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Slow release for Soo Locks money

Date Posted: December 10 2004

SAULT STE. MARIE - Congress has been trickling out funds to build a new Soo lock in recent years, but a deluge of money is needed.

In November, Congress released $2.6 million to continue design of a new lock that would be a twin in size to the Poe Lock, the Soo's largest. Another lock is needed because if the Poe Lock were to be disabled for any length of time because of sabotage or mechanical problems, a great deal of Great Lakes shipping would grind to a halt.

According to Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee), just over $5 million has already been allocated for design work and the construction of cofferdams.

"The funding is absolutely critical to continue this project, which is vital to the nation's commercial and homeland security
interests," he said. A new lock is expected to cost an estimated $225 million, and Congress has yet to fund the entire project.

Stan Jacek, Soo-area engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers, which has jurisdiction over the locks, said at this rate of funding it would be "several years" before design work is complete.

He said overall construction activity at the Soo in 2005 is expected to be "flat, with no new construction authorized." The only recent work that has gone on at the Soo is the installation of new security lights and fencing.

The Soo Locks have been in operation since 1855 and currently four locks are included in the complex. Only the Poe lock, completed in 1968, can handle the 1,000 ft. long by 105 ft. wide bulk carriers that keep steel mills supplied from the iron ore ranges found around Lake Superior.

Two of the smaller locks, the Davis and the Sabin, were built more than 80 years ago and the MacArthur lock was completed in 1944. Current planning calls for the new lock to replace the Davis and Sabin locks. As things presently stand, loss of the Poe Lock would disrupt 70% of the Great Lakes fleet, hence the need to build a modern backup.

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