SAULT STE. MARIE, MI— The Poe Lock—part of the Soo Locks—is slated to reopen on March 25.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says 12:01 a.m. on that date will mark the start of the 2026 Great Lakes shipping season.
The locks officially closed after the last vessel of the season transited the Poe Lock on January 15. They underwent critical repairs and maintenance during the ten-week-long winter shutdown. The MacArthur Lock, located south of the Poe, will remain closed for maintenance until additional repairs are complete.
More than 4,500 vessels, carrying up to 80 million tons of cargo, maneuver through the locks annually.
