Preparations for Savannah's harbor deepening continue despite the government shutdown.

A US Army Corps of Engineers spokesman says 130 of 799 employees throughout the agency's Savannah District have been furloughed.

State dollars and already allocated federal funds are currently keeping workers employed on the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project.

"More of those people will be impacted if the shutdown is lengthy," says the spokesman, Billy Birdwell. "But for now, SHEP continues."

The project is still in planning stages until Congress approves the bulk of its $652 million price-tag.

Tags: GPBnews, orlando montoya, Billy Birdwell, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah Harbor Expansion Project