Infrastructure
Kokosing-Alberici Completes Phase 2 of $3.2B Soo Lock Project
With the new upstream approach walls completed, work is continuing on Phase 3 in the future lock.
Photo courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' $3.2-billion New Lock at the Soo reached a milestone with substantial completion of Phase 2 work, officials announced Sept. 26. Work on the third and final phase is already underway.
Phase 2 covered construction of the upstream approach walls. Contractor Kokosing-Alberici constructed, filled and capped 52 coffer cells and rehabilitated 4,800 linear ft of walls under a $117-million contract the Corps awarded in 2020. The new approach walls replace ones that were more than 100 years old, according to project engineer Ryan Berkompas. The new walls will allow vessels to moor along them.
“Minor electrical work is expected to be addressed through the end of October with a goal of financially closing the contract by the end of November,” Berkompas said in a statement.
The project is replacing two of the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., with a larger one measuring 1,200 ft long, 110 ft wide and 32 ft deep to accommodate modern shipping vessels. Only one of the Soo Locks is currently large enough for 1,000-ft “Laker” vessels, so most cargo passing through the locks is restricted to that single lock. Corps officials say the project is needed to help ensure the efficient flow of cargo between the Great Lakes and allow for needed rehabilitation work on that existing larger lock.
Both partners of the Phase 2 joint venture contractor are also part of a separate JV, Kokosing Alberici Traylor LLC, which is working on the larger Phase 3. The substantial completion of Phase 2 comes shortly after the Corps awarded a $222.7-million contract option for part of the work. The Corps awarded the base $1.1-billion contract in 2022 and has planned for $749.5 million in contract options to be awarded as funding becomes available. Officials said earlier this month that just three options worth a combined $95.3 million remain to be awarded.
Work on the schedule for the rest of this year includes construction of the pump well substructure and lock chamber wall, according to the Corps.
“Phase 3 construction began in late 2022 and, given efficient funding and favorable weather, is on track to be complete by 2030,” said Mollie Mahoney, Corps senior project manager, in a statement.
