SAULT STE. MARIE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, has awarded $95.3 million in remaining Phase 3 contract options for the New Lock at the Soo project to Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT) of Westerville, Ohio, officials announced Tuesday.
The awards include $44.9 million for downstream work, $24.2 million for a hands-free mooring system, and $26.2 million for downstream ship arrestors. The contract options were scheduled to expire in September 2025, but early execution keeps the project on track for its planned 2030 completion.
“The project continues to be on track for completion in 2030,” said Kevin McDaniels, senior civilian for the Detroit District. “The leadership team throughout the Corps of Engineers has made the New Lock at the Soo project a national priority.”
Phase 3, awarded in 2022 for $1.068 billion, is the final and most complex phase of the three-phase project. Phase 1, which included upstream channel deepening, was completed in 2022. Phase 2, focused on upstream approach walls, was finished in 2024.
Construction for Phase 3 began in late 2022 and is expected to span seven years. The new lock, located in the footprint of the decommissioned Sabin Lock, will match the size of the Poe Lock — 1,200 feet long, 110 feet wide and 32 feet deep.
“The contractor has completed nearly $600 million worth of work through the end of May,” said Mollie Mahoney, senior project manager. “New concrete monoliths are taking shape on the downstream end, demolition of the Sabin Lock is ongoing, and excavation in the new lock chamber is progressing.”
In addition to the lock chamber work, crews are building pump well walls in the Davis Lock, with the remaining areas filled using excavated material. Work in the next year will focus on monolith placement, demolition, and excavation.
The Soo Locks enable ships to navigate the 21-foot elevation change at the St. Marys Falls Canal. More than 88% of commercial traffic depends on the Poe Lock due to vessel size restrictions. The New Lock will provide a second Poe-sized option, improving system resiliency and national security.
A Department of Homeland Security study from 2015 estimated that a six-month closure of the Poe Lock could reduce U.S. GDP by $1.1 trillion and result in 11 million lost jobs.
More details on the project are available here.