Improving the Gulf Intracoastal Canal in Texas

As a result of increased traffic, the users of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway have requested that the size of the present canal be increased in the reach extending from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Brownsville, Texas. The United States Congress authorized the Corps of Engineers to study this proposal on 11 June 1952. Enlargement of the section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Texas would afford a considerable economy in operation of the typical barge tows that it is anticipated would operate on the waterway. The studies and analyses made of the costs and benefits of enlargement of the waterway are discussed in this paper. The estimates of costs and benefits given in this paper represent only the views of the author and are subject to modification before their inclusion in any report on this waterway that may be made by the Chief of Engineers to Congress.