Heavy Civil/Locks and Dams Upstream Approach Walls at the Soo Locks Complex

INSIDE THE PROJECT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers implemented a three-phase plan to create a new 1,200-foot-long by 110-foot-wide lock at the Soo Locks Complex to provide much-needed infrastructure resiliency and eliminate potential points of failure. Kokosing Alberici, LLC, a Kokosing-led joint venture of Kokosing Industrial, Inc. and Alberici Constructors, Inc., completed the second phase, which included construction and rehabilitation of more than a mile of new approach walls in a newly deepened 30’ draft channel. The upstream approach walls are a combination of 52 new circular sheet pile coffer cells and rehabilitation of existing structures using steel sheet z-pile walls and soldier piles with concrete lagging, all of which are topped by reinforced concrete cap slabs.

WHY IT MATTERS

Located on the U.S.-Canada border between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the Soo Locks Complex accommodates more than 7,000 vessels carrying more than 75 million tons of cargo each year, including nearly all domestically produced advanced high-strength steel used in the manufacture of products such as automobiles and appliances. Originally constructed in 1855, the Soo Locks Complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Upon completion of the third phase of this project, the Soo Locks Complex will have increased capability to accommodate modern lake freighters by adding a second 110’ x 1200’ lock chamber.