The cost of the new lock project reached $1.068 billion as the US Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District announced a new contract for the third phase of the project. Ohio-based Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT) will begin construction on the largest phase of the project this summer, a phase expected to take seven years to complete. Here’s a full release on the cost of the project, as well as details on the ongoing construction process: The US Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit Area expects Phase 3 construction to begin this summer with New Lock’s $1.068 billion in Soo Phase 3 contract award on July 1, 2022. Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT), a joint venture based in Westerville, Ohio will begin construction of the largest phase, the new lock chamber and rehabilitation of the downstream approach walls. This contract allows the contractor to start work. With continued funding, the remaining $803.95 million project can be awarded over the next three years. Corps of Engineers officials expect construction of Phase 3 to take seven years. “The Corps of Engineers looks forward to starting construction on the new lock chamber later this summer, and we continue to work hard to maintain the pace and continue to make progress toward the New Lock upon completion of the Soo project in the summer of 2030,” he said. New. Lock in Soo Project Manager Mollie Mahoney. With Phase 1 almost complete and Phase 2 scheduled for completion in the summer of 2024, the third phase of construction is a major milestone for the project. A significant cost increase led to a five-month contract award delay while the Corps of Engineers developed the necessary reports to deliver a new cost estimate for reauthorization to Congress. The root causes of the cost increase are changing market conditions, inflation, national labor shortages, design modifications and early estimate assumptions. The cost changes since the project was approved in the American Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 are, the First Cost changed from $922 million to $2.932 billion and the Fully Funded Project Cost changed from $1.031 billion to $3.189 billion. Project First Cost is for project authorization use and is calculated in today’s dollars. Fully Funded Project Costing allows for mid-construction escalation and predicts project costs. “We recognize that getting more funding for the New Lock at the Soo is a challenge that could potentially lead to program impacts,” said District Deputy Engineer Kevin McDaniels. “The Corps of Engineers works with industry and federal agencies to find collaborative solutions aimed at addressing cost impacts to Corps of Engineers programs and projects nationwide.” The first phase of the upstream deepening project began in the spring of 2020 and is substantially complete with punch list items and final cleanup remaining. The second phase of the upstream approach wall rehabilitation project began in spring 2021 and is scheduled to be completed in summer 2024. The Soo Locks are located on the St. Marys in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and allow boats to pass the 21-foot elevation change in the St. Marys Falls. Over 88 percent of cargo capacity through the Soo Locks is limited by vessel size at Poe Lock. This new lock project will construct a second Poe-sized lock (110′ by 1,200′) at the existing decommissioned Davis and Sabin lock site. A 2015 Department of Homeland Security study estimated that a six-month Poe Lock closure would temporarily reduce US gross domestic product (GDP) by $1.1 trillion, resulting in the loss of 11 million jobs. This critical hub of the Great Lakes Navigation System is essential to U.S. construction and national security, according to the study. For more information about the New Lock at the Soo project, visit our website
