Whitewater Canal Gets Approval to Start Spending for Restoration Project

The $14.4 million project aims to preserve the Duck Creek Aqueduct, Laurel Feeder, Lock 24 and more.

Photo courtesy Whitewater Canal State Historic Site.

(Metamora, Ind.) - The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has given final approval for spending to begin for the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site Preservation Project. 

The approval clears the way for the engineering design process to begin within the next few weeks. 

The design process will help determine what work needs to be done to preserve the Duck Creek Aqueduct, Laurel Feeder and Lock 24. It will also help the Whitewater Canal Historic Site to project timelines and an order of operations ahead of construction. 

The $14.4 million project is a multi-year restoration. The end goal is to have a canal boat for the Whitewater Canal experience. 

In January, the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site received a commitment from the state for a $7 million matching grant to support crucial work to restore and preserve the site. The Indiana State Budget Committee approved the release of an additional $7.4 million in April. 

The original preservation project was proposed in 2022, the same year the Ben Franklin III Canal Boat was removed from the Whitewater Canal for its five-year inspection. During the transportation to the administration parking lot, the front end of the boat cracked and broke off. 

Further site evaluation and environmental review revealed further deterioration and erosion at the canal - leading to the current restoration project. 

As mentioned above, a timeline for project completion has yet to be determined. 

RELATED: Whitewater Canal Historic Site Receives Commitment for $7 Million Matching Grant / Additional Funding Secured for Whitewater Canal Preservation Project