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  • New Lock at the Soo reauthorized in WRDA 2022 at $3.219 billion

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District New Lock at the Soo Project in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is reauthorized in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2022 on Dec 23, 2022. The project reauthorization amount is $3.219 billion. An authorization sets how much money agencies and programs can receive, and how they should spend the money. This authorization makes it possible for the project to maintain efficient funding eligibility. Due to recent cost increases, the project cost was estimated to exceed the previously authorized spending limit. “With continued funding, the remaining construction work, valued at $794.5 million could be awarded over the next three years allowing the project to stay on schedule and be completed in 2030.” Deputy District Engineer Kevin McDaniels said.

  • Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center transitions to holiday, winter schedule

    DULUTH, Minn., – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is transitioning the operating hours of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Canal Park to its holiday and winter schedule. The Detroit District’s Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center winter schedule will begin the week of Jan. 16, 2023, and will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • MacArthur Lock closing for seasonal repair, maintenance

    SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., - The Soo Locks’ MacArthur Lock will close to marine traffic 7:00 a.m. Dec. 17, 2022, through 12:01 a.m. April 24, 2023, to perform critical maintenance. The Poe Lock will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Jan. 15, 2023, or until commercial traffic ceases, whichever occurs first. The operating season is fixed by federal regulation and is driven in part by vessel operability in typical ice conditions.  “The 800-foot-long MacArthur Lock, built in 1943, is 79 years old; the maintenance period is critical to keeping the lock in operation during the shipping season,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas (Nick) Pettit said. Pettit, new Maintenance Branch Chief at the Soo Locks will oversee the team executing this year’s seasonal repairs.  

  • Corps of Engineers expedites St. Joseph Harbor dredging after vessel touches bottom

    DETROIT – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District awards $1.3 million dredging contract to King Co., Inc, of Holland, Michigan Nov. 17 to dredge St. Joseph Harbor. Shoaling at the St. Joseph Harbor caused a vessel to touch bottom near the north side of the harbor entrance in October. Survey crews from the Detroit District’s Grand Haven Resident Office surveyed the outer harbor October 21. “The survey indicated a significant shoal of up to 10 feet from the north side of the outer navigation channel through the center of the channel,” Elizabeth Wilkinson, Grand Haven Resident Engineer said. “The channel is restricted but was not closed to navigation traffic.”

  • New Lock at the Soo Phase 3 contractor mobilizes

    SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., —The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers kicks off Phase 3 construction for the New Lock at the Soo as the contractor mobilizes to the Soo Locks. Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT), a joint venture headquartered in Westerville, Ohio began moving major equipment to the site via a barge in the Poe Lock on November 3 in between shipping traffic. Mobilization of equipment for Phase 3 marks a big milestone for the project. The Soo Locks will remain operational during construction of the New Lock at the Soo and without interruptions to shipping traffic. “KAT started their major mobilization this week with moving project trailers to the site,” Rachel Miller, New Lock at the Soo Supervisory Civil Engineer said. “They previously moved smaller pieces of equipment and have worked over the summer preparing the grounds for upcoming work.”

  • Corps of Engineers receiving new crane barge for St. Marys River

    SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District in concert with the Philadelphia District and the Marine Design Center awards a contract to Southwest Shipyard LP of Houston, Texas in the amount of $11.4 million for a new crane barge on the St. Marys River. “The new crane barge will perform critical lock and hydropower facility maintenance at the Soo Project Office (Soo Locks),” said Justin Proulx, Chief of the St. Marys River Section. “Additionally, the new vessel will support channel maintenance and will be ready to respond to critical maritime incidents on the St Marys River, such as vessel groundings and anchor drags.” The final design, construction, testing and delivery of the Detroit District’s new crane barge are all part of the awarded contract. Southwest Shipyards is a small business and operates four shipyards along the Texas Gulf Coast. Southwest Shipyards intends to construct the new crane barge at their Brady Island shipyard with delivery expected in Fall of 2024.

  • Corps of Engineers schedules Enbridge Line 5 EIS public meetings

    DETROIT– The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting three public scoping meetings for Enbridge’s Line 5 Pipeline Tunnel project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoping process. The EIS’s 60-day scoping process began August 15 with the Notice of Intent (NOI) publishing in the Federal Register. Tribal Nations, agencies, communities, organizations, citizens and other stakeholders can provide input through October 14, 2022 via mail, through the project website or at the in-person or virtual public meetings as follows: • Sept. 1, 2022, 5-8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (Virtual): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83590131384 or by phone 309-205-3325 using Webinar ID: 835 9013 1384 • Sept. 8, 2022, 3-8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (In-Person) at the Little Bear Arena, 275 Marquette Street in Saint Ignace, Michigan 49781 • Oct. 6, 2022, 1-4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (Virtual): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82961743672 or by phone 309-205-3325 using Webinar ID: 829 6174 3672

  • Corps of Engineers to begin dredging, beach nourishment in South Haven

    DETROIT- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will place South Haven harbor dredge material near-shore to nourish South Beach starting next week. Sampling results confirm the proposed outer harbor dredge material is suitable for beneficial reuse as nourishment material. About 18,000 cubic yards of material from the federal navigation channel will be placed south of the South Pier in South Haven, Michigan. “We understand the eroded area in front of the water treatment plant may seem the logical placement site, however, we do not have National Environmental Policy Act approval to place there this year,” said Elizabeth Newell Wilkinson Grand Haven Resident Engineer. “We are hard at work on the required Environmental Assessment to evaluate whether or not we will be able to place material there next year and are hopeful in the results.”

  • Corps of Engineers begins Line 5 tunnel EIS scoping process

    DETROIT– The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is beginning the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline tunnel project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoping process with the Notice of Intent (NOI) publishing in the Federal Register today. The NOI informs the public of the upcoming environmental analysis and describes how the public can become involved in the EIS process for the Enbridge’s Line 5 Pipeline Tunnel project proposal to cross the Straits of Mackinac in Lake Michigan. “The Notice of Intent starts the scoping process, the 60-day period in which the Corps of Engineers solicits Tribal Nation, agency and public input to help define the range of issues and potential alternatives the EIS should address,” said Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Brett Boyle. “The Corps of Engineers will ensure all voices are heard in an open, transparent and public EIS process.”

  • Safety changes coming for Charlevoix South Pier

    DETROIT- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to remove the ancillary walkway on the Charlevoix Harbor South Pier in Charlevoix, Michigan due to safety concerns. Waves and ice movement have repeatedly caused damage to the walkway and its removal will provide cost savings and improve the wave attenuator’s functionality on the adjacent walkway. The purpose of the attenuator is to reduce energy and impact of incoming waves. “This particular section of the pier has been closed since October 2020 because it is unsafe for pedestrian traffic,” said Elizabeth Newell Wilkinson Grand Haven Resident Engineer. “The benefits of removing it outweigh the alternative of extensive repairs and costly maintenance.”