Posted on August 7, 2017
A multi-million dollar contract was awarded for major construction repairs at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Detroit district.
The contract for almost $2.4 million to replace Poe Lock quoin and miter blocks was awarded to Morrish-Wallace Construction Inc., of Cheboygan, Ryba Marine Construction.
“The Poe Lock provides a critical connection for navigation between the upper and lower Great Lakes,” said Lt. Col. Dennis Sugrue, district engineer. “Repairs like this are necessary to maintain reliable functionality of the Poe Lock gates. We are pleased to award this contract that helps to achieve our vision of a reliable and resilient Great Lake Navigation System.”
According to the Army Corps, this key priority project will be performed during the winter shutdown of the Soo Locks facility from January to mid-March with completion by June 2018. The quoin block is a square, relatively flat block placed at the interface between the gate and the wall. Miter blocks are similar block places on each gate leaf where the gates contact each other. The gates are large doors which seal off the lock chamber from the upper and lower canal. These gates, called miter gates, when closed meet an angle like a chevron with the pressure from the water-level keeping the gates closed.
Source: UpNorthLive
