Soo Locks soon closing for seasonal repair and maintenance
Soo Locks closing for seasonal repair, maintenance
(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan will close to all marine traffic beginning 11:59 p.m. January 15, or until commercial traffic ceases, through 12:01 a.m. March 25 to perform seasonal critical maintenance.
Operations Branch Chief Jeff Harrington said, “Every year, our lock and dam operators transition from assisting vessels through the Soo Locks to performing maintenance on the locks… The team works alongside Soo Project Office maintenance crews to provide 100% effort in completing all critical maintenance during the ten-week shutdown. They work long hours in harsh northern Michigan winter conditions to complete a significant amount of maintenance during this annual closure period.”
The Poe lock will remain operational through January 15, 2026, or until commercial traffic ceases – whichever occurs first.
The Poe Lock will be dewatered during the maintenance season and is scheduled to reopen on March 25.
Maintenance on the Poe Lock will include underfloor cleanout and manhole inspection, a five-year periodic assessment, Gate 1 repairs, Gate 4 lifting lug installation, Gate 3 jacking pedestal repairs and testing of Ice Study wall coating.
Crews will also perform a wide range of other maintenance tasks from the replacement of pier fender timbers to inspections and preventative maintenance on electrical and mechanical systems on both the Poe and MacArthur Locks.
“Reliable Great Lakes navigation and the momentum of the American manufacturing supply chain depend on getting the job done here. In an unforgiving northern climate, our exceptional team tackles the complex maintenance demands of aging infrastructure, proving their skill on systems well past their service life.” Soo Locks Operations Manager LeighAnn Ryckeghem said.
More than 4,500 vessels, carrying up to 80 million tons of cargo, maneuver through the locks annually. Iron ore, coal, wheat and limestone are among the most frequently carried commodities. Opened in 1969, the Poe Lock is 1,200 feet long. The MacArthur Lock opened in 1943 and is 800 feet long.
