SAULT STE. MARIE, MI-- President Trump’s 2020 budget request includes $75.3 million to construct a new Soo Lock.
The funding would be used to initiate construction of the upstream approach walls, continue the design of the lock chamber and complete construction of the upstream channel deepening.
Only one lock—the Poe—is large enough to handle the biggest freighters on the Great Lakes. Officials say the Soo Locks are critical to U.S. manufacturing and national security, and a breakdown of the Poe lock would compromise both.
The project is estimated to cost $1 billion.
Lt. Col. Greg Turner is with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He says the funding would keep the project on track for completion in seven to 10 years.
