New Lock at the Soo Phase 3 reaches 50% complete milestone
The new lock, a $3.219 billion investment in Great Lakes infrastructure, increases resiliency at the Soo Locks facility by constructing a second Poe-sized lock. Currently, 88% of all U.S. domestic iron ore transport is dependent on the 1969-era Poe Lock.
"Reaching the halfway point on this mega project is a testament to the dedication of the Corps of Engineers team and the joint-venture contractor Kokosing Alberici Traylor LLC," said Corps of Engineers Integrated Project Office Chief, Mick Awbrey "The progress made here is a direct reflection of the more than 600 people working on this project. They come to work every day committed to the successful completion of the new lock.”
Work on Phase 3 includes but is not limited to constructing a cofferdam at each end of the lock, demolishing the existing Sabin Lock, filling in the existing Davis Lock, excavating bedrock, constructing the New Lock chamber walls and floor, fabrication and installation of miter gates, installation of mechanical and electrical systems, installation of an innovative hands-free mooring system, rehabilitating the downstream approach walls and constructing a new pump well.
To date, KAT has completed $975 million worth of work through the end of August 2026. The current focus is on mass concrete placement for the concrete walls, the lock floor and new pump well construction. Offsite fabrication of the steel structures, including the miter gates, ship arrestors and culvert valves are also in progress.
It will take approximately 400,000 cubic yards of concrete to complete the New Lock at the Soo.
“If you were to build an average sidewalk that you see in a neighborhood, with 400,000 cubic yards of concrete, you could build a sidewalk from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to Orlando, Florida,” Awbrey said. “It's a massive amount of concrete and we are making progress every day."
The total quantity of concrete placed throughAugustis140,198 cubic yards,extending almost to Dayton, Ohio, on the "sidewalk to Orlando."
Despite the harsh conditions of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the project remains on schedule for its 2030 target completion.
The project is a flagship example of the Army Civil Works’ Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ initiative, which prioritizes speed of execution, smart risk-taking, and mission-focused results. By streamlining processes and empowering decision-makers at every level of the vertical chain, the Corps of Engineers is delivering critical infrastructure for the nation faster and at less cost.
The New Lock at the Soo is one of the highest-priority commercial navigation projects in the United States. Its completion will ensure the reliable passage of raw materials crucial for American steel production, protecting thousands of jobs and reinforcing the domestic supply chain for decades to come.
The Detroit District oversees 3,150 miles of shoreline and 81 harbors and channels across Michigan and parts of Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, ensuring the Great Lakes remain a vital resource for the nation.
For more information about the New Lock at the Soo project, visit our website: [https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/Mission/Projects/Article/3833546/new-lock-at-the-soo/](https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/Mission/Projects/Article/3833546/new-lock-at-the-soo/) or contact Detroit District Public Affairs Specialist Carrie Fox, 906-259-2841.
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