ST. BERNARD PARISH, La. — State officials and environmentalists labeled the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet as a "hurricane highway."

The 75-mile-long shipping channel was built as a shortcut between the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. It funneled storm surge into St. Bernard Parish and parts of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, contributing to levee failures and widespread flooding.

Now, 20 years after the storm, the Army Corps of Engineers was finally set to announce an agreement on a long-term restoration project for the MRGO.

Speaking in Violet at Wednesday's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority meeting, New Orleans District Commander Col. Scott Autin admitted they're not there yet.

"We're finalizing negotiations on the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet design agree

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