Gov. Corbett Frees $15 Million For Delaware River Dredging Project

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The deepening of the Delaware River shipping channel will go forward on thanks to $15 million in state funds being dedicated to the project.

The dredging project was in jeopardy because promised federal money failed to materialize, but the Commonweath of Pennsylvania stepped in to keep it going.

Governor Tom Corbett announced that phase two of the dredging project will begin as scheduled on October 1st because he decided not to wait for federal funds -- which could have delayed dredging for a year -- but to ante up $15 million from state coffers.

"I see a return on investment in this because I see jobs for Pennsylvania, for the region, for the city of Philadelphia," Corbett said today.

The governor also says a deeper Delaware River will more than double shipping traffic to the Port of Philadelphia, creating as many as 50,000 jobs, directly and indirectly.

Philadelphia port chairman Charles Kopp says further delays in the project, nearly 30 years in the making, would have sent the wrong signal to shippers.

"We're sending a signal today that Philadelphia is open for business," Kopp said.
Reported by Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio 1060