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  • Soo Locks Engineers Day 2025 changes

    SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the event’s federal, state, and local public safety partners are changing public access for this year’s Engineers Day event on June 27.   Out of an abundance of caution, in light of uncontrollable circumstances and in order to prioritize public safety, visitor access will be limited to Canal Park. Access in and around active Soo Locks operations will not be allowed. “We acknowledge this is disappointing and acknowledge the importance of this event to the community, which is why we coordinated closely with our public safety partners to permit the event to still take place” said Soo Locks Operations Manager LeighAnn Ryckeghem. “All public activities and displays will be concentrated within Canal Park which includes the observation platform to view vessels and the visitor center.”

  • Remaining Phase 3 options awarded for New Lock at the Soo

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo project in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, awards a total of $95.3 million for remaining Phase 3 options to Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT) of Westerville, Ohio. The remaining Phase 3 options include Option 4: Downstream Work ($44.9 million), Option 5: Hands Free Mooring ($24.2 million), and Option 6: Downstream Ship Arrestors ($26.2 million). Negotiated pricing on the remaining Phase 3 options was set to expire in September 2025.

  • Soo Locks to close 150 feet of the Hydro Plant tail race for safety

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District will permanently close a small portion of the Soo Locks Hydro Plant tail race to ensure the safety of all mariners. A safety zone extending 150 feet downstream of the U.S. Government Hydroelectric Power Plants has been established. Signs will be posted at the east end of the closed safety zone to notify all mariners of the safety restricted area.

  • Soo Locks to host Engineers Day 2025

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the City of Sault Ste. Marie, the Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau, the United States Coast Guard, the Lake Superior State University Center for Freshwater Research and Education, Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula, and Superior Health Systems are hosting open house events for the 2025 Soo Locks Engineers Day on June 27. Visitors are welcome into the Soo Locks facility and across the MacArthur Lock from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, June 27. Engineers Day honors the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ June 16, 1775, birthday. The Corps of Engineers is proud to celebrate 250 years of service to the nation. Since the beginning, the Corps of Engineers has been at the forefront of engineering excellence, responding to the nation’s most complex challenges with unmatched expertise and dedication.

  • Soo Locks Closing for Seasonal Repair, Maintenance

    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. Federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440) establishes the operating season based on the feasibility of vessels operating during typical Great Lakes ice conditions. “Every year, the Corps of Engineers uses the non-navigation winter period to perform maintenance and keep the Soo Locks operating,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit said. “The Soo Project Office team works long hours in extreme conditions to complete a significant amount of maintenance during this annual closure period. The work they perform is unique, especially given the harsh northern Michigan winter conditions they work in.”

  • MacArthur Lock closing for seasonal repair, maintenance

    The Soo Locks’ MacArthur Lock will close for the Navigation Season to conduct seasonal repairs and maintenance on December 16, 2024. The Poe Lock will remain open until Jan. 15, 2025, or until commercial traffic ceases, whichever occurs first. The Soo Locks operating season is fixed by federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440). “The 800-foot-long MacArthur Lock, built in 1943, is now 81 years old; this maintenance period is critical to keeping the lock in operation during the shipping season,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit said. The MacArthur Lock has seen 2,806 lockages and 5,170 passages (number of vessels) since opening April 24, 2024, to now, December 12, 2024.

  • New Lock at the Soo to host public meeting for 2024-2025 blasting activities

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District and New Lock at the Soo contractor Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT) will host an in-person and virtual public meeting at 6 p.m., November 21, 2024, to inform the public of test blasting activities needed for project construction. The Corps of Engineers contracted KAT to complete Phase 3 construction of the New Lock at the Soo project. This work includes the excavation of bedrock scheduled for this year and 2025. “The project team will perform test blasts to fracture the existing bedrock to be excavated and removed,” Rachel Miller, New Lock at the Soo Contracting Officer’s Representative said. “All blasting will be completed within the Corps of Engineers Soo Locks facility in the existing decommissioned Sabin Lock area.”

  • Soo Locks Visitor Center closes for 2024 season

    SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District closes the Soo Locks Visitor Center in Canal Park at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 for the 2024 season. Visitor Center hours for the remainder of Oct. are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for the month of October and will transition to winter hours (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) on Nov. 1.

  • Soo Locks Engineers Day 2024

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the City of Sault Ste. Marie, the Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau, the United States Coast Guard, the Lake Superior State University Center for Freshwater Research and Education, Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula, and Superior Health Systems are hosting open house events for the 2024 Soo Locks Engineers Day on June 28. “One significant change this year is the requirement for all bags coming into the Soo Locks to be clear,” Jason Wojnaroski Soo Project Office Assistant Operations Manager said. “For our visitors bringing bags, clear bags no larger than 12 inches long, 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide will be required for entry to the event.” All persons entering the Soo Locks are subject to a security search. Firearms, weapons, drugs, pets (except service animals) and bicycles are not permitted. Clear bags will allow park security to quickly inspect bags and assist with making this a fun and safe event for everyone.

  • Soo Locks Closing for Seasonal Repair, Maintenance

    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. Federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440) establishes the operating season based on the feasibility of vessels operating during typical Great Lakes ice conditions. “Every year, the Corps of Engineers uses the non-navigation winter period to perform maintenance and keep the Soo Locks operating,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit said. “The Detroit District team works long hours in extreme conditions to complete a significant amount of maintenance during this annual closure period. The work they perform is unique, especially given the harsh northern Michigan winter conditions they work in.”