First Phase Of Mississippi River Dredging Project Completed

The first of two phases of a project to dredge the Mississippi River Ship Channel is now complete.

The Army Corps of Engineers dredged the channel to the Port of New Orleans.

The channel now has a maximum draft of 50 feet, allowing navigation by larger ships.

The Ship Channel accesses four of the nation's 15 largest ports: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Plaquemines and South Louisiana.

The state is putting up about a third of the project's $250 million cost.

The second phase extends north of the Huey P. Long Bridge.