The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA), regarded as the largest civil works bill in the nation’s history, was recently passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. The new law mandates federal budget authorizations of $23 billion in funding for more than 900 projects overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The projects, which currently will impact 24 states, include flood control, coastal restoration, navigation, and recreational projects, as well as studies for future projects.
Numerous construction industry groups, including the Construction Management Association of America and the Associated General Contractors of America, urged passage of the measure. The economic benefits of this new law for the construction industry are expected to be significant.
Who Gets What
Utility contractors are likely to be among the winners since the WRDA authorizes $2.4 billion for water and wastewater projects. Other contractors will benefit from an estimated $1.9 billion allocated for the construction of enhanced navigation improvements for the Upper Mississippi River. In addition, $1.7 billion will be spent on an ecosystem restoration project, also for the Upper Mississippi River.
The Gulf Coast, which has seen significant construction activity since Hurricane Katrina, will benefit from money allocated for coastal restoration projects
and water control infrastructure that are needed to mitigate hurricane damage. An estimated $600 million will be spent on reducing hurricane and flood damage across 1,700 square miles of coastal Louisiana.
In all, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that nearly $7 billion will be spent over the next 10 years on these Gulf Coast projects.
“Utility contractors are likely to be among the winners since the WRDA authorizes $2.4 billion for water and wastewater projects.”
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