LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the following statement after the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that they will invest $479 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fully fund the Soo Locks in the UP.
“I applaud the US Army Corps of Engineers for making a $479 million investment in the Soo Locks to finish the project, protecting tens of thousands of jobs and uplifting our economy. The locks are critical to facilitating trade and economic cooperation between our two peninsulas and Great Lakes neighbors.
Our federal partners are also bolstering critical Michigan harbors, further shoring up our waterways and enabling businesses to trade goods and supplies more easily.
I am grateful to our congressional delegation for fighting for this investment. Together, we will continue finding ways to grow Michigan’s economy, create and protect good-paying jobs, and invest in every region of our great state.”
Whitmer says the Soo Locks are a crucial gateway for Great Lakes freighters carrying agricultural products and materials our manufacturers and military depend on.
The new lock will mean there is a modern lock to handle larger vessels and will prevent failure of the locks, which would have devastating consequences for the economy and national security.
Senators Stabenow and Peters have led the effort for years to secure enough funding to complete this new lock—$1.3 billion in total.
To learn more about the progress on the Soo Locks modernization project, click here.
