Construction begins on second “Poe” lock

Construction begins on second “Poe” lock

Construction begins on second “Poe” lock

   A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., for construction of a coffer dam, the first step in building a second “Poe-size” lock for ships moving between Lake Superior and the lower four Great Lakes.
   James H.I. Weakley, president of Lake Carriers' Association and first vice president of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, said the project would create 'the economic equivalent of a small automobile plant,” and provide 'national security benefits and economic stability for our mining, manufacturing and power-producing heartland.'
   The task force said without a backup, if the existing Poe Lock was shut down for some reason “shipping on the lakes would come to a virtual standstill” because 70 percent of the capacity in U.S.-flag lakers comes from ships that are so large they must use the Poe Lock. Built in 1968 the lock is 1,200 feet long, 110 feet wide and 32 feet deep.
   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is beginning work on the project, which is expected to cost about $490 million and take 10 years to complete.

Weakley

   The project was originally authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, then authorized in 2007 at full federal expense. Congress has yet to appropriate funds for the project.
   “It is true we do not have funding for construction of the lock right now. But we did get $17 million for this first step in last year’s budget,” noted Glen G. Nekvasil, secretary of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force. “That’s how this project has been going, a little money here, a little money there ' We are working with the Great Lakes delegation to get at least a good chunk of that $490 million in the fiscal year 2010 budget.” ' Chris Dupin