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SAULT STE. MARIE, MICH. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced the award of a US$222.7-million contract for the Soo Lock project in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. to Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT) of Westerville, Ohio.

The Option 3 (Chamber Lock Operational) will allow for construction to proceed as required to have a fully functional lock. Option 3 includes construction of the lock floor, installation of the mechanical and electrical systems, completion of the filling and emptying system, placing soil between the new lock and old Davis Lock, and commissioning of the lock chamber, stated a release.

The new lock at the Soo project is being built in three phases. Phase 1 (upstream channel deepening) was completed in 2022, and Phase 2 (upstream approach walls) is nearing completion this summer.

The Phase 3 contract was awarded to KAT in July 2022 as a base contract at US$1.068 billion. Awarding the base contract allowed the contractor to begin work in 2022 with the remaining work (contract options) to be awarded over the next three years.  

The project continues to be on track for completion in 2030.

To date, Options 1A (upstream wide wall monoliths), 1B (chamber wall monoliths), 1C (new power plant bridge ramp), 2 (new pump well completion) and 7 (Alligator’s Mouth mooring area) have been awarded, totalling US$503.7 million, said district senior civilian Kevin McDaniels.

“The leadership team throughout the Corps of Engineers have made the new lock at the Soo project a national priority, and we have continued to see strong support every step along the way,” he said. 

Three contract options, totalling US$95.3 million, await to be awarded. The options are Option 4 (downstream work), Option 5 (hands-free mooring) and Option 6 (downstream ship arrestors). The Corps of Engineers aims to award these options over the next year. 

The contractor is demolishing existing concrete monoliths and beginning bedrock excavation in the footprint of the existing Sabin Lock.  In the Davis Lock they are beginning excavating for the new pump well and preparing to fill the Davis Lock with excavated material. 

The contractor is also constructing a new bridge to the new power plant and a new utility access structure.

Additional activities planned for 2024 include pump well substructure construction and new concrete monolith construction.

The new lock at the Soo project is required to upgrade the Great Lakes Navigation System, the release stated.