Heeding calls from U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3), the Missouri delegation and members of Congress from Iowa and Illinois, the Maritime Administration has approved Marine Highway designation for the M-29 corridor which will help promote navigation and economic development regionally along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

The M-29 corridor, known as the Kansas City Connecter, stretches from Kansas City to Sioux City along the Missouri River.  The Marine Highway designation, sought in a letter from Luetkemeyer and his colleagues in April,  allows terminals within a corridor to receive technical assistance and consulation from the Martitime Administration. The Marine Highway designation not only encourages economic growth but also increases the likelihood of receiving federal grant awards.

“I am extremely pleased that the Maritime Administration has recognized the economic importance of this designation which expands our ability in moving products from the Midwest and distributing to the world and I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support on this critical issue,” Luetkemeyer said. “This is just further proof of the invaluable economic resources that are the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.”

In their April letter, Luetkemeyer and his colleagues sought a similar designation for the M-94 corridor, known as the Upper Mississippi Connector, that stretches from St. Louis to St. Paul, MN on the Mississippi River.  No decision has been made on that request as the Minnesota Department of Transportation has not yet submitted the formal application.

The Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Louis and the entire Mississippi River south of St. Louis have already received Marine Highway designation from the Maritime Administration.