WASHINGTON, D.C.-- U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow have sent a letter urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to quickly complete its Economic Reevaluation Report so the process of upgrading the Soo Locks can begin.
Last year the Obama administration approved $1.35 million for the Corps’ request to review upgrades and to replace the Davis and Sabin locks with one similar in size to the Poe Lock.
The Locks are a gateway for the transport of nearly 80 million tons of goods and materials. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security found that an unexpected outage in the Soo would cause an almost complete shutdown of Great Lakes steel production. According to the study, a six-month shutdown of the Poe Lock could result in an estimated $1.1 trillion loss in economic output and 11 million jobs lost across the country—particularly in the auto and mining industries.
The Poe Lock was last rebuilt in 1968.
