Aerial picture of the Soo Locks and International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Photo Credit: Creative Commons
Posted on 11/27/2018 10:14:48 AM PST by Oatka
Aerial picture of the Soo Locks and International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Photo Credit: Creative Commons
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proceeding with plans to build a new Soo Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan more than three decades after a new lock was first authorized.
The construction of a second Poe-size lock large enough to accommodate the largest ships servicing the Great Lakes region is one of the largest Great Lakes infrastructure projects in a generation.
The green-lighting of the project came last week in the form of an announcement that the Corps has formally allocated $32 million this fiscal year for design and construction of the project, which was first authorized in 1986, but project stalled under several administrations.
President Trump finally authorized the project in October by signing into law a sweeping bipartisan bill authorizing federal funding for a wide range of water infrastructure projects across the United States.
The construction of the new lock will take place over the next 10 years and funded through additional annual appropriations. The federal funds could also be combined with another $52 million committed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.
“This is the moment we have been waiting for more than 30 years,” said Jim Weakley, President of Lake Carriers’ Association. “The announcement by the Army Corps’ that the construction program for the new lock at the Soo will officially begin is the direct result of the tireless efforts of so many people and organizations banding together to update one of the most critical pieces of American infrastructure. It is a great day for Michigan, the Great Lakes region, and the entire nation. We are elated.”
(Excerpt) Read more at gcaptain.com ...
Thirty years!
Soo Two?.....................
Went to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to see the locks a couple years ago on my way to Houghton to go snowmobiling.
Went to the “best restaurant” in town. Place was a dump and food horrible.
City was a waste of time.
Butt, butt, butt snail darter spotted owl hatchlings.
IMO the lock can wait another ten years.
Use this money to build the damned wall.
We'll have a new Commie Governor soon, who will divert those funds to Detroit.
SCOTUS says ‘NO’................
That’s a long way from the Soo Locks to Houghton - and out of the way (if you were coming from the Lower Peninsula). It was 260 miles of 2-lane roads just from Big Mac to Houghton
It will be used to build a dam wall...
But didn't you enjoy the Seney Stretch?
I was involved with some of the early studies on “feasibility” of the lock construction, acting as appraiser of various sites for what is called “spoil piles” for lease values on the lands. One of my trips was during the month of March, when that part of Michigan was deep in snow. I drove out to the indicated area, and walked the ground, if hopping through snowbanks to your waist could be called “walking”, Suddenly, the walking got much easier, and the snowdrifts virtually disappeared. Only then did I realize those small buildings were fishing shacks, and I was walking on the ice cover on the Soo. It being coming spring and all, I was probably fortunate that I did not hit some “soft ice” and sink into the frigid waters of the Soo.
Only later did I think of this, and I still get cold robbies at the recollection.
Had seen to other passages from each Great Lake and really wanted to see the last one.
Stayed in a fabulous bed and breakfast just south of Houghton and road the area of the peninsula up to Copper Harbor.
Cold as hell but massive amounts of snow. Great groomed trails and some really nice bars like Bear Belly and the Library.
Lake superior was frozen over.
Some really fine snowmobiling.
“could also be combined with another $52 million committed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder”
Isn’t a high speed train a better use of the money?
Ah, yes... The Library. The best-kept secret of Michigan Tech students ever. We loved telling our parents that we spent a lot of time at the library. Only the stupid amongst us let on that it was a bar.
And, for the record, I saw snowdrifts surviving well into June up there. And as a young man, I could almost tolerate swimming in Lake Superior on a 90-degree afternoon in late August - but not for very long.
Too Funny McFrog.
Was driving in Wisconsin a while back and saw a sign advertising Worlds Best Pasties being sold at a big cheese store.
We stopped to get some good Wisconsin Cheddar and I’m thinking “pasties” those things strippers paste on their nipples.
I’m looking around and say to my wife, damn this place doesn’t look like they cater to strippers.
Lady working there heard me, laughed then explained to me that pasties were similar to pot pies usually made from leftovers in crust for the workers to take in to the mines.
OMG, the most boring stretch of road in the UP! The most boring road in the Lower P is the 46 miles on 115 between US 10 and Cadillac.
At least there is a bar in Seney.
1982
Was there during the annual festival of winter the students put on at Michigan Tech.
Fabulous.
On same trip was in Frankenmuth for their ice and snow competition. WOW.
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