LANSING – The Michigan House on Wednesday passed a resolution proposed by State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) calling on Congress and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allocate funds to construct a new lock in Sault Ste. Marie. The construction is needed to better accommodate the large ships that carry millions of tons of cargo every year into Michigan's Soo Locks.
Currently, only one of the Soo Locks is able to accommodate the 1,000-foot cargo vessels – known as lakers – operating on the Great Lakes. Congress authorized the expansion of the Soo Locks in 1986. Since then, $20 million has been appropriated for studies and preparations.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocated $2 billion to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for construction projects to stimulate the economy. On Wednesday, the Corps announced the projects they will be funding through the stimulus package, and the new Soo Lock was not on the list.
"I was disappointed to learn that the Corps failed to fund this vital project," McDowell said. "The Soo Locks are an integral part of both commercial and recreational use in the Great Lakes. Still, I'm hopeful that Congress and the Corps will work together to find a funding source in the near future."