The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie are seen in this undated photo. (AP photo)

DETROIT — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, recently announced the new Soo Lock project in Sault Ste. Marie has been included in President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2020 budget request to Congress in the amount of roughly $75.3 million.

These funds are sufficient to initiate construction of the upstream approach walls, continue the design of the new Soo Lock chamber and complete construction of the upstream channel deepening, a press release from the Army Corps states. The funding breakdown is as follows:

≤ $62.03 million to initiate construction of the upstream approach walls

≤ $8.35 million for continuation of the lock chamber design

≤ $4.95 million for completion of the upstream channel deepening construction

“It is a critical time for investing in our nation’s infrastructure,” said Lt. Col. Greg Turner, district engineer. “Appropriation of the funds included for the new Soo Lock project in the president’s budget request would keep the project on track for completion in seven to 10 years from the start of construction.”

Upstream approach walls construction will stabilize the existing approach walls to allow for modern vessels to tie up and wait their turn to pass through the new lock.

It is anticipated that the upstream approach walls design will be completed later this year and the construction contract will be awarded in summer 2020.

The Soo Locks are situated on the St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie, and allow vessels to transit the 21-foot elevation change at the St. Marys Falls Canal. This new Soo Lock project will construct a second Poe-sized lock measuring 110 feet by 1,200 feet on the site of the existing Davis and Sabin locks.

Contingent on efficient funding, the new Soo Lock project, estimated to cost nearly $1 billion, could be completed in as few as seven years.

For more information about the project, visit www.lre.usace.army.mil/About/Highlighted-Projects/New_Soo_Lock/