Soo locks ice mitigation study under way

HANOVER, N.H. — The US Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a comprehensive ice-mitigation study at the Soo Locks facility.  Hanover, New Hampshire.

Ice has always been a challenge at the Soo Locks, and with a new 12,000-foot lock opening in 2030, the study aims to find better ways to manage the ice. The goal is to keep the ice from entering the chambers, clear it quickly when it does, and improve winter operations for both the Poe Lock and the new lock. This is being done using a 1:32 scale model of the Soo Locks, 10,000 pounds of synthetic ice, and a ship.

“The study includes the entire facility, both the pole lock and the new lock, and including the entire facility in the study really allows us the freedom to implement the most efficient and effective ice mitigation features to benefit the entire facility and the navigation industry and shipping on the Great Lakes,” said Molly Mahoney, senior project manager for the USACE Detroit District.

The study will be completed in 2026, providing the Corps of Engineers a suite of options to consider for implementation.