this project moving including; U.S. Senators Casey and Toomey; U.S. Representatives Brady, Carney and Meehan; as well as members of the General Assembly, city government, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.

"Senate and House, Democrat and Republican alike, our congressional delegation pressed the federal government to live up to its promise," said Corbett. "It is this bipartisan spirit in which people worry less about being a Democrat or Republican and instead focus on being Pennsylvanians that has brought us to this day."

Media contact: Kevin Harley, 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor