21 Aug 2024

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removes WWII era gates hidden in St. Marys River

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, removed a spare set of miter gates, constructed for the Davis and Sabin Locks, from the St. Marys River this summer. The miter gates were hidden in the river for over 80 years and weighed about 350,000 pounds each. The gates were strategically stored downriver of the Soo Locks facility and out of the federal navigation channel in the 1940s during World War II. The purpose of storing the gates downriver was to have a spare set of replacement gates for either lock if the installed gates were damaged. “The Davis and Sabin locks were built in 1914 and 1919 and at the time were the largest locks in the world,” said Chief Park Ranger Michelle Briggs.

26 Mar 2024

Soo Locks Hydro Plant Tailrace Closing to Vessel Traffic

Ongoing New Lock at the Soo construction activities are occurring in the St. Marys Falls Canal hydroelectric power plant tailrace. Beginning April 1, 2024, this area will close to all vessel traffic except at the specific direction of the Chief Lockmaster. Scheduled New Lock at the Soo construction activities are anticipated to allow exceptions to this closure beginning most Saturdays at 6 p.m. through the following Monday at 6 a.m., and infrequently on other days.

3 Jul 2023

New Lock at the Soo to host public meeting for upcoming blasting activities

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District and New Lock at the Soo contractor Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT) will host an in-person and virtual public meeting 6 p.m., July 10, 2023, to inform the public of blasting activities needed for project construction. The Corps of Engineers contracted KAT to complete Phase 3 construction of the New Lock at the Soo. This work includes excavation and installation of a shaft and tunnel scheduled for this year. “The project team will blast as the means to fracture the existing bedrock to be excavated and removed,” Rachel Miller, New Lock Contracting Officer’s Representative said. “All blasting will be completed within the Corps of Engineers Soo Locks facility on the island north of the existing decommissioned Sabin Lock.”

3 Mar 2023

New Lock at the Soo to host follow-up public meeting for Hydro Plant tail race closing

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District will host an in-person public meeting 6 p.m., March 15, 2023, to follow-up on the closure of the Soo Locks Hydro Plant tail race during New Lock at the Soo construction. The Corps of Engineers has a preliminary closure plan for the upcoming season and would like to present the strategy for the 2023 construction season to ensure effective communication of closures with anglers and interested parties. The Corps of Engineers previously hosted a public meeting to discuss the Hydro Plant tail race closures April 20, 2022.

12 Oct 2022

Corps of Engineers receiving new crane barge for St. Marys River

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District in concert with the Philadelphia District and the Marine Design Center awards a contract to Southwest Shipyard LP of Houston, Texas in the amount of $11.4 million for a new crane barge on the St. Marys River. “The new crane barge will perform critical lock and hydropower facility maintenance at the Soo Project Office (Soo Locks),” said Justin Proulx, Chief of the St. Marys River Section. “Additionally, the new vessel will support channel maintenance and will be ready to respond to critical maritime incidents on the St Marys River, such as vessel groundings and anchor drags.” The final design, construction, testing and delivery of the Detroit District’s new crane barge are all part of the awarded contract. Southwest Shipyards is a small business and operates four shipyards along the Texas Gulf Coast. Southwest Shipyards intends to construct the new crane barge at their Brady Island shipyard with delivery expected in Fall of 2024.