SAULT STE. MARIE, MI— Phase 3 construction of a new lock in Sault Sainte Marie is expected to begin soon, following a $1 billion contract award.
The money comes through the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. A major cost increase led to a five-month contract award delay while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delivered a new cost estimate for reauthorization to Congress. The root causes are changing market conditions, inflation, a nationwide labor shortage, design modifications, and early estimate assumptions.
The full cost of constructing the new lock changed from $1.31 billion to $3.189 billion.
Phase 3 entails constructing the new lock chamber and rehabilitation of the downstream approach walls. It’s expected to take seven years.