Soo Locks 2023 Opening Scheduled for March 25

The Soo Project Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District will open the Poe Lock at 12:01 a.m. on March 25, marking the start of the 2023 Great Lakes shipping season.
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aerial photo of the Soo Locks
The Soo Locks’ Poe Lock opens for the season March 25. // Photo by Michelle Briggs

The Soo Project Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District will open the Poe Lock at 12:01 a.m. on March 25, marking the start of the 2023 Great Lakes shipping season.

The operating season is fixed by federal regulation and driven in part by the feasibility of vessels operating in typical Great Lakes ice conditions.

The Poe Lock closed Jan. 16 to undergo critical repairs and maintenance during the 10-week-long winter shutdown.

Maintenance crews performed a variety of critical tasks on the Poe Lock, including anchorage component repairs on Gate 1 such as replacing concrete, lifting lugs and turning feet on Gate 1, underfloor drain system inspection, structural inspection of Gate 1 for future replacement, inspection of Gate 3 for structural repairs, gate jacking pedestal inspections, valve repairs, seal repairs on Gate 3, and culvert intake grate repairs.

The miter gates are the large gates at each end of the lock chamber. The gates open and close, allowing ships to enter and leave the lock, and prevent water from entering or exiting the lock while boats are lifted or lowered.

“Crews also performed a wide range of other maintenance tasks, including fender timber replacements, electrical and mechanical systems inspections, and preventative maintenance on both the Poe and MacArthur locks and floating plant maintenance,” says Nick Pettit, maintenance branch chief.

Contractors also performed work on the Poe Lock ship arrestor project. OCCI of Missouri was awarded the contract in July 2021, for $17.5 million after awarded options. This winter, it completed the new downstream arrestor equipment buildings, installed the new arrestor machinery, and replaced the arrestor boom.

“This winter, a portion of maintenance projects on Gate 1 required the Poe Lock to remain full while others required the lock to be dewatered,” Pettit says. “Sequencing Poe Lock maintenance/repairs allowed our team to maximize the non-navigation season.”

The MacArthur Lock, located south of the Poe, is scheduled to open April 24.

“We welcome visitors into the park for the 2023 Soo Locks season opening. The park and viewing platform will open March 24 at 11 p.m. and close March 25 at 1 a.m.,” says Michelle Briggs, chief park ranger. “The Visitor Center will host an open house March 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.”

The park is open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to open the Soo Locks Visitor Center May 1 for the summer season.

For those not able to come to the Soo Locks opening, there will be a Facebook Live stream of the first ship to pass through the locks starting at 11:55 p.m. on March 24 at facebook.com/USACEDetroitDistrict.

For more details, contact Detroit District public affairs specialist Carrie Fox at 906-259-2841.