Governor Requests Federal Funding for Soo Locks

Liz Gullett

Jul 08, 2016

On Tuesday, Governor Rick Snyder sent a letter to Michigan’s Congressional delegation formally requesting the federal government to full fund reconstruction of portions of the Soo Locks. Specifically, he requests funding for replacing the Davis and Sabin Locks with a larger, single lock to make waterway traffic and shipping more reliable.

In 2015, the United States Department of Homeland Security found an unexpected closure of the Soo Locks, especially if it coincides with the peak shipping season, could result in a cascading collapse of the U.S. economy, as 3% of U.S. GDP is reliant on the iron ore moving through the locks. Additionally, the report estimates significant disruptions to the production and shipping of steel, causing the production of almost all North American appliances, automobiles, railcars, and construction, farm, and mining equipment to cease within weeks.

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