MULTIPLE USES OF WATERWAYS

The Illinois Waterway (IWW) is comprised of the Illinois River and its feeder rivers, in addition to the lakes and streams, which connect the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River. The IWW system is a significant channel for freight movement and numerous other uses, serving local, regional, state and national economic interests.

EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL

Waterways are an efficient and economical movement that relieves highway and rail congestion. A modern 15-barge tow carries the equivalent weight of 1,050 semi-trucks or 240 rail cars. This equates to an estimated $1 billion in transportation cost savings annually.

WE NEED THE ILLINOIS WATERWAY

More than 20 million tons of commodities with a value of more than $10 billion are transported via the Illinois Waterway each year. The greater Mississippi River basin exports approximately 72.5 million tons of grain and oilseeds through the U.S. Gulf, demonstrating U.S. ag producers and farmers reliance on inland waterway infrastructure.